Earvana Nut... kind of a gimmick?

[Rex_Rocker]

I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong with my LTD EC-400VF. It comes with an Earvana Nut. Are these supposed to be tuned in a special way like the Buzz Feiten stuff?

I feel like chords are more pitchy than my Gibson or my Fender with standard nuts.

I suppose it's designed to be used in E Standard with lighter gauge strings. I'm in Drop C with D'Addario 11-56... could that be the issue?

Or should I just replace it with something more "normal"?

 

[Mincer]

I like it, as it allows something like an open position E string to sound more in tune. I don't know if it matters enough with such lower tunings. I don't think there are any special tuning offsets to use- I also don't think it matters much for fretted notes.

 

[Seashore]

Here's copy from their website:


Q: Do I have to tune differently than I do now?


A: No. With the EARVANA nut you simply tune the guitar normally and play. Whether you presently tune your guitar at "E" flat, or use alternate tunings, the EARVANA system works. EARVANA keeps your guitar as an equal temperament instrument while making the tuning almost perfect!
​

Might just be that you're used to the others?

 

[Seashore]

I like it, as it allows something like an open position E string to sound more in tune. I don't know if it matters enough with such lower tunings. I don't think there are any special tuning offsets to use- I also don't think it matters much for fretted notes.

You mean an open position E chord, right?

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Here's copy from their website:


Q: Do I have to tune differently than I do now?


A: No. With the EARVANA nut you simply tune the guitar normally and play. Whether you presently tune your guitar at "E" flat, or use alternate tunings, the EARVANA system works. EARVANA keeps your guitar as an equal temperament instrument while making the tuning almost perfect!
​

Might just be that you're used to the others?

I suppose. I'll try to record a clip later today. But the offensive chord in particular is the A chord (in my tuning, the G chord). Minor or major. I think the note that is off is the fifth, or the 4th string, 2nd fret. At least that's the one that comes to mind immediately.

Maybe my nut is cut too high and that's what's throwing it off?

 

[Mincer]

You mean an open position E chord, right?

oops....

 

[Bill Dennis]

I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong with my LTD EC-400VF. It comes with an Earvana Nut. Are these supposed to be tuned in a special way like the Buzz Feiten stuff?

I feel like chords are more pitchy than my Gibson or my Fender with standard nuts.

I suppose it's designed to be used in E Standard with lighter gauge strings. I'm in Drop C with D'Addario 11-56... could that be the issue?

Or should I just replace it with something more "normal"?

Yes, they are calibrated for standard tuning. My Schecter has the Ernie Ball version. Its not uncommon for people that are used to the intonation issues of a standard nut to hear the corrected intonation as off. Not all, but some.

No special tuning required. The compensation is built on the bone standard tuning

 

[Bill Dennis]

Maybe my nut is cut too high and that's what's throwing it off?

Its possible

 

[ICTGoober]

And in answer to the OP, yes - it could be "kind of a gimmick".

 

[Chistopher]

I don't think tuning or guage should make a major difference so long as you have a plain G.

The first couple of frets on a guitar are a little out of tune just because the nut is so much higher than a fret would be. 1st fret is the most out of tune, then usually by about the 3rd fret it's hard to tell.

I prefer a zero fret to solve the same problem, but it's not a big enough issue where I go out of my way to fix it on all guitars.

 

[Mincer]

I don't think tuning or guage should make a major difference so long as you have a plain G.

The first couple of frets on a guitar are a little out of tune just because the nut is so much higher than a fret would be. 1st fret is the most out of tune, then usually by about the 3rd fret it's hard to tell.

I prefer a zero fret to solve the same problem, but it's not a big enough issue where I go out of my way to fix it on all guitars.

I love zero frets. I have no idea why they aren't more popular.

 

[Chistopher]

I'd bet it's because so many cheap plastic toy acoustics came with them back in the day.

But they are nice because the open frets sound the same as fretted, no binding or breaking at the nut, and the top 3 frets are just as in tune as the rest of them.

 

[Chistopher]

Zero glide is a great brand for a noninvasive retrofit option

 

[Mincer]

Zero glide is a great brand for a noninvasive retrofit option

I've seen ads for them, but never played a guitar with one.

 

[ICTGoober]

Zero Glide is yet another gimmick. The instruments that crossed my bench that had them installed all needed a lot of work to get the action down, and in 2 cases the clients asked me to replace them with a dependable bone nut.

 

[Chistopher]

I guess they do kind of imply that they are a drop in replacement to whatever nut you already have in there, but that is not the case.

 

[Bill Dennis]

And in answer to the OP, yes - it could be "kind of a gimmick".

But its not

 

[Bill Dennis]

I don't think tuning or guage should make a major difference so long as you have a plain G.

The first couple of frets on a guitar are a little out of tune just because the nut is so much higher than a fret would be. 1st fret is the most out of tune, then usually by about the 3rd fret it's hard to tell.

I prefer a zero fret to solve the same problem, but it's not a big enough issue where I go out of my way to fix it on all guitars.

The nut is not cut properly if the strings are higher than they would be with a zero fret

 

[ICTGoober]

But its not

Like you'd know.

 

[ICTGoober]

The nut is not cut properly if the strings are higher than they would be with a zero fret

Normally this would be the case, but if the fret provided is a jumbo you are F-ed.