Is there a nylon Guitar fingerboard 42mm Radius

[Arny]

Tony,

Have you actually played a nylon guitar with a 42mm nut? That is really, really narrow for the thicker nylon strings. There's a good reason why these guitars are not spec'd like steel string instruments. The diameter of nylon treble strings is significantly wider than steel, and this necessitates a wider center-to-center string gap, which increases the overall nut width requirement.

The smallest (barely) practical nut width for nylon would be 1.75", or about 44.5mm. I mean, even the Taylor models are 1 7/8 (47.6mm).

Dear Roger,
I must agree you could be right, because the Valencia company to whom I am discussing this guitar with, have also advised me, they did make one with a 42mm nut but after two years they withdrew it from the Market.

Having now owned the Guild GN5-NAT with a 44mm none-radius nut, with large strings fitted, which I have no problem playing apart from the Radius, I feel it would be better had the fretboard been Radius, which is obvious for Barre Chords.

Roger your advice is good and I feel after owning and enjoying 95% of what the Guild has to offer, I should take your advice as this will amplify my chances of finding the right instrument.
What we should not forget is:
I'm a very Healthy retired man of 76 years and have been in varius business from being a "Spiderman2 (Rigger) a Pro Musician on to running a very successful world acclaimed studio, yet I still have ambition.
So I will either purchase one guitar for myself, but I would prefer to see if there is a hole in the market for these specs, and have 10 to 20 made for others who may be seeking something along the lines I have stated at around $1,500 USD.

I have now edited the spec sheet to 44mm at the nut

Look after that L12 so glad she's OK.

Best Regards

Tony.
[email protected]

[Jabberwocky]

Tony, I wish you many many more good healthy years of playing, sir. Good health to you and all my best wishes.

[Doctor Jeff]

Good luck with your search. I had an Alvarez classical AE RC20SC for awhile and found it very comfortable for jazz but too narrow (~42 mm) for classical repertoire and anything with arpeggios. Or maybe my fingers are too fat. It is no longer offered and was a lower end guitar but was well made, sounded good and looked great, especially with the Florentine cutaway.

I now have an Alvarez AC-60SC that I'm fond of. Wider fingerboard, not radiused, great electronics.

I second what was said about Taylor classical A/E's. Very nice playing and sounding guitars, nut width about 1 7/8", some models retail for under $1000. I have never heard anyone complain about their Taylor.

[rpguitar]

I have never heard anyone complain about their Taylor.

That is probably true. The ones who complain no longer have it.

Actually, among dedicated classical/flamenco players, the Taylors have a reputation as having a nice feel but are tonally challenged compared to the better "proper" Spanish guitars that those guys are used to.

It all depends what your standards are, and whether that type of instrument will be your primary focus or just a "spice" to sprinkle on your recipes when the mood dictates.

[Arny]

Good luck with your search. I had an Alvarez classical AE RC20SC for awhile It is no longer offered and was a lower end guitar but was well made, sounded good and looked great, especially with the Florentine cutaway.

I now have an Alvarez AC-60SC that I'm fond of. Wider fingerboard, not radiused, great electronics.
.

Dear Jeff,
Im not a rich man but I'm not "On the Dole" as we say in the UK, I have spent over $8,000 on some of my Guitars, but among my collection, of 14 all are played sometime during a week, there are the odd lo-priced guitar, and my favorites are all made by K. Yairi or Alverez, his workmanship is to a very high standard.
Being a dreadnought fan with a Martin 1966 D35 and a 1962 00028 (I love Broonzy and M.Travis), my Yairi Alverez's sound just as good in fact my DY96 won hands down on me purchasing a 1960's Martin D45.
The other two I have are a DY90, and a wonderful Burled Mahogany D85.

Thanks for the Tip (While bearing in mind Roger's & your tip) I will look out for a used AE RC20SC or your Alvarez AC-60SC if you would let me know the width at the nut understanding it will be wider than 42mm

Best Regards

Tony

[gazda]

