Neck Width

[dejkon]

Hi,
I have really short fat fingers and was wonder what kind of adjustments i could make to the neck of a flamenco guitar i am building to better accomidate my hands. If i thin the width at the nut, the string spacing will decrease and my fat finger may mute stings. If i leave it a traditional width i am afraid i wont be able to make the reach for some chords. How will any of these adjustments effect the overall sound of the guitar?
Can anyone give me some insight on my dilemma?

Thanks
Al

[MWA]

I don't think the modifications you speak of would change the sound of the guitar at all. However, you may want to keep the width at the nut more or less standard at 52 mm because once its been thinned, it would be difficult to widen it again. You can simply modify the nut to see how you like narrower string spacings. Just make the spacing on the nut narrower or wider, as you wish, keeping the first string in its relative location to the side of the fingerboard. Nuts are cheaper than necks and easier to make.

Since you are building a guitar, I have to believe that you probably play and likely have access to a guitar. If so, the above exercise can be done on it. Then, when you find a dimension you prefer, you can finish construction of the new guitar with the appropriate fingerboard width to suit your preferences.

You may also find the thickness of the neck/fingerboard may be as important to playability as the width of the fingerboard. Try not to leave the neck too thick or too thin for that matter. Try to find one with a comfortable feel and copy it.

[dejkon]

Great advice,
Thank you so much for taking the time to address my dilemma.
Al