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Hello @ironpat , and welcome to TAC, the best learning site on the web (in my not so humble opinion 😁).
So, I totally respect where you are coming from. In spite of the fact that much of the fairly minor differences between guitars is “personal preference” and that for the most part we don’t get guitars “fitted to us” but we adjust to the guitar, I completely understand and agree with your basic premise here.
“There must be distinct, generally agreed-upon pros and cons to going with one nut width & scale length versus the other… Any constructive thoughts?”
Absolutely, I have some “constructive thoughts”. First, I would like to say you got some very good input from @Akabbbb . He started with the standard “go play a bunch” but then shared some of his personal experience, which is what you are actually asking for. And he brought up a very good point. He likes the 1 3/4″ nut width because that’s what he started with. I like the standard 1 11/16″ because that’s what I have always played… until recently. So here is my experience which I’m sure will help you in your decision making process.
One of our TAC members who comes to the VOMs frequently and really is at the “pro” level, @RealKurt , has owned and played a number of guitars with different nut widths, and I asked him about that. After playing the different guitars he finds himself leaning toward one size (that’s the important part, I’m not for sure I remember which size he said, but I think it was the 1 3/4″).
I bought a nylon string guitar with a 1 13/16″ nut which is wider than the 1 3/4 but narrower than the typical 2″ classical guitar or the 1 7/8″ classical, which has become fairly common. It is my opinion, and dare I say experience?, that the 1 3/4 or the 1 13/16 gives enough extra width that picking, as opposed to strumming, becomes easier, and yet you can still play your chord shapes just about as easily. And by picking, I mean either finger picking or flat picking. So it does depend on the type of music you wish to play and where you are leaning as to the style you would like to develop. True rhythm playing, yes, it can include some specific string picking, chords are all important and the standard 1 11/16″ gives you the best “fit” for making chords.
That having been said, there is a whole other factor about the neck: the shape and thickness. I have little to no experience with the different neck shapes. I have played the “normal” neck, which I’m not even sure what it is. I think it is the C style neck. That’s another topic that @RealKurt could address if he comes by and shares his experience.
<font face=”inherit”>Now, moving on to the scale length. Be careful here. It’s not simply the length of the scale, but also the length and shape of the body that determines how a guitar fits into your lap. If you stand up with a strap, this makes almost no difference. The parlor guitar has the most comfortable feel for me. The scale length isn’t that much different. What is really different is that the neck meets the body at the 12th fret instead of the 14th fret. This makes the neck seem closer to you when you play open chords (well, actually, it is). Now, one parlor has a 24″ scale length and a 1 3/4″ nut and a “standard” parlor body shape, and it is the most comfortable guitar for me. The other parlor that I own has a 24 3/4″ scale length and the standard 1 11/16″ nut and a classic “concert” shaped body though it is a little smaller. I love this guitar but it’s </font>noticeably<font face=”inherit”> less comfortable and more challenging for finger picking. Now both of these “parlor” </font>guitars<font face=”inherit”> have a 12 fret neck.</font>
<font face=”inherit”>I recently got my nylon string with the 1 13/16″ nut. I love this guitar. Though the body is a little bigger, it is a thin line body and actually fits differently but just as comfortably as the little Alvarez parlor. The nut width and the nylon strings makes this ideal for finger picking, which is my primary choice and stylistic direction. However, just to show you how difficult this can be, the scale length is the full 25 1/2″ which gives you the maximum fret width and ease of making barre chords. So in spite of the scale length and nut width, the narrow body (I’m taking under 3″, it’s 2 7/8″ at the widest) makes up for these factors and it fits wonderfully and is perfect for finger picking (in my opinion). However, I can finger pick just fine on some of my other steel string guitars. </font>
<font face=”inherit”>The one guitar I would never own is a dreadnaught. I owned one once and sold it not long after. The body is just too big and the sound is just too loud for me. I don’t want to bring the house down every time I pick up my guitar to noodle around. </font>
<font face=”inherit”>Those are my thoughts. I hope they help you Pat. I hope that Kurt comes by and shares some of his experience. The more insights you get the better prepared you will be to make a decision that works for you. Good luck and let us know when you do make a decision. But the way, a Martin with a small-ish body would be a pretty safe bet. </font>
<font face=”inherit”>MG 😀</font>