Is there a nylon Guitar fingerboard 42mm Radius

**Arny** · 10-02-2012, 08:42 AM

Dear Members,
I am a devoted Gibson Archtop Player and my two main tools are a 60's Switchmaster & a 1946 L5.

I love the best of jazz players but have also discovered some great players who are not recognized so much in the jazz world as they are in their own world.

Jerry Reed is a typical example that comes to mind, as a Country, Rock & Roller picker, when you hear his rendition of Hoagy's "Georgia," you know Jerry has a lot of Jazz influence in those gifted fingers.
The point I'm getting to, is :
Where can a frustrated Charlie Bird or Jerry Reed admirer get his hands on a Nylon Guitar with a fretboard 42mm (1-11/16) nut width and if at all possible, has as a bonus, a Fretboard that's radius.

I have tried a few Nylon's including Ramerez but nothing was ever 100%.
My latest purchase, which was unbelievable value for money is the the Guild GN5-NAT with a 44mm none-radius nut, its a great guitar although if the built in pick-up was a Prismatone piezo pickup, or the McClish Pick-up, that would also improve the plugged-in sound.

So I'm thinking of having some Nylon Guitars made by a top Spanish manufacturer, with a view to re-selling these, on to others like me who have the same frustration.

I would be very grateful for any input or ideas that other members may have to offer.

Thanks for reading

Best Regards

Tony.
[email protected]

**rpguitar** · 10-02-2012, 09:10 AM

Hi Tony,

I spent about one full year playing almost nothing but Flamenco. During that time, I learned a lot about Spanish guitars and (surprise) bought and/or tried several really good ones. Despite coming from jazz, though, I took the approach of embracing what these guitars were rather than trying to buy a hybrid (as they are called) with a smaller, radiused neck.

Spanish makers tend to be extremely conservative as you may know. The luthiers practically have their own culture and way of doing things that is steeped in tradition. Instead, you might have more luck with an American maker such as Kenny Hill or Aaron Green. The former actually makes hybrid nylon guitars, and the latter is a young but already extremely respected luthier who would probably be open to discussion.

Search Google for "hybrid nylon guitar" and see what you get.

**RyanM** · 10-02-2012, 09:19 AM

The Taylor nylon is a hybrid with the kind of specs you want.

**BigMikeinNJ** · 10-02-2012, 09:24 AM

Check out this luthier. I've been watching him for about 18 months now, came real close a couple times to buying something with a sinker rosewood top, but finances keep me from doing it. It's on my bucket list.

Bellucci Concert Guitars, Concert Classical Guitars

**rpguitar** · 10-02-2012, 09:38 AM

Hey Big Mike,

Don't do it. I did, and was sorry.

Yes, the guitars look absolutely amazing, and there are some raving reviews too. But dig deeper and you'll find many very bad reviews. My gorgeous looking Bellucci had flaking finish, poorly seated frets, a too-high nut, and a back buzz that refused all attempts to cure it. The guitars are made of beautiful materials but are shoddy.

Sorry to have to be so blunt, but I thought it was necessary to jump in.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 10-02-2012, 09:45 AM

The Godin ACS-SA Slim has a 1.715" (43.5mm) nut and a 16" radius. For fingerstyle I like it wider than that, but you should check it out anyway, before you have a custom guitar made.

Godin Guitars

**Arny** · 10-02-2012, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by BigMikeinNJ

Check out this luthier. I've been watching him for about 18 months now, came real close a couple times to buying something with a sinker rosewood top, but finances keep me from doing it. It's on my bucket list.

Bellucci Concert Guitars, Concert Classical Guitars

Dear Mike,
Have written, let you know how it went

Thanks

Best Regards

Tony.
Home

**rpguitar** · 10-02-2012, 09:59 AM

Wow. Tony, do NOT buy from Bellucci. You've been warned. I'll leave this thread alone now...

**Arny** · 10-02-2012, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by rpguitar

Hi Tony,
I took the approach of embracing what these guitars were rather than trying to buy a hybrid (as they are called) with a smaller, radiused neck.

Spanish makers tend to be extremely conservative as you may know.

Kenny Hill or Aaron Green. The former actually makes hybrid nylon guitars, and the latter is a young but already extremely respected luthier who would probably be open to discussion.

Search Google for "hybrid nylon guitar" and see what you get.

