Hello Gang! I just recently acquired a Little Martin LX1 from a friend. I wasn't looking for one, but it just kind of happened (you know how things go). I think it is a nice little guitar with the solid top and HPL hybrid construction (though it is a bit on the quiet side) and 23" scale, but I have just gotten too used to playing with four strings/courses that I am considering options for this little guy.
I am still uncertain of tuning - either CGDA, GDAE, or Chicago DGBE. Nonetheless, four strings. I am wondering if there will be neck strain/twisting concerns if I remove the 5th and 6th strings and just use the first 4, or if I should keep the pressure even and remove the 1st and 6th strings and use the inner 4. This guitar uses Martin's Stratabond neck of a birch ply sandwich so I'm thinking it is pretty strong. I know this little guitar is quite neck heavy.
The only concern I have with using the four inner strings without the first and sixth strings is the feel. Having that missing "first string" might feel odd when playing. Surely having a neck that is cut or shaved down, made for four strings would be the best choice, but I don't know if this could be done with this Stratabond neck, nor do I think I have the experience to do so. I suppose I could install a new nut (which doesn't upset me at all seeing how these come with a plastic nut and this could be an opportunity for a bone nut) cut to have the first and fourth strings closer to the ends of the fretboard and then the second and third strings spaced accordingly. Seeing how this is a 1 11/16 nut width, the current string spacing has some wiggle room - my baritone ukulele conversion has wider string spacing that I am very comfortable with.
I would appreciate to hear your thoughts and experiences. Thanks!
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