Let's Talk About Our Nuts
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- dayl
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Let's Talk About Our Nuts
I have a couple guitars that I want to make nuts for out of brass.
I need a point of reference. I would prefer to understand the theory or rule of thumb when setting nut height and string depth in relation to the fretboard and frets.
One will be for a LP and the other for a strat so any insight, theory or technical information would be cool.
Thanks
I need a point of reference. I would prefer to understand the theory or rule of thumb when setting nut height and string depth in relation to the fretboard and frets.
One will be for a LP and the other for a strat so any insight, theory or technical information would be cool.
Thanks
- jeremyb
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Re: Let's Talk About Our Nuts
The method I've seen was to sand a pencil down so the bottom is flat, literally half the girth of the pencil, then you put that flat side on your frets and use it to draw a line on your new nut, and thats the point you want to cut it down to, I think of it like a zero fret and it makes sense.
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- NippleWrestler
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Re: Let's Talk About Our Nuts
Tune the string to pitch. Fret the string at the third fret. You want a teeny gap beween the top of the first fret wire and the bottom of the string. If the gap is big either nut comes down or slot gets deepened. If there's no gap, new nut or it gets shimmed if it's the same across all strings.dayl wrote: ↑Thu Oct 24, 2024 6:49 pm I have a couple guitars that I want to make nuts for out of brass.
I need a point of reference. I would prefer to understand the theory or rule of thumb when setting nut height and string depth in relation to the fretboard and frets.
One will be for a LP and the other for a strat so any insight, theory or technical information would be cool.
Thanks
- Jay
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Re: Let's Talk About Our Nuts
The last thing you want to do is overcut the slots in brass as shimming a brass nut looks nutty. The slot depths should be half the diameter of the string lying in it.
If you are unsure, you could start with a template nut first. Use some really dense wood, bone or hard plastic.
I quite like the brass nuts with 6 screws in them so you can adjust nut height almost on the fly.
I ll see if I can get a photo of one.
If you are unsure, you could start with a template nut first. Use some really dense wood, bone or hard plastic.
I quite like the brass nuts with 6 screws in them so you can adjust nut height almost on the fly.
I ll see if I can get a photo of one.
- Slowy
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Re: Let's Talk About Our Nuts
I've just harvested a lot of Macadamias.
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- GrantB
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Re: Let's Talk About Our Nuts
interested!Jay wrote: ↑Thu Oct 24, 2024 7:57 pm The last thing you want to do is overcut the slots in brass as shimming a brass nut looks nutty. The slot depths should be half the diameter of the string lying in it.
If you are unsure, you could start with a template nut first. Use some really dense wood, bone or hard plastic.
I quite like the brass nuts with 6 screws in them so you can adjust nut height almost on the fly.
I ll see if I can get a photo of one.
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- dayl
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- robthemac
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Re: Let's Talk About Our Nuts
I had a similar plastic adjustable nut on a Warwick bass. Was excellent.
- dayl
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Re: Let's Talk About Our Nuts
I only have 8mm stock by the looks. I know that will clover the strat nut, but how high are lp nuts? Will 8mm cut it? I'm at work London have one in front of me
- Molly
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Re: Let's Talk About Our Nuts
I always liked the look of a fluted brass nut. No sonic benefit so far as I know.
Hmm... Can't find a pic of one. Just where the gap between the strings is largely removed with a round file.
Hmm... Can't find a pic of one. Just where the gap between the strings is largely removed with a round file.
- Molly
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Re: Let's Talk About Our Nuts
I liked the second version of the nut used on the old Strat Plus (the first wouldn't accommodate heavy strings). You could shim it like a Floyd.Jay wrote: ↑Thu Oct 24, 2024 7:57 pm The last thing you want to do is overcut the slots in brass as shimming a brass nut looks nutty. The slot depths should be half the diameter of the string lying in it.
If you are unsure, you could start with a template nut first. Use some really dense wood, bone or hard plastic.
I quite like the brass nuts with 6 screws in them so you can adjust nut height almost on the fly.
I ll see if I can get a photo of one.
Actually, ugly now I see it again.There was a nicer roller version later still.
- NippleWrestler
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Re: Let's Talk About Our Nuts
You can always shim the underside if need be, or just buy a ready made brass nut from AliExpress for around $6.
- Jay
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Re: Let's Talk About Our Nuts
Molly beat me to it but here is mine anyway...
Edit - looking closer, the Amazon one appears to use the same width slots for each screw. The screws on mine have individual slot widths to accommodate the different string diameters.
Edit - or maybe not
Edit - looking closer, the Amazon one appears to use the same width slots for each screw. The screws on mine have individual slot widths to accommodate the different string diameters.
Edit - or maybe not