Last week, I have played two hybrids, a Lowden S35J and a Martin 000-C Nylon, at the London Acoustic Guitar Show. Both 48mm nut. Martin has a bit longer scale, more like a gypsy jazz guitar, which is really not that noticeable while playing. The Lowden was fantastic, one of the best guitars I have ever had privilege to play (shame about the noise of the show). This is a bit unsurprising as it costs 3x more than the other guitar. But crucially, it neck shape is much jazzier and it feels right to jazz hands. The Martin must be a folk guitar, it doesn't "feel" jazzy at all (but it is rather nice). It is such that thumb-over chords just worked for me with no adjustment. I think that 42 or 43 mm would be rather impractical with nylon strings and a full scale. Less importantly, nylon strings have bigger gauges than steel strings on the treble side (but smaller on bass), but more importantly, they have a much much bigger "travel" when picked, both under thumb/fingers/pick and while sounding. A classical neck at 52 mm is a bit too wide for jazz playing, as it is awkward for thumb-over and baseball-bat grip left hand stuff. To see if 42 mm is too cramped for you on a nylon string guitar, go to a shop and play a 1/2 child nylon string classical, making sure it is not a 48 mm nut but really 42, as many child nylon string guitars start from 48. You may even have to look for a 1/4 toy guitar for less than 48. No wonder that hybrid designers aim for 48. Stating the obvious, nylon is not steel and other way round.

[Arny]

Last week, I have played two hybrids, a Lowden S35J and a Martin 000-C Nylon, at the London Acoustic Guitar Show. Both 48mm nut. Martin has a bit longer scale, more like a gypsy jazz guitar, which is really not that noticeable while playing.

The Lowden was costs 3x more than the other guitar. But crucially, it neck shape is much jazzier and it feels right to jazz hands.

I think that 42 or 43 mm would be rather impractical with nylon strings and a full scale.start from 48.

You may even have to look for a 1/4 toy guitar for less than 48. No wonder that hybrid designers aim for 48. Stating the obvious, nylon is not steel and other way round.

Dear Gazda,
Neither the Martin or the Lowden would be right, the Martin nut is too wide, and the Lowden is too expensive for a player like myself who will spend 90% of his time Playing an Archtop and the Nylon purely for a change

Roger has already raised your points regarding Nylon Strings their size and width, so I have took Rogers advice on board, hence, you will see I have changed my Nut spec to 44mm.

I don't wish to go any wider because my Guild Nylon has a 44mm nut. and I have already made it clear that my Guild is perfect for the Job if only the Fretboard had a Radius similar to my 1946 L5.

48mm is still to wide for some players as our hands are all different sizes, as I did have a Takamine Nylon with a 48mm nut, and most of the top world class players who used my Studio, who wanted to experiment with a different guitar tone, found the instrument nut at 48mm too wide, in the end they settled for for a Steel Strung Acoustic, a couple of these players have found the Guild to be almost perfect.

Many thanks for your input it was very interesting, being a Martin owner and a Lowden admirer, its great to hear both companies are manufacturing fine instruments.

I have now decided to make the Guild the one that is almost there, and except the challenge of a Flat Fingerboard, and what it may have to offer me and to my style

Many thanks to all who wrote and I just love this forum wish I could spend more time here than I do.

Best Regards

Tony

[Spook410]

Just noting the spec's on the Navarro Special Grand Concert classical:

• List price: $3500.00
• List price with Brazilian rosewood $4200.00
• Free case and shipping in the United States.

Only an extra $700 for Brazilian? I wonder if there are problems getting through customs into the states.

[gazda]

Hi again Tony, that's it then! Enjoy the almost-there Guild - if the sound is there, fretboard radius is just about the easiest thing to forget about when playing
All the best

[calgarc]

both the godin multaic and the yamaha aex500n are excellent hybrids you can get them at a decent price used as well

[kris]

both the godin multaic and the yamaha aex500n are excellent hybrids you can get them at a decent price used as well

+1
Special Yamaha AEX500n has nut about 42mm.
I've used it few years...but this is ala semi-hollow nylon strings guitar .
you can find this model for $300 used.

[Arny]

+1
Special Yamaha AEX500n has nut about 42mm.
I've used it few years...but this is ala semi-hollow nylon strings guitar .
you can find this model for $300 used.

Dear Kris,
Many thanks for your recommendations, but I'm only interested in its acoustic value and as I stated earlier I have my reservations about Godin's final check before a Guitar is placed ready to be sold.

I have a great respect for Yamaha and their build quality, in fact a Yamaha full blown acoustic guitar is most likely a better deal than most banks can offer.

But as I stated earlier I have decided the Guild GN5-NAT is the nearest I will get to perfection, as a Good Value for money Nylon Guitar that not only looks like one, in the right hands this guitar would sound brilliant, and the only way one could better it, would be to spend well over $1,500.

Remember I am discussing a nylon Guitar with a 44mm nut width and a very low action, and a very high spec.

If there is anyone who would like me to Post some pictures and sounds please request here, it might cross one's mind that I sell guitars, NO I just try my best to play them, my occupation these days is selling Classic Recording Gear and old Classic Microphones.

