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Anybody aware of any archtops available in the world with a close to 2” nut?
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02-10-2018 09:11 AM
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Wu or Yunzhi will build one to your specs. I'm not aware of any standard production models, because it's not a popular neck size, but you can certainly have one built.
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I concur with the chinese custom-made instrument as the most viable way to have such an unusual guitar made.
I just can't imagine why somebody would want an archtop with a classical width nut, but I'm open for suggestions.
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Pretty sure Steve Holst would do it. On his laminate archtops, that would run his usual US$3,300.
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Any number of small shop luthiers will build you the neck size you desire. I prefer a wider neck and I play a semi-solid one at the present and am currently having another built for me. My current on is 1 15/16" but with a 12" radius. It was built by a forum member. The one I am having built right now is by Chris Forshage and it will have a slightly smaller neck at 1 13/16" but it will also be headless. If you want to but one that is already built you can check out this Gudelsky guitar at Gruhn's Guitars. It has a 2" flat fingerboard.
Tom Lyons Guitar
http://www.tomlyonsguitars.com/hollow-body-guitars.html
Forshage Guitars
About Forshage Custom Instruments
Gudelsky archtop
AR4355 Gudelsky archtop 1992
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Half of the Carbon Fiber archtops I build are set up for nylon string and I usually provide a 1.875" nut width on those. I don't think it is strange, especially for bossa players and solo fingerstyle players. Being Carbon Fiber, you can put steel strings on the guitar and it won't explode or sound bad. But generally people seem to want one or the other, and the nut is the most determining factor.
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I suppose I should add to the OP, I don't know of any large factories that make archtops in wider necks. Boutique is probably your only option. If that is not in the budget, I think you can spec a wide nut from Warmoth if you want to get a donor Telecaster body from a pawn shop and swap out the neck.
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Any 7 string archtop can easily be converted with a new nut, new saddle and Benedetto pickup.
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Gruhn Guitars has a Gudelsky with a wide nut -
Originally Posted by Jimwilly1
AR4355, Gudelsky archtop , 1992, NM, 15-1/8" body width, figured maple back and sides, AKG piezo and microphone pickup system, 2" nut width, non-radius fingerboard, a fine sounding instrument by a well-known student of Jimmy D'Aquisto, heavy duty OHC...$4,675.00
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See this thread NGD Review: Electric Nylon String with Sound Sample for how I ultimately dealt with this very problem.
dave
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Here are two possibly cheaper and quicker ways of doing it:
A: String change
1. Buy a classical guitar that you will not worry about modifying/damaging at all
2. Have a luthier install a magnetic pickup of your choice (you can even crazy glue it to the top for experiment's sake)
3. Install Thomastik-Infeld KR116 rope core classical strings
4. Enjoy the fat electric pickup sound from low tension strings
B. Bridge and nut change
1. Buy a 7-string archtop guitar with a wide enough neck
2. Change the nut and the bridge.
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The 7 string conversion is a possibility but one has to look at other factors such as the nut width on a 7 string archtop. Some of these run from slightly over 2 to 2 1/4". The peghead to string alignment at the nut and the bridge to tailpiece alignment. To me the point of wider string spacing at the nut is so not only to have a more room at the nut end but also a wider spacing at the bridge.
If I was to do this I'd start with a used Ibanez AF957 or Eastman archtop. Their 7 string nut sizes run about 2". Of course they have a radius-ed fingerboard. Then change the nut, pickup unless it already has a blade pickup like the Ibanez, don't change the bridge, change the tailpiece to a 6 string tailpiece, sand out the slots on the bridge and cut new notches to the desired spacing. I've done this with a couple of my 1 3/4" nut guitars e.g. Eastman and Peerless because while they have a wide nut they went with a smaller string spacing at the bridge and I want a larger spacing i.e. where you finger-pick.
I'm assuming that you (OP) have tried 6 string steel strings with wider nuts and string spacing, I say that because when it comes to the thicker nylon strings I need the wider spacing with the narrower steel strings I'm comfortable with just over 1 3/4 or 1 7/8". I find that spacing a bit tight for my fingers on a traditional classical guitar.
PS: I have IT Rope Cores on on of my crossover guitars, to my ears they don't anything like TI Flats for example. They are unique but sound more like acoustic strings.
Now if you still want a 2" flat classical style neck I would suggest you check out the Gudelsky that both QAman and I mentioned above.
Ibanez AFJ957 7-String Archtop Review
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Through what pickups and amps have you played the rope-core strings ? Originally Posted by rob taft
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Krivos magnetic floater to a Boss Katana 1X12, Fender SF Pro Reverb 2X12. As I said, in my post "to my ears". They are unique strings and last a long while. Originally Posted by medblues
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I understand I like them on my classical a lot, never goes out of tune. Feels a little weird doing tremolo on the "unwound" strings. Originally Posted by rob taft
I am planning to put them on one of my archtops or my Soloway that has DiMarzios, run it through the Polytone and I will report back. My guess is Krivo is designed/optimized for an acoustic sound.
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Most of Krivo's pickups are indeed for gypsy guitars, but he's recently refined a new thin humbucker for older archtop guitars. It's good, I have one -- course I helped him shake down the design, so maybe I'm biased Originally Posted by medblues
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I own that pickup as well. It is on the my Eastman that is pictured on the Krivos website. The first wasn't to my liking but Jason worked with me and came up with something that works for guitars that have very little room for a standard floater. Originally Posted by D.G.
Most of Krivo's pickups are indeed for gypsy guitars, but he's recently refined a new thin humbucker for older archtop guitars. It's good, I have one -- course I helped him shake down the design, so maybe I'm biased
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A few years ago on ebay, there was a very nice 1967 Gibson L-7C with a 2" wide nut. And I thought to meself, "Pity dat. Who'd want an L-7C with a 2" wide nut?"
Now I know...
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Thanks for the input y’all. My interest in a wider neck stems from having large hands and from playing a typical classical guitar. I go back to my jazz guitar and it feels like a child’s toy. I don’t know about the rest of you, but my particular case of guitar acquisition syndrome stems not from a desire for many guitars but from an evolving perspective on what works for me. I like a wider neck now. Maybe a full 2” is not necessary for steel string, and maybe a minimally radiused fingerboard would make some things easier than a true flat classical style neck. If I had all the money in the world I would buy the above Gudelsky sight unseen and try it out. I need to unload some instruments before I consider another purchase. Anyone want to be a Huss and Dalton crossroads?
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I’ve got fat fingertips, making it difficult to play on a standard-sized (1-11/16 to 1-3/4 inch wide) fingerboard. My instructor encouraged me to buy a classical, which fits my fat fingers. I turned that around, thanks to a very generous bonus from work, and placed an order with Lora to have Mr. Wu build my dream guitar. Originally Posted by LtKojak
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