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Post by Gregg Hermetech on Sept 18, 2020 15:59:03 GMT
Nice thread. I just measured my Faith and the fingerboard is about 42mm at the nut, and then about 55mm at the 14th fret (body join).
I'm interested because I'm probably going to get a Lowden soon, where the F model's standard width is 45mm at the nut and 57mm at the 14th fret. This will I am sure feel a bit different. I quite like the idea of a little more space for fretting and finger picking though. No problem so far, and I am sure it wouldn't take me long to adapt.
My big conundrum is the Lowden Pierre Bensusan model. That has the so called "45/60" neck, specifically designed for finger picking. That's quite a big difference from what I am used to playing, and am sure it would feel very different, particularly at the bridge end of the guitar, where the string spacing is likely to be far wider than what I am used to.
Trouble is I also like to strum a lot, so want a good all rounder. And the other trouble is, in these weird pandemic times it won't be as easy for me to hop on a plane to the UK and try out a few, which is what I had originally intended to do. Of course ideally I'd try it first, but not sure I want or will be able to right now.
Do you think I'd get used to the PB model too eventually? Would it feel like "a horrible strummer" with those strings so far apart? Any other advice?
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colins
Luthier / Guitar Maker
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Post by colins on Sept 18, 2020 16:25:40 GMT
Fingerboard with is usually taken at the nut and the 12th fret, the width at the 12th fret should be the same as the string spacing at the bridge, this gives the correct taper. My standard fingerboard for a steel string was, unless otherwise (mistakenly) requested, 46mm nut and 57mm at the 12th and of course with a 57mm bridge string spacing.
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Post by Gregg Hermetech on Sept 18, 2020 16:35:19 GMT
Fingerboard with is usually taken at the nut and the 12th fret, the width at the 12th fret should be the same as the string spacing at the bridge, this gives the correct taper. My standard fingerboard for a steel string was, unless otherwise (mistakenly) requested, 46mm nut and 57mm at the 12th and of course with a 57mm bridge string spacing. Interesting! My measurements on my Faith are 42 nut, 53 12th fret, and 55 for 14th fret and string spacing at bridge. Good to know that bridge string spacing is supposed to be around the same as the 12th fret or body join. So if the Lowden PB is 60 at the 14th fret, it should be around the same at the bridge. An extra 5mm compared to what I am used to. Using my measuring tape at the bridge, when I look and think it's just 2.5mm extra on each of the outer E strings, it doesn't look like it would be so bad or different. But it's all about feel...
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colins
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 2,324
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Post by colins on Sept 18, 2020 16:39:29 GMT
No, the width at the 12th fret equals the string spacing at the bridge. The string and fingerboard don't care whether the body join is at the 12th or 14th.
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Post by Gregg Hermetech on Sept 18, 2020 16:44:47 GMT
Got you, but that's not the case on my current guitar. Fretboard width is 53mm at the 12th fret, and string spacing is 55mm at the bridge. But it's a cheapish guitar!
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Post by Matt Milton on Sept 18, 2020 17:18:42 GMT
I found the Faith guitars I tried out to be a bit cramped for me - I really prefer a wider nut. I did try one I liked - the Faith Mercury Classic Burst - and my finger instincts were correct in that it has a 45mm nut, which is unusual for a Faith. If you're really worried about it, see if any guitar shops in Milan (was it Milan?) stock any of the 'hybrid classical' type guitars: nylon string not-quite-classicals. Try one of those out in the shop and see how it feels. These tend to have a wide nut width and string spacing but not quite as wide as a standard classical. Or you could just try a standard classical in a shop. But that runs the risk of perhaps putting you off unnecessarily. If you found you could strum and fingerpick on a classical then you will know you'll have no problem with a Lowden Bensusan... but on the other hand if you can't cope with a standard classical that doesn't necessarily mean you wouldn't be able to cope with a Lowden Bensusan, as a standard classical will still have a wider nut, wider string spacing and thicker neck than the Lowden... still, it'd be an indication of sorts. I played one of these once and it's actually surprisingly good given it's 35 quid: www.thomann.de/gb/startone_cg_851_44.htm If you could cope with that, then you would definitely be able to cope with an infinitely better made, not-as-wide steel string by Lowden...
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Post by Gregg Hermetech on Sept 18, 2020 17:46:20 GMT
Thanks Matt. That's crazy, maybe even worth it for £35 just to see!
I have no comparison to my Faith, apart from my electric, which only gets played very rarely. It's been basically my only guitar for the last three years.
Screw COVID, really, I was all set to do a big guitar try out weekend in the UK at some stage, focusing on Lowdens, Brooks and Martins, but A) I don't really fancy being in airports right now, and B) even if I did, all the countries are changing their policies every minute, and I wouldn't want to risk having to self-isolate for two weeks either going to or returning from the UK.
Good call on guitar shops in Milan, maybe I'll visit one next week, see if I can find some wider nut guitars and take a tape measure with me etc.
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Post by stevie2sticks on Sept 21, 2020 9:47:08 GMT
I’ve got a Recording King ROS 616 all solid Mahogany,
Width at nut 50mm. Neck like a cricket bat, a great sounding guitar. A cracker for the price range. I don’t strum at all. And keep it in Open D and DADGAD.
And I am a short person, with small hands and fairly webbed fingers. I adjust playing style when finger picking on this by pushing/bending wrist forward to allow fingers to come back and work.
It is slightly harder than 44mm width. I think some Seagull models have wide fret boards. I play my buddies Faith, great guitar but struggle to get clean finger picking.
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Post by Matt Milton on Sept 21, 2020 18:12:49 GMT
I’ve got a Recording King ROS 616 all solid Mahogany, Width at nut 50mm. I've got one of those too it's my favourite guitar, absolutely fantastic sound. But it's not a 50mm nut, it's 46mm, or 1 13/16 inches
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Post by andyhowell on Sept 24, 2020 7:21:34 GMT
[mention]gregghermetech [/mention] I’ve played a PB a few times and thought it a nice guitar but I wouldn’t have bought it at that price. I reckon you could strum with it - it doesn’t have the same stark separation as say a Sobell.
The best Lowdens I have played recently are the new S series guitars which I preferred to the PB.
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Dec 15, 2020 16:38:28 GMT
I'm sorry, I don't agree. This is just spam, although I can't see the reason for it. Registering another account just to agree with yourself over a nonsensical point isn't what this forum is about so both accounts are banned.
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