The Collings Forum

Greetings forum members,

Still on the hunt for a used 01 with a 1 11/16ths nut. Pristine or player grade, all good!

Thanks and happy new year,

Modrocker

Guitar nut width refers to the width of the guitar neck at the nut, the small strip (usually plastic, bone, or metal) located at the end of the fretboard near the headstock. It determines the string spacing and overall feel of the neck, especially when playing open chords or fingerpicking.
Common Nut Widths (by guitar type):
Acoustic Guitars
1 11/16" (43mm) – Most common; comfortable for strumming and general use.
1 ¾" (44.5mm) – Favored by fingerstyle players for more space between strings.
1 ⅞" (47.6mm) or wider – Less common, found on some classical crossovers or specialty guitars.
Electric Guitars
1 5/8" (41.3mm) – Vintage Fender Stratocasters and Telecasters.
1 11/16" (43mm) – Standard modern width for many electrics (Gibson, Fender).
1.650" (42mm) – Slightly narrower; common on many popular models.
Classical Guitars
2" (50.8mm) – Standard for classical; allows precise fingerpicking and classical technique.
Why Nut Width Matters:
Narrow nut: Easier for players with smaller hands, faster chord transitions.
Wider nut: More space for fingerpicking and complex chords; helps avoid muting adjacent strings.
Let me know your playing style or hand size if you want help choosing the right nut width.