Hello,
Is there a nut width that works best for octave mandolins? I have smaller than normal hands and I want the size that would be the easiest and most comfortable to play.
I'm thinking somewhere between 33-35mm, or 1 1/4 to 1 3/8 in.
My Flatiron OM is 37 mm and my Trillium Bouzouki is also 37mm @23 9/16" scale length. I have large hands and it works for me. I have to cramp down to play a mandolin so I'm less likely to do so, given a choice. Maybe 33 mm is a bit skinny that far from the box.
The bouzouki, which of course has a slightly lighter gauge of string anyway, plus the octave on the bottom two strings as well, tends to be a narrower neck. My Pacific-rim model has about a 32mm-width nut. That suits me fine, but my hands are about average.
I play a Phil Crump B-II bouzouki, scale 24.5" and strung in unisons. The nut on this one is 37mm as well. I find it very comfortable and my hands are a very average size.
When you're shopping, be sure to ask about string spacing at the nut as well as the nut width, I've found it to make a huge difference in how these things feel.
It's tough to get information on the shape and thickness of the neck itself, unless someone can send you really good pics of the shape. It seems that there's no good, quick shorthand coding to communicate that stuff.
On some OMs (notably Fyldes, in my experience) the neck gets wider very quickly as it approaches the body, so check on that, too. I've found that I prefer very little widening toward the body.
Octave Mandolin width at nut
Octave Mandolin width at nut
Hello,
Is there a nut width that works best for octave mandolins? I have smaller than normal hands and I want the size that would be the easiest and most comfortable to play.
I'm thinking somewhere between 33-35mm, or 1 1/4 to 1 3/8 in.
# Posted on July 31st 2006 by tannisroot
Re: Octave Mandolin width at nut
My Flatiron OM is 37 mm and my Trillium Bouzouki is also 37mm @23 9/16" scale length. I have large hands and it works for me. I have to cramp down to play a mandolin so I'm less likely to do so, given a choice. Maybe 33 mm is a bit skinny that far from the box.
# Posted on July 31st 2006 by wvwhistler
Re: Octave Mandolin width at nut
The bouzouki, which of course has a slightly lighter gauge of string anyway, plus the octave on the bottom two strings as well, tends to be a narrower neck. My Pacific-rim model has about a 32mm-width nut. That suits me fine, but my hands are about average.
# Posted on July 31st 2006 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Octave Mandolin width at nut
Hi,
I play a Phil Crump B-II bouzouki, scale 24.5" and strung in unisons. The nut on this one is 37mm as well. I find it very comfortable and my hands are a very average size.
When you're shopping, be sure to ask about string spacing at the nut as well as the nut width, I've found it to make a huge difference in how these things feel.
It's tough to get information on the shape and thickness of the neck itself, unless someone can send you really good pics of the shape. It seems that there's no good, quick shorthand coding to communicate that stuff.
On some OMs (notably Fyldes, in my experience) the neck gets wider very quickly as it approaches the body, so check on that, too. I've found that I prefer very little widening toward the body.
I hope this helps...
stv
http://cdbaby.com/Culchies
# Posted on August 1st 2006 by stv culchie