Dear Roger,
Hope your Dad is looking after that L12, and you and all are in "Fine Fettle"

The reason of tradition is why I want it to look like a Spanish Guitar, rather than a Sands style body, this is all to do with interplay between the acoustic body and the pick-up, as well as the feeling of holding the right shape, which is most likely why most Jazz Archtop Players have not gone Solid Body.

Again Roger, thanks for your good advice.

Best Regards

Tony.
Home

**Arny** · 10-02-2012, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by RyanM

The Taylor nylon is a hybrid with the kind of specs you want.

Dear Ryan,
Sent Taylor an email asking what is on offer at 42mm radius.

Thanks

Best Regards

Tony.
[email protected]

**BigMikeinNJ** · 10-02-2012, 11:09 AM

Thank you for the advice on Bellucci guitars, I appreciate your input.
I've owned a Godin ACS Slim and it had a pretty nice neck, I am more of an electric hollowbody fan and found that "tele style" body sort of hard to adapt to. Recently I got this Cordoba fusion guitar used on eBay and love it - here is a link to another by a store just to give you an idea of what is like. I really like it's tone and the slimmer neck and radius on the fingerboard helps and chord player like me since hymns and play them on a classical. The pickup is also decent when you want that warm plugged in sound. Not bad for the money. Look for one used to save a little money

Cordoba Fusion 14 Rose Classical Acou-Elec Guitar *B | eBay

**Arny** · 10-02-2012, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

The Godin ACS-SA Slim has a 1.715" (43.5mm) nut and a 16" radius. For fingerstyle I like it wider than that, but you should check it out anyway, before you have a custom guitar made.

Godin Guitars

Thanks "Big Daddy"
As I wrote to Roger :
I want it to look like a Spanish Guitar, rather than a Sands style body, this is all to do with interplay between the acoustic body and the pick-up, as well as the feeling of holding the right shape, which is most likely why most Jazz Archtop Players have not gone Solid Body.
There is another point I raise :
Having had a "Seagull" Jumbo and a "5th Avenue" Archtop in my workshop for the same client, I was very disappointed with Godin's final inspection team, before allowing an instrument into the market.

Best Regards

Tony.
[email protected]

**Jabberwocky** · 10-02-2012, 11:11 AM

There are many luthiers of these jazz nylon string guitars. Kenny Hill has been mentioned. Luthier Steve Holst makes a jazz nylon string (with a double-top) as does Kevin Aram (Earl Klugh plays Aram guitars) of the UK. Unlike Bellucci, Francisco Navarro Francisco Navarro Main Page of Paracho, Mexico is highly regarded for his guitars. His guitars are reasonably priced by American and European luthiers' standards. German Vasquez Rubio http://www.guitarsbygvr.com/ in Los Angeles is another highly regarded Hispanic American luthier.

The only Bellucci I highly approve of is Monica. OOOOOOOh....Baby.

**Jabberwocky** · 10-02-2012, 11:15 AM

Let's not forget Johnny Walker of Okie Johnny Walker Classical guitars - Home. And Tom Prisloe Classical Guitars, Handmade Classical Guitars and Spanish Guitars by Tom Prisloe and his Pavan guitars Spanish Classical Guitars, Spanish Guitars and Classical Guitars at Great Prices .

How about a Buscarino Classical : http://www.buscarino.com/cabaret.html ?

Greenfield does anything for you : http://www.greenfieldguitars.com/gg2...50&storyid=140 ?

**Arny** · 10-02-2012, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by BigMikeinNJ

Thank you for the advice on Bellucci guitars, I appreciate your input.
The pickup is also decent when you want that warm plugged in sound. Not bad for the money. Look for one used to save a little money

Cordoba Fusion 14 Rose Classical Acou-Elec Guitar *B | eBay

Many Thanks,

They have a 48mm Nut Width I'm looking for 42mm Radius

Best Regards

Tony.
[email protected]

**rpguitar** · 10-02-2012, 11:30 AM

Jabber gave you many good links, Tony. If you lurk in the Classical and Flamenco corners of the internet, you'll find more solid information about full size Spanish style guitars with slimmed down features. Here in jazz-land, the talk is usually more open to semi-hollow and other truly fusion oriented nylon guitars.

