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View Full Version : What is the fretboard width at nut on ES-12G kit?



Tweaky
08-02-2016, 07:36 PM
I know the original Gibson 60's version of the ES-12 used the same width neck as a standard ES-335 1" 9/16th's or 39.68mm which a lot of people found too narrow for a 12 string.

Gibson's relatively recent small run of reissues of this ES 335 based 12 string fixed that problem by widening the neck at the nut to 1" 3/4 or 44.45mm


I just measured the fretboard width at the nut of my ES -1 G kit and it's 42.3mm

Which measurement is the ES-12G kit ?

Swanny
08-02-2016, 07:44 PM
Tweaky, mine takes a 43mm wide nut.

Tweaky
08-02-2016, 07:53 PM
OK, cheers for that.
How are you finding it?
Are you able to fret accurately without hitting the other strings?

It's the only thing that has got me hesitating on making a ES-12G my next build.....still not sure if 43mm is wide enough, I'd be happier with 45mm...MMm, me wondering if it possible to request a slightly wider width neck built .... something to ponder....got to finish the other builds first.

Swanny
08-02-2016, 08:13 PM
I notice my fingers hitting the adjacent strings sometimes in the first couple of frets. I've just put it down to getting used to the new fretboard. The fretboard widens up, and it isn't a problem from the third fret onwards. I guess this would depend on the width of the players' fingers, as well.

dingobass
08-02-2016, 09:02 PM
A compensated nut helps with this, but it will cost you a slab of Grolsch as well as the standard DB/ PBG nut :p

Tweaky
08-02-2016, 09:20 PM
I notice my fingers hitting the adjacent strings sometimes in the first couple of frets. I've just put it down to getting used to the new fretboard. The fretboard widens up, and it isn't a problem from the third fret onwards. I guess this would depend on the width of the players' fingers, as well.

I was kind of thinking you were going to reply with that....at 43mm it's only 0.5mm wider than the 6 string ES-1...not enough.

Although a few mm doesn't seem very much, making it 45mm or 46mm wide like a Guild 12 string would make a hell of a lot of difference in playability.
And 12 string players do spend a LOT of their time down that end of the neck....pity.

Maybe a slight modification to the current specs could be looked at?

tonyw
09-02-2016, 02:06 AM
Measured the nut on my 12 from the closing down sale and its 43.5mm

Andy40
09-02-2016, 02:13 AM
Just as a comparison, I checked the nut width of my 12 string acoustic and its 43mm

Tweaky
09-02-2016, 05:40 AM
What brand acoustic is that?

I went and checked out a Taylor 12 string acoustic a few weeks ago [had my digital callipers with me] it's neck width was 47.60mm, nice guitar, but with the Aussie dollar as it is at the moment, it was way too expensive.

Guilds are in the same price range now as well, which would be my first choice for a acoustic 12.

Maton 12 strings are 50mm at the neck, but they all felt so stiff to play the ones I tried went straight back in the rack.

I've yet to try the latest Yamaha's, which would be my 4th big brand choice for a 12 string acoustic, but I've been told that their fretboards are as flat as a pancake, which doesn't really appeal, I like some radius....looking at their spec's they say their 12's are 46mm