Guitar nut slot width

In making an ideal nut you will want the actual width of the nut slot to match the width of the string exactly. A string whose width is . 017”, or seventeen thousandths of an inch, wants to sit in a slot that is exactly seventeen thousandths of an inch.

1. How wide is a guitar nut?
2. Does guitar nut width matter?
3. How are nut slots measured?
4. How do I know if my guitar nut is too low?

How wide is a guitar nut?

On acoustic guitars, there's a spectrum of nut widths. They typically go between 1 11/16” to 1 3/4”, but some go to 1 7/8” and 1 23/32”. Even though the differences between these nut widths are incredibly small, your hands can still feel it.

Does guitar nut width matter?

It's commonly thought that nut width is important with regard to your approach to the guitar e.g. do you play mostly with a pick or play fingerstyle. But for the most part nut width is less important than string spacing as nut width mostly affects the fretting hand and not the picking hand.

How are nut slots measured?

You can measure the nut slot heights by placing a feeler gauge in between the bottom of the string and the top of the first fret when the guitar is up to pitch and after the neck and bridge are adjusted.

How do I know if my guitar nut is too low?

A rule of thumb for assessing slot height: Fret a string at the third fret and look for some clearance between the string and the top of the first fret. If it's touching or has a very small clearance, it's a good indicator your slot is too low.