I owned Godin and Carvin nylons for a while, but after playing Conde Hermanos and Hmnos Sanchis Lopez flamenco guitars, not to mention Ramirez and Contreras 1A classicals, there was no way I could be happy with anything less. The real Spanish guitars are incredibly light, responsive, and superlative acoustic instruments. Ugh, don't get me started! I have just bonded heavily with my Super 400! (Must... not... get... distracted)

(BTW, that '35 L-12 is back with me. It narrowly escaped a terrible flood that ruined my parents' basement. The case has original installment payment receipts from the 1930s in it, too - all was saved.)

**kris** · 10-02-2012, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by Arny

Many Thanks,

They have a 48mm Nut Width I'm looking for 42mm Radius

Best Regards

Tony.
[email protected]

nut width 42 mm?

**Arny** · 10-02-2012, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by Jabberwocky

There are many luthiers of these jazz nylon string guitars.

Kenny Hill has been mentioned.

Steve Holst makes a jazz nylon string (with a double-top)

Kevin Aram (Earl Klugh plays Aram guitars) of the UK.

Francisco Navarro Francisco Navarro Main Page of Paracho,

German Vasquez Rubio German Vazquez Rubio in Los Angeles is another highly regarded Hispanic American luthier.

Many thanks for the contacts, it seems that your contact for the more top pro players or those who might have enough money to use your recommended makers.
Here is your list again :

Kenny Hill has been mentioned. I have emailed Ken,

Steve Holst makes a jazz nylon string (with a double-top) Too Expensive

Kevin Aram (Earl Klugh plays Aram guitars) of the UK. Too Expensive

Francisco Navarro Francisco Navarro Main Page of Paracho, No Specs, no email address for FAQ but looked very interesting (slow website)

German Vasquez Rubio German Vazquez Rubio in Los Angeles is another highly regarded Hispanic American luthier.
Too Expensive

Thanks again

Best Regards

Tony.
[email protected]

**Jabberwocky** · 10-02-2012, 12:03 PM

For all other information on the Francisco Navarro Guitars, contact us at [email protected] or at 713-461-1060.

**Arny** · 10-02-2012, 12:15 PM

Dear Members,
Many thanks for all the contacts so far I have not come across anything that meets the specs that I seek,
but I have sent out about 6 emails and we'll see the replies soon, Pavan looks promising (Thank you Jabber & Roger)

Rough but the important parts of the Specification.
1 = I would prefer it to be made in Valencia Spain.
2 = 44mm at the NUT.
3 = Radius Fretboard.
4 = Ebony Fretboard
5 = Solid Top
6 = Rosewood sides laminated or solid
7 = Prismatone Piezo style Pick-up or the McClish equal
8 = Looks like a Standard Spanish Guitar Cutaway is a choice
9 = Available as a stock item, not have to wait for an instrument to be made
10 = End user price $1,500 or less

I should also add I'm English now living in France.

Best Regards

Tony.
[email protected]

**rpguitar** · 10-02-2012, 12:35 PM

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).

**Arny** · 10-02-2012, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by Jabberwocky

Let's not forget
Johnny Walker of Okie http://www.johnnywalkerguitars.com/home"]Johnny Walker Classical guitars - Home[/URL].
Tom Prisloe Classical Guitars, Handmade Classical Guitars and Spanish Guitars by
Tom Prisloe and his Pavan guitars

"http://www.pavanguitars.com/index.html"]Spanish Classical Guitars, Spanish Guitars and Classical Guitars at Great Prices[/URL] .

How about a Buscarino Classical : Buscarino :: GUITAR GALLERY ?

Greenfield does anything for you : Greenfield Guitars ?

Dear Jabber,
Hope you don't mind the Salutation.
I'll do the same as last time but there is hope at "Pavan" again thanks you have been a great help.

1 Johnny Walker of Okie
No Specs looks to small to have available from the shelf.

Tom Prisloe
Look below

Tom Prisloe[/URL] and his Pavan guitars
Like the look of these, so I have written

How about a Buscarino Classical :
At over $8,000 ?!

Greenfield
Could not see prices so I have written to Mike

Best Regards

Tony.
[email protected]

**Arny** · 10-02-2012, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by kris

nut width 42 mm?

Dear Chris,
My Guild GN5-NAT with a 44mm none-radius comes very close and excellant value for money
My L5 and Switchmaster are both 42mm (1 11/16")

Thanks for the Question.

Best Regards

Tony.
[email protected]