# Acoustic guitars and neck width

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acoustic-guitars-and-neck-width/666655>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [August 19, 2013, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acoustic-guitars-and-neck-width/666655 "2013-08-19T19:49:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![El\_Zagna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@El\_Zagna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Zagna)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2013, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acoustic-guitars-and-neck-width/666655/1 "2013-08-19T19:49:27Z")

</div>

I’ve been shopping for an acoustic guitar that I can play. I have fairly fat (and clumsy) fingers, and I have a hard time keeping them from muting neighboring strings, so I’m looking for something with a wide neck. From what I can tell, almost all acoustics under $1000 have a neck that tapers to about 35mm between the high and low E strings. The better guitars have a slightly wider neck - maybe 39mm. Not much difference, but it matters. My two nylon string guitars measured at 40 and 43mm.

So two questions. (1)Can anyone recommend an under $500 acoustic that has a wide neck? (2) Why the difference in neck widths between the low and high end guitars?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2013, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acoustic-guitars-and-neck-width/666655/2 "2013-08-19T20:01:18Z")

</div>

It’s not low-end vs high-end; it’s use and popularity. Most popular steel string guitars - and therefore the more affordable ones - have 1 3/4" necks - I’d have to check the metric equvalent.

Nylon/ Classical guitars have a wider neck by design. You have to look for steel string guitars designed for Fingerstyle. Here’s one listed for $299:

> **[Recording King ROS-06 Classic Series 12th Fret OOO Solid-Top Acoustic...](https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/recording-king-ros-06-classic-series-12th-fret-ooo-solid-top-acoustic-guitar?source=3WWRWXGP&kwid=productads-plaid%255E57308131987-sku%255E423803000010000@ADL4MF-adType%255EPLA-device%255Et-adid%255E30429713307)**
>
> Get the guaranteed best price on 6 String Acoustic Guitars like the Recording King ROS-06 Classic Series 12th Fret OOO Solid-Top Acoustic Guitar at Musician's Friend. Get a low price and free...

Are you looking for a steel string?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acoustic-guitars-and-neck-width/666655/3 "2013-08-20T04:46:17Z")

</div>

Where are you measuring the width? At the nut or at the 12th fret?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acoustic-guitars-and-neck-width/666655/4 "2013-08-20T06:21:59Z")

</div>

I agree with wordman, ‘fingerstyle’ is a discriptive term for a guitar that has it’s strings a little wider apart, which is achieved, in part, by a wider 1 7/8’’ nut. ‘Acoustic jazz guitars’ also are often built that way, but there may not be many entry level examples.

[http://www.rondomusic.com/product5646.html](http://www.rondomusic.com/product5646.html)