? on X-170 nut width

[JBella]

In my quest for an X-170 I've come across some contradictory information on the width of the nut.

I've read that they all have the 1 5/8" nut. I've also read that only the early ones have the 1 5/8" nut. Then I've seen early ones (1988) advertised with an 1 11/16" nut and late ones advertised with the 1 5/8" nut.

My Epi Casino has a 1 5/8" nut and I don't care for it (although I love the guitar) so if X-170s came both ways I sure would like to know what years to search for (or avoid).

Thanks.

 

[Zelja]

I don't know the official answer but I do know from personal experience that sellers often can't be trusted with getting the neck width right...

My 97 SFIV was originally advertisd with a1 5/8' nut width. When prompted he checked again & cam back with 1 11/16", which thankfully was correct.

M9 72 S-100, the seller said it was "accurately measured at 1 11/16"" - nope it was 1 5/8" (unless it shrank during shipping... :roll: )

I reckon the later ones are more likely to have the wider neck (as this is the general trend with Guild guitars). But, as is also the trend with Guilds, sometimes you can have a few inconsistencies.

 

[JBella]

Exactly. I have a feeling a lot of the advertisers just copy the specs out of a catalog or from another website. Scary.

 

[AcornHouse]

I just measured my '86 X-170 and it does indeed have a 1 5/8" nut width. It's one of the earliest ones. I don't know when they would have gone to a wider nut.

 

[JBella]

Thanks, Chris. Every data point from the real world helps.

 

[charliea]

My '00 is 1 11/16.

 

[adorshki]

'96 and '97 catalogs (I have 'em in hand) spec 'em as 1-11/16 and that's as wide as you're gonna get from Guild. :wink:
Only S-100's (and several acoustic-electrics) from that era show 1-5/8 nuts, but that also means one should bear in mind the potential for a "special ordered" width. They could be lax about showing that on the label, but usually it would have a "-spec" designation after the model number to denote some "special" feature or a special ordered instrument.
And here you thought I only cared about the acoustics.

 

[Los Angeles]

You guys can leave all the 1 5/8 nut width guitars for me. Love em.

 

[JBella]

"And here you thought I only cared about the acoustics."

Not any more. You've had some great posts.

 

[AlohaJoe]

You guys can leave all the 1 5/8 nut width guitars for me. Love em.

I prefer them too, but OTOH the sixteenth of an inch difference is small enough that the carve of the neck is at least as important to the fit in the hand as is the curvature of the board IMO. I have several instruments that have the same nut-width measurement yet feel completely different.

 

[adorshki]

You guys can leave all the 1 5/8 nut width guitars for me. Love em.

I prefer them too, but OTOH the sixteenth of an inch difference is small enough that the carve of the neck is at least as important to the fit in the hand as is the curvature of the board IMO. I have several instruments that have the same nut-width measurement yet feel completely different.

Yep. F65ce's 1-5/8 which took a little gettin' used to but I have small hands. Yet there's certain stuff I really only wanna do on the D25's neck (1-11/16). I like the string spacing and the way it sounds when "barebacked" right over the fretboard extension. It has "modern flat oval" profile compared to the "chunky" feel so many folks say they like.
And I was surprised recently by how much string spacing affects playability on a 1-3/4 nut acoustic. First one I ever tried I didn't even wanna try to get used to (Larrivee for the curious, but no slam intended). Second was much better, Taylor in fact. Both courtesy of Mr Jbella himself, just to give creds where due.
HIS hands are a bit larger than mine....he wasn't real comfortable with the F65ce... :lol:
:wink:

 

[AlohaJoe]

I was surprised recently by how much string spacing affects playability on a 1-3/4 nut acoustic.

That's a great point... I have a 50's ES125 with a chunkier neck than I normally like and a 1&11/16ths" nut. I had planned to have the neck shaved but my Luthier suggested trying a new nut with slightly narrower spacing first. He said it would be a much cheaper solution than the more invasive neck shaving and it worked out very well. It didn't entirely solve the problem but it made it much more comfortable to play for me, the guitar remains unaltered and I saved some money in the process.

 

[GAD]

Based on my experience, I'd say roughly 1994 or so and after have 1 11/16", while anything before has 1 5/8".

That's totally speculative based on the many Starfires I've owned.