Dumb question about nut setup for up gauging

[PFDarkside]

If I wanted to try larger gauge strings (especially bass side) I'm almost definitely going to need to open the nut slots. If it's currently cut to accommodate something like a .052 and I want to try .054 or .056, is that going to prevent me from going back to .046 without replacing the nut?

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Dumb question about nut setup for up gauging

Depends on where you are starting. Most of the time the slot walls are too tall, so corrections can be made. I try to have less than half the string in the slot on the wound, and you can have a fair bit a room to play with size. I don’t know if I would try going back to a .46 from a .56 unless I could reshape the slot

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Dumb question about nut setup for up gauging

That's what I figured....


This is probably silly to you, but I like to tinker with all of the setup items on my Strats except for the nut. I'm just too nervous to do anything other than light sanding to smooth the slots.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Dumb question about nut setup for up gauging

Not dumb btw. You say it is cut for a .52 now? You should be able to go back and forth between .52 and .56 without having to touch the slots.