Best Regards

Tony.
[email protected]

[kris]

Guild GN5-NAT...I think it is good one.

[Doctor Jeff]

I realize you've already decided on the Guild, which looks like a great guitar. (Unfortunately it is very unlikely I would see one in the flesh.) I would like to mention one more electric crossover guitar, the Sadowsky nylon string. I have an acquaintance who upgraded from the Godin Multiac to the Sadowsky a few years ago and was very pleased with the guitar.

I heard him play in a guitar duo, kind of gypsy jazz-type of stuff, a little bit of flamenco nouveau, and it sounded fabulous--possibly one of the best undersaddle transducer-amplified nylon string guitars out there. It is a rather unconventional (for nylon string) Tele design with a very thin neck.

[LtKojak]

A Nylon string guitar MUST have a 50mm nut widht and no radius.

All other options don't play well and feel plain wrong. But of course, if you've never played classical guitar repertoire, specially Agustin Barrios Mangorè, you'll never know.

You just can't have a LOW setup in a Nylon string guitar, the strings vibrate in a much bigger elipse that a Jazz guitar with flatwounds.

You're basically would like a Jazz Box, with the feel of a Jazz Box but designed for nylon strings and that just can't happen due to the very different physical behaviour of the materials. Just hear records by George Benson, Lee Ritenour and others made with Godin, Gibson and/or Yamaha instruments and hear how strangled they sound, specially the third and fourth strings, compared with records made by Earl Klugh, Marc Antoine and others made with amplified classical designed instruments.

HTH,

[Arny]

A Nylon string guitar MUST have a 50mm nut widht and no radius.

All other options don't play well and feel plain wrong. But of course, if you've Just hear records by George Benson,
George Benson, Lee Ritenour Earl Klugh, Marc Antoine

HTH,

My Guild MUST have a 44mm its just a shame, because it SHOULD be radius.
Also
Width MUST spell as W I D T H not widht (Did you not spot the RED underline or have we got this wrong.)

Regarding the taste in instruments by the great players you have mentioned, I'm pretty sure that 99% of our members will disagree with you.

I would also be interested in knowing when your next at Carnegie Hall, and what major record label you are with, and give us all a real treat, why not
show us your skills on "YouTube".

[kris]

A Nylon string guitar MUST have a 50mm nut widht and no radius.

All other options don't play well and feel plain wrong. But of course, if you've never played classical guitar repertoire, specially Agustin Barrios Mangorè, you'll never know.

You just can't have a LOW setup in a Nylon string guitar, the strings vibrate in a much bigger elipse that a Jazz guitar with flatwounds.

You're basically would like a Jazz Box, with the feel of a Jazz Box but designed for nylon strings and that just can't happen due to the very different physical behaviour of the materials. Just hear records by George Benson, Lee Ritenour and others made with Godin, Gibson and/or Yamaha instruments and hear how strangled they sound, specially the third and fourth strings, compared with records made by Earl Klugh, Marc Antoine and others made with amplified classical designed instruments.

HTH,

I have big expierience with nylon strings guitars.
You are right ... but all experiments with solid body nylons strings guitars are not for classical music.They do not sound like clasicals guitars...just use nylon strings.
I played about 15 years solid-body Gibson Chet Atkins nylon strings model with big nut about 52 mm and it was realy difficult to play jazz chords.
Actualy I use Frameworks Modern Clasic with nut about 47 mm and this guitar is very comfortable for me...but for classical music I prefer standard classical guitar with bigger nut and bigger sound/52 mm/.
Jazzingly
kris

[LtKojak]

I have big expierience with nylon strings guitars.
You are right ... but all experiments with solid body nylons strings guitars are not for classical music.They do not sound like clasicals guitars...just use nylon strings.

Exactly!

I played about 15 years solid-body Gibson Chet Atkins nylon strings model with big nut about 52 mm and it was realy difficult to play jazz chords.

I've used to have one, but after a couple of years I sold it, as the nylon- guitar parts I've been asked to play didn't really sound right... mostly samba and bossa nova. I like big necks, so feeling-wise I was at home with the Chet Atkins. What chords did you feel difficult to play? Were you using the thumb to fret the 6th string?

Actualy I use Frameworks Modern Clasic with nut about 47 mm and this guitar is very comfortable for me...but for classical music I prefer standard classical guitar with bigger nut and bigger sound/52 mm/.
Jazzingly
kris

My Takamine EG series (52mm nut) delivers what it's needed... I just had to adjust the setup a little bit as it came too low from the factory.

[kris]

Regards
kris