astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
talk to me about them, tell me why i should replace the plastic one on my fender tele.
How important is the quality of a guitar nut?
- Thread starter astrozombie
- Start date
J
Jessie's ghost
Guest
Re: How important is the quality of a guitar nut?
I play open strings and first-position chords a lot, and I need them to sound as good as the fretted notes. A soft plastic nut doesn't cut it for me. Depending on what I'm starting with, a good nut made from hard cow bone, Tusq, graphite, etc., can be a huge difference -- not a little one.
Also, many factory nuts are cut wrong. You can get intonation problems, especially in the first few frets. Often, you're best to start over having a good tech make a nut specifically for the guitar. Might as well use a good material while you're at it.
I play open strings and first-position chords a lot, and I need them to sound as good as the fretted notes. A soft plastic nut doesn't cut it for me. Depending on what I'm starting with, a good nut made from hard cow bone, Tusq, graphite, etc., can be a huge difference -- not a little one.
Also, many factory nuts are cut wrong. You can get intonation problems, especially in the first few frets. Often, you're best to start over having a good tech make a nut specifically for the guitar. Might as well use a good material while you're at it.
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: How important is the quality of a guitar nut?
My opinion is that only the open string tones make any difference and not fretted notes..I Like bone and the TUSQ nuts alot...The nut has to be cut and slotted so as to copy the overall curvature of the neck and the strings need to not be too tight in the slots...The way the strings come across the nut slots is important for intonation and so the strings don't get stuck in the slots..I also use Big Bend's Nut Sauce and this helps the tuning and slotting issues alot.
I feel the bridge,the saddles,and the material the saddles are made of,make more overall tonal difference from my own experiences.
My opinion is that only the open string tones make any difference and not fretted notes..I Like bone and the TUSQ nuts alot...The nut has to be cut and slotted so as to copy the overall curvature of the neck and the strings need to not be too tight in the slots...The way the strings come across the nut slots is important for intonation and so the strings don't get stuck in the slots..I also use Big Bend's Nut Sauce and this helps the tuning and slotting issues alot.
I feel the bridge,the saddles,and the material the saddles are made of,make more overall tonal difference from my own experiences.
J
Jessie's ghost
Guest
Re: How important is the quality of a guitar nut?
I think that, as a contact point where the string is exerting a lot of downward pressure, it's important to the tone of the guitar. Look at parts of the guitar where the string contacts but are behind the saddles. People still agonize over what those parts are made of. If the nut doesn't matter for fretted notes, then neither should a stop-tail, the sustain block on a Strat, or the string ferules on a Tele or other through-body guitar.
I think that, as a contact point where the string is exerting a lot of downward pressure, it's important to the tone of the guitar. Look at parts of the guitar where the string contacts but are behind the saddles. People still agonize over what those parts are made of. If the nut doesn't matter for fretted notes, then neither should a stop-tail, the sustain block on a Strat, or the string ferules on a Tele or other through-body guitar.
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: How important is the quality of a guitar nut?
As I stated...Just my opinion..
As I stated...Just my opinion..
J
Jessie's ghost
Guest
Re: How important is the quality of a guitar nut?
Same here. I don't know how much it matters, but I think it does, and I'm willing to toss over a plastic nut from any guitar I feel is otherwise worthwhile.
Same here. I don't know how much it matters, but I think it does, and I'm willing to toss over a plastic nut from any guitar I feel is otherwise worthwhile.
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: How important is the quality of a guitar nut?
Absolutely brother! Personally I'd just rather not have the plastic nuts on any of my guitars...I've read that EJ actually likes the plastic? Kinda weird.. lol
Absolutely brother! Personally I'd just rather not have the plastic nuts on any of my guitars...I've read that EJ actually likes the plastic? Kinda weird.. lol
distortionhead
New member
Re: How important is the quality of a guitar nut?
Well i have heard people say that the composite nut are junk because the string can wear and cause the strings to ping and dead sound. But on the other side of the coin these guys are also the same people who throw real heavy strings that dont even set into the grooves properly. The nut is one of the most overlooked parts of tone on the guitar. The nut you use should be in line with the style of music you play a-la dont put 56-13 or a zakk wylde set on a tele.
Well i have heard people say that the composite nut are junk because the string can wear and cause the strings to ping and dead sound. But on the other side of the coin these guys are also the same people who throw real heavy strings that dont even set into the grooves properly. The nut is one of the most overlooked parts of tone on the guitar. The nut you use should be in line with the style of music you play a-la dont put 56-13 or a zakk wylde set on a tele.
Bludave
New member
Re: How important is the quality of a guitar nut?
The quality of the nut plays a big roll in how well your instrument will stay in tune. The material is also of equal importance. Although many guitars are equipped with a plastic nut.... the material is not as much of a concern as the slots themselves. If the slots are cut to the right height & thickness it will keep your guitar in tune well. I prefer graphite over a lot of other materials.... especially on a Strat as the whammy needs to allow the strings to slide. On a Tele bone would be desirable.
