Ibanez AG 75 neck too skinny!

[CarolM]

Hi, I've had this guitar nearly a year and I still can't get used to the neck. I love everything about it but the 1.69" nut width. I can't seem to keep my fingers from buzzing against my fingers, and I'm a woman with smallish hands!

It's hard to believe a man with normal hands could deal with this. Granted, my fingers slant more than they should. The last time I played seriously (before I cut my pinky finger) I was more used to a Strat or Tele neck width. I just don't remember this kind of problem with those or my acoustic. I still play a strat once in a while and it is a lot easier.

Are jazzboxes basically just technique-busters?

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Originally Posted by CarolM

Are jazzboxes basically just technique-busters?

Not at all. You just have to look around. Eastman jazzboxes have a 1.75" nut, for example. (I don't like them smaller than that.) You should check out their new 371 model, a ES-175 clone:



I also like chunky profiles, like some vintage Teles have.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

ps. $850 street price.

[AlohaJoe]

The neck is everything... some fit your hand and some don't, and loving the neck is the #1 priority IMO. It's also one of the few things on a guitar that's hard to change. If after a year your guitar still doesn't fit your hand it's time to move on. Try as many as you can, and when your left hand says OH YEA, that's the one.

[mr. beaumont]

Nobody wants to hear it, but I think it's a technique based problem (or a poorly set up ibanez)

If you say you're used to teles and strats, you've been playing a 1 11/16 nut width...or perhaps even thinner if it's a vintage/reissue.

It could be more the profile of the neck than the nut width, perhaps? The ibanez necks always felt too shallow in profile to me...that and those big frets mean you'll never see me playing one.

[Retroman1969]

The AG75 has a 43mm nut, which is the same as an American Special Strat or Tele. If you're playing a Standard Strat then the nut width is likely to be 42mm.
This leads me to think that any playability issues you might be having with the Ibanez lie elsewhere.
It might be like Mr. Beaumont says, and the guitar is just poorly set up. A badly cut nut, sprouting or uneven frets, or a maladjusted truss rod can make playability a nightmarish chore, constantly fighting buzz and intonation issues.
Honestly, a halfway well made, well set up archtop should be easy and comfortable to play. If it's a technical challenge (especially compared to an acoustic), then something is up.

PS: Every AG75 I ever tried in the stores was really poorly set up.

PPS: The Eastman AR371 mentioned above is 1.75" at the nut, which I believe translates to 44.5mm which I love. Lots of room.

[pingu]

Pay the dough for a proper set-up (important)
cut those nails nice and short
and get the fingers more vertical onto the board

[pingu]

Are jazzboxes basically just technique-busters?

nope

[bobby d]

I have that problem with my Alvarez acoustic. Playing an open C chord requires really getting on the tips of the fingers to prevent muting the G string. I just measured the nut and it's 40 mm.

Also, keeping fingernails clipped short makes a big difference.

[Whistler]

Carol, I know where you're coming from. This is one on my main issues. That's why I've basically stuck with nylon string classicals: 2"++ necks. But I do know that setup is very important, especially with the more narrow necks.

Check the nut. Are the strings spread out as far as possible? Are they evenly spaced? Nearly every new guitar I get requires me to cut a new nut. Accuracy is important.

How about string height at the nut? You want it as low as possible. Groove the slots deeper.

You can find specs for all these dimensions on-line or in lutherie books but I have found that all are on the "safe side". You can space the strings closer to the FB edge and lower at the nut than spec.

Also, overall action is critical also. Proper neck relief should be checked as well. A good luthier may be in order.

Good Luck!

[CarolM]

Thanks everyone.

I had the guitar set up by the best luthier in this area, and he cut the nut and checked it all out. The action is real low, maybe too low. I didn't make any special requests for that kind of setup.

I also keep my fingernails brutally short, but yeah sometimes I can't seem to get them short enough!

The Eastman is dreamy...