Yelly
Active member
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2001
- Messages
- 1,534
Nut height has a measurable effect on intonation on the first few frets. Too high and you will (for instance) notice your low G is audibly sharp. The low E and G (as long as it is plain) are most effected for the same reason that they change pitch easiest when you bend. Also the lighter the guage the more you notice it. The height Buckaroo describes is exactly what I would aim for. I have used this method on my Guild F512 (12 string). Before nut adjustment the intonation on the low E pair was dreadful.
As for depth I tend to side with Big Al. I have cured many a sticky nut by remove material from the top of a nut as well as dressing and rounding the back edge. In theory a rounded slightly oversized slot can work just as well but is more difficult to round the back take off point.
Also a huge fan of nylon. Takes a lot longer to make but I prefer the tone over anything else. Incredibly hard wearing, no pings and easier tuning in general. I used to think a well cut bone nut was the tops but not any more. BTW I bought a sheet of nylon 250mm X 250mm X 5mm for less than it would have cost to buy a single nut blank.
As for depth I tend to side with Big Al. I have cured many a sticky nut by remove material from the top of a nut as well as dressing and rounding the back edge. In theory a rounded slightly oversized slot can work just as well but is more difficult to round the back take off point.
Also a huge fan of nylon. Takes a lot longer to make but I prefer the tone over anything else. Incredibly hard wearing, no pings and easier tuning in general. I used to think a well cut bone nut was the tops but not any more. BTW I bought a sheet of nylon 250mm X 250mm X 5mm for less than it would have cost to buy a single nut blank.
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