Best Nut width? Why?
- Thread starter GuitarDoc
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Ben1962
Guest
Re: Best Nut width? Why?
My aged white nuts like to be cupped, gently.
My aged white nuts like to be cupped, gently.
Gtrjunior
Well-known member
Re: Best Nut width? Why?
I’ve never cared for Clapton’s tone throughout his career, really.
I’ve never cared for Clapton’s tone throughout his career, really.
Clint 55
OH THE DOUBLE THICK GLAZE!
Lewguitar
New member
Re: Best Nut width? Why?
Rubbish. Some of the best and most influential guitar tone ever!
Rubbish. Some of the best and most influential guitar tone ever!
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Re: Best Nut width? Why?
Exactly!!!
I was being facetious, mimicking Clint 55's egocentric logic. He dogmatically believes that his opinion is "fact" and that it is totally unacceptible for anyone to believe anything else.
Actually, I totally agree with you that these are some of the best, most influential tones EVER.
Exactly!!!
I was being facetious, mimicking Clint 55's egocentric logic. He dogmatically believes that his opinion is "fact" and that it is totally unacceptible for anyone to believe anything else.
Actually, I totally agree with you that these are some of the best, most influential tones EVER.
Re: Best Nut width? Why?
Actually, Jerry, no.
Now that I think about it. The nut has a length width, and height. The fretboard has a length, width, and thickness. The fretboard's "width" is the same as the nut's "length". I was not referring to the nut's length (or fretboard's width), but to the nut's width...comparing a 1/4" wide nut to a 1/8" wide nut.
Actually, Jerry, no.
Now that I think about it. The nut has a length width, and height. The fretboard has a length, width, and thickness. The fretboard's "width" is the same as the nut's "length". I was not referring to the nut's length (or fretboard's width), but to the nut's width...comparing a 1/4" wide nut to a 1/8" wide nut.
Jeff_H
Dean Hardtail Fanologist
Re: Best Nut width? Why?
It's completely clear to me now. I've been using the wrong standard to evaluate my "nuts" for 50 years now.
:doh::naughty:
It's completely clear to me now. I've been using the wrong standard to evaluate my "nuts" for 50 years now.
:doh::naughty:Re: Best Nut width? Why?
Didn't you mean "different" tone?
(Unless, of course, you were saying that tongue-in-cheek. In which case, I'm laughing with you because that was indeed funny).
Didn't you mean "different" tone?
(Unless, of course, you were saying that tongue-in-cheek. In which case, I'm laughing with you because that was indeed funny).
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: Best Nut width? Why?
As to the original question of nut thickness, AFAIK Fender was the first to use that smaller nut. Remember that in the '50s, Leo was taking on the big boys and trying to build a better mousetrap. He brought some fresh eyes and ideas, where Gibson was an old and established company.
Gibson is still deeply set in tradition. I just can't see them EVER putting a Fender-style nut on a Paul, SG or 335. Strangely enough, it is the players who have revolted time and time again whenever Gibson tries to innovate...note the beginnings of the Les Paul, the Vee, the Explorer. How about the S-3, Marauder, the L-6S, or the Howard Roberts? Robot tuners? Or the adjustable nuts from 2015? All of these were, and most remain, controversial.
Leo's designs were really far out for his time, and took years before they were accepted. Even now, many of Leo's later innovations on his Music Man and G&L guitars have not been widely accepted.
Innovation vs. Tradition...the builder that wants to buck tradition is usually facing an uphill battle.
I'm calling BS on the whole "...bone is bad!!" issue. In my 50+ years of experience, owning more than 60 guitars, and having owned many, many more...I'm a firm believer in a well-cut bone nut, for both acoustics and electrics. All of my experiences with replacing tusq, corian, nylon, plastic and brass nuts with bone have been entirely positive...on both electrics and acoustics. I'm not one to change nuts on a whim, but when replacement is required, I will almost always select bone. I do have vibrato-equiped guitars with graphite nuts and they've worked well, but they are not a panacea for tuning issues.
I like bone. Mine's firm and tough...and can take a good licking!
:arms:
Bill
As to the original question of nut thickness, AFAIK Fender was the first to use that smaller nut. Remember that in the '50s, Leo was taking on the big boys and trying to build a better mousetrap. He brought some fresh eyes and ideas, where Gibson was an old and established company.
Gibson is still deeply set in tradition. I just can't see them EVER putting a Fender-style nut on a Paul, SG or 335. Strangely enough, it is the players who have revolted time and time again whenever Gibson tries to innovate...note the beginnings of the Les Paul, the Vee, the Explorer. How about the S-3, Marauder, the L-6S, or the Howard Roberts? Robot tuners? Or the adjustable nuts from 2015? All of these were, and most remain, controversial.
Leo's designs were really far out for his time, and took years before they were accepted. Even now, many of Leo's later innovations on his Music Man and G&L guitars have not been widely accepted.
Innovation vs. Tradition...the builder that wants to buck tradition is usually facing an uphill battle.
I'm calling BS on the whole "...bone is bad!!" issue. In my 50+ years of experience, owning more than 60 guitars, and having owned many, many more...I'm a firm believer in a well-cut bone nut, for both acoustics and electrics. All of my experiences with replacing tusq, corian, nylon, plastic and brass nuts with bone have been entirely positive...on both electrics and acoustics. I'm not one to change nuts on a whim, but when replacement is required, I will almost always select bone. I do have vibrato-equiped guitars with graphite nuts and they've worked well, but they are not a panacea for tuning issues.
I like bone. Mine's firm and tough...and can take a good licking!
:arms:
Bill
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Clint 55
OH THE DOUBLE THICK GLAZE!
Ayrton
New member
Re: Best Nut width? Why?
Debating nut material is like the nickel vs stainless debate. I don't even bother anymore.
I have often thought about gluing an SS fret into the top of a nut blank and trimming the bottom to a proper height. I figure that will last forever and sound like any other fretted note.
Debating nut material is like the nickel vs stainless debate. I don't even bother anymore.
I have often thought about gluing an SS fret into the top of a nut blank and trimming the bottom to a proper height. I figure that will last forever and sound like any other fretted note.
ehdwuld
A Ficus
Re: Best Nut width? Why?
They make those
Called a zero glide or some such
Drop in replacements
They make those
Called a zero glide or some such
Drop in replacements
Ayrton
New member
Re: Best Nut width? Why?
Ha, never saw them before. I figured my idea was little different than a brass nut, just never wear out.
The only thing I question with this design is the string can still bind in the nut material behind the fret if the slot is wrong.
I have seen these as well
Roller nut
Ha, never saw them before. I figured my idea was little different than a brass nut, just never wear out.
The only thing I question with this design is the string can still bind in the nut material behind the fret if the slot is wrong.
I have seen these as well
Roller nut
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Gtrjunior
Well-known member
Re: Best Nut width? Why?
The roller nut “seems” like the ideal solution. Any reason they never caught on widespread?
Ha, never saw them before. I figured my idea was little different than a brass nut, just never wear out.
The only thing I question with this design is the string can still bind in the nut material behind the fret if the slot is wrong.
I have seen these as well
Roller nut
The roller nut “seems” like the ideal solution. Any reason they never caught on widespread?
