Is Guild Bound To Go 1 3/4?

Wellington

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Speculation, and wouldn't affect many here but as for purchasers of new Guilds it would affect. Would that matter to you? In recent years there's been a huge trend to switch to 1 3/4 nut widths, Martin has done almost across the board as well as lots of lower tier companies, Guild did it with all (all or almost all?) of the import models, Eastman has shifted mostly to 1 3/4 as well. My other dread has a 1 3/4 nut and I'm fine with it, but I do prefer the narrower nut width like Guild uses on the USA models (yes I know the M series is 1 3/4, makes sense). I do wish Guild would use a wider bridge string spacing, but it's not a big deal.

Anyway, I tend to overthink, probably has to do with conversing with too many guitar cork sniffers, but I'm wondering if this would be a welcome change or unwelcome change for you if you were buying a new Oxnard. I already have my beloved Oxnard D40T so I'm safe if they change haha, but I always dream of a 55 one day.
 

bobouz

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A 1-3/4” nut width does not work for me, period. I’ve tried to adapt, but simply cannot get comfortable with a wider nut. And like you, a bit more room at the bridge would be a welcome change.
 

SFIV1967

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We have a thread listing all 6 string acoustic models with 1 3/4" or wider nut width models in post #2 there:

Ralf
 

fronobulax

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There are a great many players out there (and potential players as well) who have no clue that 1 3/4" nut widths are different from 1 11/16". So there is a market sector where it doesn't make a difference and Guild's decision can be made because a large portion of the market doesn't know that they can have a preference.

Note that I am not saying people who claim to notice the difference are imagining things. But it does take some experience to realize that the difference is important. So instruments targeted at entry level players (Westerly Collection) or at casual players who want an upgrade (USA made) don't have to accommodate preferences in nut width.
 

walrus

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I never could tell the difference until I got to a certain level of playing. A wider nut width is definitely more comfortable for me, but does it make sense business-wise to only offer one option? I don't think so.

walrus
 

tommym

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For me, not only do I now prefer a 1 3/4" nut, but also wider string spacing at the bridge. Guild's vintage 2 1/8" string spacing at the bridge no longer works for me, so most of my vintage Guild six strings (except for one) are gone. However, Guild's NH F-30 Standards were a step in the right direction.

Tommy
 

Wellington

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Personally, the way Larrivee does their dreads with 1 11/16 nut and 2 1/4 bridge spacing is the perfect combo. But I'm so used to 2 1/8 it's no longer an issue, Tom a bit too adjust for finger picking for me at first.
 

RBpicker

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I would not buy another Guild if they changed to 1-3/4 nut width. My Oxnard D20 is perfect for me. I sold a Westerly D140 because of the neck width. Granted, it was too deep for my hand as well, so neck shape matters too.
rb
 

mario1956

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There are a great many players out there (and potential players as well) who have no clue that 1 3/4" nut widths are different from 1 11/16". So there is a market sector where it doesn't make a difference and Guild's decision can be made because a large portion of the market doesn't know that they can have a preference.

Note that I am not saying people who claim to notice the difference are imagining things. But it does take some experience to realize that the difference is important. So instruments targeted at entry level players (Westerly Collection) or at casual players who want an upgrade (USA made) don't have to accommodate preferences in nut width.
It really doesn't bother me one way or another as long as the neck profile doesn't get too big. I even have a guitar that has a clear 1-23/32" width my stuff is all over the place!
 

Nuuska

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This conversation about string-spacing differencies of less than 1/80 inch - = about 0,3mm - between two adjacent strings leads me to believe, that many people here work as cardiac surgeon or surface-mounted-component solderer . . . 😏

If we have two guitars with same neck profile and thickness and only difference is the 1/16 inch nut width - but if the profile and thickness vary w nut width - then it is easier to fathom.

I'm writing this seriously - just wondering about the presicion - not trying to tell anyone that they're just figuring things or something.
 

Wellington

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This conversation about string-spacing differencies of less than 1/80 inch - = about 0,3mm - between two adjacent strings leads me to believe, that many people here work as cardiac surgeon or surface-mounted-component solderer . . . 😏

If we have two guitars with same neck profile and thickness and only difference is the 1/16 inch nut width - but if the profile and thickness vary w nut width - then it is easier to fathom.

I'm writing this seriously - just wondering about the presicion - not trying to tell anyone that they're just figuring things or something.
I don't know, a Seagull S6 and an S6 slim, the difference is substantial, and it's 1.72 compared to 1.8 feels like you're playing a classical in comparison. I like both necks though.
 
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Brad Little

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I'm with a couple of the posters above, my first good guitar was my F212, made when Guild had no radius on their 12s, and I also spent several years concentrating on classical guitar and repertoire. I'm of the see guitar play guitar school, I have no idea what the nut width is on any of my guitars, and only recently thought about radius, and then only because I got a Thalia capo for Christmas in 2020 and it comes with interchangeable surfaces for different radii.
 
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