The quality of the nut plays a big roll in how well your instrument will stay in tune. The material is also of equal importance. Although many guitars are equipped with a plastic nut.... the material is not as much of a concern as the slots themselves. If the slots are cut to the right height & thickness it will keep your guitar in tune well. I prefer graphite over a lot of other materials.... especially on a Strat as the whammy needs to allow the strings to slide. On a Tele bone would be desirable.
MojoMonster
Active member
Re: How important is the quality of a guitar nut?
+infinity what Bluedave said.
No matter the material, the most important thing is that it be cut and finished properly.
It's also a good idea to get the saddles cut and finished properly as well. Especially if you have a standard tremolo.
That said, it's hard not to like the graphite and bone.
MM
+infinity what Bluedave said.
No matter the material, the most important thing is that it be cut and finished properly.
It's also a good idea to get the saddles cut and finished properly as well. Especially if you have a standard tremolo.
That said, it's hard not to like the graphite and bone.
MM
IanBallard
New member
Re: How important is the quality of a guitar nut?
Fender Yngwie brass nut for mine. Cut perfectly, slots are smooth and fits my .042-.009 strings perfectly. I actually have FEWER tuning issues under heavy whammy usage than with the old Tusq Nut I had. Copper alloys have a great friction coefficient with other metals like steel and nickel, so with just a touch of Liquid Wrench, it works every bit as well as the Tusq and sounds better playing open chords and the harmonics kill!!!! People say the nut only matters using open strings but those people don't consider what it does for harmonics.
I've never liked bone at all. I've never met a bone nut that sounds consistent from slot to slot... there always seems like at least one string has a weird overtone or deadness and the constant "pinging" while using the bar or tuning is annoying.
Fender Yngwie brass nut for mine. Cut perfectly, slots are smooth and fits my .042-.009 strings perfectly. I actually have FEWER tuning issues under heavy whammy usage than with the old Tusq Nut I had. Copper alloys have a great friction coefficient with other metals like steel and nickel, so with just a touch of Liquid Wrench, it works every bit as well as the Tusq and sounds better playing open chords and the harmonics kill!!!! People say the nut only matters using open strings but those people don't consider what it does for harmonics.
I've never liked bone at all. I've never met a bone nut that sounds consistent from slot to slot... there always seems like at least one string has a weird overtone or deadness and the constant "pinging" while using the bar or tuning is annoying.
FuseG4
Our Neighbor Totoro
Re: How important is the quality of a guitar nut?
All I know is that one time I had a guy cut me a nut and it was terrible. The slots were too deep and too narrow and the whole guitar sounded choked.
Induction tells me that if a bad nut made the guitar sound bad, then conversely, a good nut would have made the guitar sound better.
All I know is that one time I had a guy cut me a nut and it was terrible. The slots were too deep and too narrow and the whole guitar sounded choked.
Induction tells me that if a bad nut made the guitar sound bad, then conversely, a good nut would have made the guitar sound better.
IanBallard
New member
Re: How important is the quality of a guitar nut?
This is very true. You could have a plastic nut that was cut perfectly for the strings you use and were cut with a machine that left smooth and burr-free slots, but I've never found such a plastic nut. It's also wise to check the other work of a luthier before you commission his work... play some of his other guitars and see how the strings react to his nut-cutting. I bought the Fender Ynqwie nut in hopes that it was manufactured with the quality that Yngwie himself would want if he was replacing a nut or building a new guitar and I was pleased! Perfect performance and not one instance of binding and I've only had a few issues with tuning. Perhaps it's easier to produce more consistent results with a hard-wearing metal and specialized machines, as opposed to a natural material cut by a person with hand tools.
This is very true. You could have a plastic nut that was cut perfectly for the strings you use and were cut with a machine that left smooth and burr-free slots, but I've never found such a plastic nut. It's also wise to check the other work of a luthier before you commission his work... play some of his other guitars and see how the strings react to his nut-cutting. I bought the Fender Ynqwie nut in hopes that it was manufactured with the quality that Yngwie himself would want if he was replacing a nut or building a new guitar and I was pleased! Perfect performance and not one instance of binding and I've only had a few issues with tuning. Perhaps it's easier to produce more consistent results with a hard-wearing metal and specialized machines, as opposed to a natural material cut by a person with hand tools.
Bass_Medic_05
Purveyor of Low End
Re: How important is the quality of a guitar nut?
I feel if I am going to put something on any axe I have I like to research it, play it, hear it. Then put the plan into action, I never use stock I always upgrade that is unless stock is better.
I feel if I am going to put something on any axe I have I like to research it, play it, hear it. Then put the plan into action, I never use stock I always upgrade that is unless stock is better.
Bass_Medic_05
Purveyor of Low End
Re: How important is the quality of a guitar nut?
I feel if I am going to put something on any axe I have I like to research it, play it, hear it. Then put the plan into action, I never use stock I always upgrade that is unless stock is better........I like bone, personal preference
I feel if I am going to put something on any axe I have I like to research it, play it, hear it. Then put the plan into action, I never use stock I always upgrade that is unless stock is better........I like bone, personal preference
