New to the forum and I have a Larrivee question

[dkwan9]

I recently made the decision to invest in a higher-end acoustic guitar and my choices have been narrowed down to either a Larrivee or a Taylor, specifically an L-03 with an aftermarket Baggs Element Active, or a 316ce (new for 2012).

I have fairly large hands, but I've found it a bit awkward fretting notes with my thumb on Larrivee fingerboards with a 1 3/4" nut. I didn't have this problem with the 314ce I tried. All of the guitars I've ever owned have a 1 11/16" nut, so is this simply something I'll have to get used to? I've played several Larrivee's at local music stores and while I love the sound and feel of the L body, I didn't get to play the Larri for an extended period of time, so I don't know if the difference in fretboard radius will cause wrist pain or fatigue in the long run, or if it's simply something I'll need to get used to. What was your experience with the Larrivee fretboard width and radius?

Thanks for your help!

PS I have tried the D-03 which has the narrower nut width, but I'm not a fan of dreadnoughts, and I also want to do more fingerpicking so the 1 3/4" nut is my preference.

[tholt34]

I was in the same boat you are. I have big hands and I wanted a 1 3/4" nut width on the neck. The taylors have a 1 3/4" nut width as well and i played them both side by side. The Taylor in my opinion maybe was a tad easier to play but the sound didn't compare to my l-03re i ended up buying. The Taylor was a higher price and I just felt I was getting a better guitar with the L-03re.

Best advice is to still go find a L series somewhere and play it for a while before you make your decision. But i'm a guy with big hands as well and I love my L-03re and I get compliments on the sound everywhere i play it.

[Zohn]

Hi dkwan9 and thanx for the donuts 
I have to agree with tholt34 about the L-body. One of the best versatile guitars in the business.
The nut is 1 3/4" wide. I initially opted for that width but ever since my fretting hand injury I prefer 1 13/16" nuts which is only available in the LSV-11.
Let us know what you decide on ok?

[cke]

I was in the same boat you are. I have big hands and I wanted a 1 3/4" nut width on the neck. The taylors have a 1 3/4" nut width as well and i played them both side by side. The Taylor in my opinion maybe was a tad easier to play but the sound didn't compare to my l-03re i ended up buying. The Taylor was a higher price and I just felt I was getting a better guitar with the L-03re.

Best advice is to still go find a L series somewhere and play it for a while before you make your decision. But i'm a guy with big hands as well and I love my L-03re and I get compliments on the sound everywhere i play it.

  Here is  another strong vote for the 'L' body

[Mr_LV19E]

I say take the time to learn fretting with your fingers and keep your thumb in the center of the back of the neck. I seldom use my thumb unless I am just barring the first few strings with my index finger.

[Walkerman]

Hi dkwan9 and thanx for the donuts 
I have to agree with tholt34 about the L-body. One of the best versatile guitars in the business.
The nut is 1 3/4" wide. I initially opted for that width but ever since my fretting hand injury I prefer 1 13/16" nuts which is only available in the LSV-11.
Let us know what you decide on ok?

I don't really get it.
1 3/4 = 1 12/16  vs 1 13/16  ie 1 16th of an inch difference.

[Danny]

I don't really get it.
1 3/4 = 1 12/16  vs 1 13/16  ie 1 16th of an inch difference.

It really feels different and can cause you to mute a string (or dampen) when you didn't intend to. The bridge spacing can hinder fingerstyle as well.

[cbarclay]

I don't really get it.
1 3/4 = 1 12/16  vs 1 13/16  ie 1 16th of an inch difference.

Physically it doesn't seem like much but I really like the extra 16th and can tell a big difference (for the better).

[L07 Shooting Star]

  It really feels different and can cause you to mute a string (or dampen) when you didn't intend to. The bridge spacing can hinder fingerstyle as well.

I've experienced that muting issue quite a lot.  I'm very used to 1 3/4" as on my L-07 and with other widths I sometimes overshoot or undershoot a string with either hand.  A nut width that is wider than what I'm used to doesn't affect my playing as much as a narrower one does.  The worst for me is switching back and forth between acoustics and electrics.

[dkwan9]

Thanks a lot for all the great answers, everyone.
Dependan, I suspect Larrivee made their Bakersfield Tele with a 1 3/4" nut for that exact reason.

[Zohn]

 It really feels different and can cause you to mute a string (or dampen) when you didn't intend to.

That is exactly the case with me - believe me 1/16" or 1,6mm makes a very significant difference.

[L07 Shooting Star]

I've made new nuts for a couple of newer squire strats (the ones with bridge humbuckers and large headstocks), just so I could squeeze out a bit more string spacing.  Made a big difference for me.

