How much string should be clear of the nut slot?

[astrozombie]

I've read that roughly half its diameter. Does this mean that I can just rough this in the same way I've been working the material, with a piece of 400 grit sandpaper? I had a bastard file but it's missing at the moment. I've gotten pretty good results so far but need to continue the process.

Has anybody worked on a guitar nut like this before? Any thoughts? I'm just worried I'll go too far and the string will pop out of the nut. This goes for the high e string specially since it's so small that minding that gap requires very precise work.


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[VinceT]

Re: How much string should be clear of the nut slot?

I've read that roughly half its diameter. Does this mean that I can just rough this in the same way I've been working the material, with a piece of 400 grit sandpaper? I had a bastard file but it's missing at the moment. I've gotten pretty good results so far but need to continue the process.

Has anybody worked on a guitar nut like this before? Any thoughts? I'm just worried I'll go too far and the string will pop out of the nut. This goes for the high e string specially since it's so small that minding that gap requires very precise work.


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I don't think the depth of the slot has any bearing on string vibration, etc. as far as I know these are the factors to focus on: width, height from fingerboard (about the same as first fret height), and shape of bottom of slot (smooth and rounded so the string doesn't bind).

In all my best playing guitars: Music Man, PRS, Reverend, Parker, none of any string protrudes above the nut.


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[LtKojak]

Re: How much string should be clear of the nut slot?

I've read that roughly half its diameter.

That's the idealistic, only on the thickest strings prerogative.

In reality, you make the slots as deep as required to have the requested clearance to the first fret, and then file away the rest until it's little over 50% of the string's diameter.

The small strings are too small to do the same as with the thicker strings, so you just don't.

http://www.stewmac.com/How-To/DVD/Dan_Erlewines_Nut_Making_Step-By-Step.html

This is an excellent course on nut-making.

http://www.stewmac.com/How-To/Trade_Secrets/two_tips_for_filing_string_slots_at_the_nut.html

This tip would certainly help your case.

HTH,

 

[rgand]

Re: How much string should be clear of the nut slot?

Thanks for the link to the video on shaping a nut. I learned a couple things.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: How much string should be clear of the nut slot?

Are we talking about your shoreline gold strat? On that guitar, the big concern is that an amateur replaced a big Wilkinson Strat Plus metal roller nut with a regular nut too close to the tuners, then squeezed a zero fret in front of it so it would intonate.

I have my doubts that it's a good enough job. You could just buy the stock nut.....the kind that came on the 80s/90s Strat Plus and Jeff Beck. Or, have a good tech install a nut where your black zero fret is, and put a maple patch over the area where your nut is. That's what I'd do. The guitar is nice. It just needs some work in that area to be perfect.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: How much string should be clear of the nut slot?

The only time I've noticed the sound get worse is when the strings are very far below the surface of the nut.