High E popping out from nut

astrozombie

KatyPerryologist
I changed the 10s on my Les Paul to 11s and now when I really dig into the strings the high e will occasionally pop out. Should I just use a little sandpaper to open up the nut slot a little more?
 
Re: High E popping out from nut

Only if that's the problem. It could be. Do you have a set of nut files with a .011 size file?

It could also be that because of the increased stiffness of the strings, you are putting more lateral force in the slot when you are bending.
 
Re: High E popping out from nut

I changed the 10s on my Les Paul to 11s and now when I really dig into the strings the high e will occasionally pop out. Should I just use a little sandpaper to open up the nut slot a little more?

beware of the sitar effect.
 
Re: High E popping out from nut

I would finely tune all of your nut slots. I am tellin' ya man, and I know ya don't wanna hear it...but it's the truth: The very first thing every new Gibson needs these days is to have the nut slots perfected, if not a replacement of the entire nut. Their nut and fret work is embarrassing for multi-thousand-dollar guitars. They slap in a blank, have a PLEK machine do its thing, do extremely minimal touch up, if any, and slap a set of 9's on. You end up with an ill-finished nut, plain and simple. Rough slots, non-ideal slot height, and non-ideal slot angles. (Custom Shop/Historic guitars tend to be much better.) Putting thicker strings on only makes these problems more apparent. Have the factory boxy frets end dressed, crowned and polished while you're at it, and enjoy how much better the thing plays all around.
 
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Re: High E popping out from nut

Yeah. Gibson use plastic nuts. Here is your opportunity to put in something nice like tusq xl or real bone.
 
Re: High E popping out from nut

If you are going to heavier gauge strings, you may need to make the nut slots wider without making them any deeper.

I agree with those who suggest replacing the stock nut altogether. I agree with Doc for suggesting proper nut slotting files over glasspaper.
 
Re: High E popping out from nut

I changed the 10s on my Les Paul to 11s and now when I really dig into the strings the high e will occasionally pop out. Should I just use a little sandpaper to open up the nut slot a little more?

Katy is so cute I could just eat her up.

I don't mean like, eat her out. I mean like...if she were a popsickle I would eat her all gone.
 
Re: High E popping out from nut

have a PLEK machine do its thing, do extremely minimal touch up, if any, and slap a set of 9's on. .

Make that 10's.

And yeah I agree, dig that baby down! Or just replace the whole thing. Either way, your nut needs some work :)
 
Re: High E popping out from nut

Make that 10's.

And yeah I agree, dig that baby down! Or just replace the whole thing. Either way, your nut needs some work :)

Where'd you read that they now use 10's? AFAIK, they've used 9's for decades. I just took a peek at a Les Paul Standard on their Website, and in the specs it says the guitar comes with 9's.
 
Re: High E popping out from nut

I agree with funkfingers. The slots need to be widened. I use torch tip cleaners to good effect. Partly because I'm too cheap to invest in proper files.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk
 
Re: High E popping out from nut

Where'd you read that they now use 10's? AFAIK, they've used 9's for decades. I just took a peek at a Les Paul Standard on their Website, and in the specs it says the guitar comes with 9's.

Sold them for years. Was MOSTLY 10's (Brite Wires) Depended on the model though. I did just check the website and it does claim they are coming with 9's. Strange, I'm gunna get in touch with my old rep if I can clear some of this...
 
Re: High E popping out from nut

Slight tangent, I got one of my guitars back today after having new pups fitted, it has 11's on it because the intonation was going a little bit, whilst playing today realised what the problem is, a previous owner, I bought it last year, strat, about 20 years old, has filed the nut and got a bit overzealous so if I bend the G I get a sound like a piano string being plucked, this is separate from the sound of the string, an isolated ping

I have the option of repair or replace, contacted local luthier today, if replace what would you recommend?, I was thinking brass purely because it has gold hardware which has faded over time but that's a purely cosmetic touch to match the hardware and brass nuts appear to have lost their appeal after being hyped for awhile. The guy who does the electrics work immediately gave me the look when I suggested brass and recommended bone/tusk

Repair's maybe an option but there's been an underlying problem since I got it and appear to have identified it today and I'm happy for the nut to come off and be replaced with something better, it's a MIK Squier Pro Tone strat
 
Re: High E popping out from nut

Weird, usually that 'pling' sound is because the nut is too tight and its binding. A 20 year old strat though, I would replace the nut. Yeah I never quite got the brass hype, not to mention a pain in the ass to work with vs TUSQ.
 
Re: High E popping out from nut

Weird, usually that 'pling' sound is because the nut is too tight and its binding. A 20 year old strat though, I would replace the nut. Yeah I never quite got the brass hype, not to mention a pain in the ass to work with vs TUSQ.

Thanks for replying, seeing as it has a set of 11's in it your take on it could be closer to the truth, we'll see what the luthier has to say once he gets a hold of it
 
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