I did this to my Warmoth Telecaster's neck even though it came with a nice, perfectly setup Tusq nut already installed.  When I ordered the neck, I wasn't astute enough to even consider the importance of the nut width spec.  Anyways, after about a year of playing it, I realized the nut width was too skinny compared to the guitars I could play more easily, so I made a new nut.  I was able to squeeze about 2mm (or just over 1/16") of extra width without getting the outer strings dangerously close to the edge.  It made the guitar a much better player for me.  This adjustment had a negligible effect on the string spacing over the pickups in my case, but that is definately something to consider and measure carefully.

[Danny]

  My OM-21 has a wider nut and spacing at the saddle, it is very easy to play. The specs were 1 3/4 but this one came out wider and I like it a lot. I also enjoyed the 1 13/16 nut on the LSV-11, though the 1 3/4 is fine for me as well. But preference is 1 13/16''.

[jpmist]

I've made new nuts for a couple of newer squire strats (the ones with bridge humbuckers and large headstocks), just so I could squeeze out a bit more string spacing.  Made a big difference for me.

I did this to my Warmoth Telecaster's neck even though it came with a nice, perfectly setup Tusq nut already installed.  When I ordered the neck, I wasn't astute enough to even consider the importance of the nut width spec.  Anyways, after about a year of playing it, I realized the nut width was too skinny compared to the guitars I could play more easily, so I made a new nut.  I was able to squeeze about 2mm (or just over 1/16") of extra width without getting the outer strings dangerously close to the edge.  It made the guitar a much better player for me.  This adjustment had a negligible effect on the string spacing over the pickups in my case, but that is definately something to consider and measure carefully.

Kudos on doing that. I haven't done this on my strats, but I took the string spacing off my 1 13/16" Recording King and made a 1 3/4" nut for my Taylor 312 and what a difference it made! Planning to do that for all my 1 3/4" acoustic necks.

Even though it's only 1/16" that works out to be about a 4% increase in space. It can make all the difference in muting an adjacent string or not.

[tholt34]

Has anyone put a 1 13/16" nut on a L-03 series? Do you guys think there is enough room on the neck for the strings?

[cbarclay]

Has anyone put a 1 13/16" nut on a L-03 series? Do you guys think there is enough room on the neck for the strings?

[ffinke]

dkwan9,

First: welcome to the forum.

Second: You choice of the L-03 over the Taylor is well founded. When I went back to steel strings (after playing nothing but a classical for a number of years) I went out and bought a Taylor 214. After a few months I bought a Larri L-03 to keep it company but unfortunately the sound was so superior I got rid of the 214 and still have the L. That was almost 4 years ago now. You're right about the Taylor having a very easy to play neck but I'd never sell the Larrivee neck short either. Compare either to the Martin GEs or V guitars that have necks that can substituted for baseball bats (only MY opinion, guys; don't get upset). Coming from the classical 2" wide neck I've never used thumb fretting and don't personally recommend it anyhow but if you insist on that technique (and there are a lot of great players that do use it) I suggest that you can easily acclimate to the "slightly" fatter Larrivee neck. The first thing to decide is whether you like the tone (and I think you've already decided that).

Third: (and purely subjective) I think the reason neck widths have crept up over the past 3/4 century is the simple reason that human beings have progressively gotten larger (see "The Measure of Man" by Henry Dreyfuss). In another 50 years I anticipate that the "de facto" nut width will probably be 1-13/16" to 1-7/8". Again, that's only my opinion but for those who will be around that long, see what happens.

And finally: 

[Danny]

I made a wide nut for a P-09 & put the strings as close as I could do the edge. It's good for practice in your hand fretting coordination otherwise you slip off the edge. (I'm using my voice recognition on my smart phone so some of the words don't come out right.)

[L07 Shooting Star]

Has anyone put a 1 13/16" nut on a L-03 series? Do you guys think there is enough room on the neck for the strings?

Recognize that nut width is not the same as string spacing.  The nut width more or less has to match the width of the neck where it goes on.  So, in theory, if you put a 1 13/16" nut on a guitar designed for a 1 12/16 nut, then it would stick out on either side of the neck by 1/32".  String spacing is somewhat adjustable within that total nut width.  And the good news is you can often squeeze out enough extra width to make a difference in playability by making a custom nut or having it made by someone for you.

[dave42]

About the 1 13/16 nut on the LSV-11.... What is the string spacing on the bridge? Is it wider than the L?

off topic, I've been on UMGF pretty much since day one. The new "performance neck" on Martin guitars is 1 3/4" with a bridge spacing of 2 3/16"... same a a Larrivee L. It's pretty funny how folks there think it's a new discovery when Larrivee owners have enjoyed it for years..