Neck Widths

[iDavid]

I have a KoAloha concert with a 1 3/8 width nut and a Kanilea Tenor with a 1 ½ width nut.

It seems me that this is backwards. Shouldn’t a shorter scale instrument have the wider neck and a longer scale instrument have the narrower nut?

I am toying with getting a concert with a 1 ½ neck….

Thoughts?

 

[mm stan]

It's all personal perference..what you are most comfortable at....

 

[lancemanion]

I agree that it is totally personal preference, but most higher end and Hawaiian made ukes have a 1.5" nut. Islander ukes are one of the few lower end ukes to use a 1.5" nut. Their theory is, if you learn on an Islander when you move up to a Kanile'a it will be an easy and natural transition.

 

[Katz-in-Boots]

From my research a while back, it seems there isn't much difference in nut width between the different sizes of the same brand, and not a lot of difference between brands either. Having said that, my KoAloha concert has a noticeably narrower width than my Kanilea or Islander.

 

[iDavid]

KoAloha concert has a 1 3/8 while the tenor has a 1 1/2 at least that is what they told me. I think I really want a 1 1/2 concert!

 

[The Big Kahuna]

I find neck width largely irrelevant, unless it's ridiculously narrow. The most important thing for me is depth. My Kanile'a has a neck profile like a lollipop stick and it's incredibly comfortable to play (for me). The only thing lacking for me is a radiused fingerboard.

 

[iDavid]

I've never really thought so much about it. However, I started playing more chords up the neck and it can get a bit cramped on a concert.

 

[Hippie Dribble]

:stop: 1.5" nut widths should be banned.

 

[chrimess]

:stop: 1.5" nut widths should be banned.

Totally agree, despite my large hands and fingerstyly playing I find 1.5 awkwardly out of proportion when compared to 2 inches on a classical guitar. It really makes fluocarbonstrings feel out of place unless you use the likes of Worth Fats- I think that is why Kanilea will always give you Nylguts...

 

[iDavid]

1 3/8 works better with claw-hammer... at least for me.

 

[iDavid]

Totally agree, despite my large hands and fingerstyly playing I find 1.5 awkwardly out of proportion when compared to 2 inches on a classical guitar. It really makes fluocarbonstrings feel out of place unless you use the likes of Worth Fats- I think that is why Kanilea will always give you Nylguts...

That is a really good point. I have fluorocarbons on my Kanilea at the moment and it does make the neck seem wider.

 

[808boy]

It's all a matter of personal taste. My uke collection runs the gamet from 1 5/16 to 1 1/2.
I have smallish hands and prefer 1 5/16 to 1 3/8. However, I'm okay with my 1 1/2 with 4 strings but with 6 strings it's unconfortable hence selling it. It was a nice Koa with Double Puka but could'nt get used to it.
My current 6 string has a 1 7/16 neck and I love it. My 5 string has a 1 9/16 but seems okay at this point, maybe 1 less string made a difference even with a neck 1/16 wider. I'll try to get used to it................Bo......

 

[pdxuke]

I like the narrower neck widths of my Martin Tenor and Barry. also the profile is so slim.