A trend: Narrow-neck classical guitars

[wheat]

Classical guitars typically have a 2-inch neck width at the nut, and a completely flat fingerboard.

For a long time now, Yamaha has offered an acoustic-electric APX model with a neck more reminiscent of an electric guitar; thinner, with a 1 3/4-inch nut width, a bit of a radius (curvature to the fingerboard) and on the body, a cutaway, and 14-fret-to-the-body neck rather than the traditional 12.

This is a good guitar for an electric guitarist or fingerstyle steel-string player who would have a lot of trouble adjusting to the 2-inch thick neck of a traditional classical guitar.

This year at NAMM I noticed a number of new nylon-string acoustic-electric guitars from different manufacturers with narrow nut widths and smaller necks. Aria has one, Carvin has an electric version with MIDI, and Epiphone has a Chet Atkins solidbody nylon string that you can order in either the 2-inch or the 1 3/4 inch. And I saw some other brands I can't quite remember.

This is an interesting trend. Any comments?

[MorePaul]

I', kind of in the opposite predicament
it often seems that electric acoustics like say Godin have been doing this and it has been a problem for me as classical is my native style, so it makes the guitar feel cramped
the Grand series is better but I keep wishing for a genuinely flat radius on them

I'd like to have an electric steel guitar with a classical profile

[rlindsey0]

Hate it. I'd much rather have the classical dimensions. The thinner neck is actually less comfortable for me when I'm playing that style.

OK, I don't really hate it, in that I don't begrudge other players guitars that they feel more comfortable on. But for me, it would be ideal if any nylon-string instrument could be available in BOTH the thinner spacing and a more standard spacing. It does bug me when an otherwise cool nylon-string guitar is available only in the "compromise" dimensions (e.g., some of the Godins, as well as the Carvin CL450). Some of us actually prefer the standard size neck. So if people are gonna make these kinds of instruments, at least give us more traditional folks a shot at a comparable model too.

[Band Substance]

I think the thinner neced option is a very good thing. Although I have owned 2" classics, I have never liked the width and it's hard to transition to a "normal" thinner electric or acoustic for me. I welcome more options in the nylon string instruments.

[D Charles]

Seems nuts to me, but my main electric is 1 & 3/4" at the nut.

[MorePaul]

I think the thinner neced option is a very good thing. Although I have owned 2" classics, I have never liked the width and it's hard to transition to a "normal" thinner electric or acoustic for me. I welcome more options in the nylon string instruments.

I think that's the crux of the issue
for me (classical..and yes, my carcassi 30 years ago was "classical" not "classic") 2" flat IS "normal" and themodified stuff is...well "cross-over" and feels like a comprimise

[Epiprone]

I'm all for it.

I don't have long fingers and any complex or bar chord on a traditional classical 2" nut width causes my fingers to hyperextend, which gives me sharp pain.

There's variety in electrics. Why not in acoustics?

You don't see many Gibson-scale acoustics, either, aside from the Hummingbird, S6, and maybe some that I fail to remember.