PRS - How much of the tone is the graphite nut?

[Gearjoneser]

I always hear people talking about how the PRS is nice, but lacks something they can't describe.

What everyone overlooks is the graphite nut they use exclusively, which is 50% of the bearing edge between the wood and strings.

I also have a telecaster that came with a Schecter graphite nut, and the day I changed it to Tusq, the guitar suddenly sounded 'right.' It's as if the guitar jumped up in quality to a certain extent.

Now, I have to replace the nut on one of my PRS McCartys because I ruined a nut slot, messing around with an annoying buzz on the high E.
PRS nuts are expensive and hard to get, so I was thinking about shaping a nice one out of Tusq or bone, and seeing how it effected the tone and feel of the guitar.

I have a gut feeling that putting a proper nut on a PRS will be an epiphany, and if it makes the guitar sound a lot better, PRS owners might really take note of this easy mod. What do you think? Have you tried a PRS with a plastic, Tusq, or bone nut? We're so used to seeing PRS's with graphite, and they're always setup so nice that we never have the urge to change them. I'm about to try it.

 

[marvar]

Re: PRS - How much of the tone is the graphite nut?

I've been told that the nut really only affects the tone on non-fretted (open) played strings, which in theory, anyway, seems logical-
discuss?

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: PRS - How much of the tone is the graphite nut?

I'm starting to wonder if all the players who attribute the difference in tone between PRS and Gibson are wrongly accusing the finish of being the culprit. Of course, the two guitars will sound different, but when Gibson lovers always suggest that PRS's have something "missing" I wonder if it's the difference in nut material that's a huge part of it?

PRS's are great guitars, so it's funny that people say there's something they can't describe that turns them off to them. What if it's been the graphite nut all this time??? It's such a minute detail, that we may have overlooked it.

Now, I can't wait to get a Tusq nut on my teal black McCarty with zebra pickups. The Tusq nut will give the guitar a new look too, matching the cream in the zebras.

 

[beandip]

Re: PRS - How much of the tone is the graphite nut?

I've personally never been a big fan of Tusq. I don't like the sound of it, the feel of it, or the look of it. Especially that ugly brown/tan/green color it turns after some age. Bone would be the best improvement you could make in the nut dept, IMO.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: PRS - How much of the tone is the graphite nut?

I've heard that the nut really only affects the tone on non-fretted (open) played strings, which in theory, anyway, seem logical-
discuss?

Maybe it's all in my head, but it seems like graphite has a duller tone that imparts it's own sound, rather than transferring the sound of the wood to the pickups. That's just my observation from the only guitar I ever went from graphite to Tusq with - a US Schecter Tele.

Now, I'm eager to get the PRS done. I'll be so happy if I hit the first few chords and hear the tone opened up. They already have good pickups....C5/59, one of the best sets I've heard in a PRS.

 

[marvar]

Re: PRS - How much of the tone is the graphite nut?

I'm starting to wonder if all the players who attribute the difference in tone between PRS and Gibson are wrongly accusing the finish of being the culprit. Of course, the two guitars will sound different, but when Gibson lovers always suggest that PRS's have something "missing" I wonder if it's the difference in nut material that's a huge part of it?

PRS's are great guitars, so it's funny that people say there's something they can't describe that turns them off to them. What if it's been the graphite nut all this time??? It's such a minute detail, that we may have overlooked it.

Now, I can't wait to get a Tusq nut on my teal black McCarty with zebra pickups. The Tusq nut will give the guitar a new look too, matching the cream in the zebras.

I think trying to compare a PRS to a Gibson, is sorta' like comparing a Fender with a Gibson- just 2 different guitars, that will never sound that much alike.
Apples and oranges! Do folks expect a PRS to sound like a Gibson- if so, seems like they would just buy a Gibson.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: PRS - How much of the tone is the graphite nut?

I think going with a bone nut will improve the tone. But I don't think that's the biggest reason why PRS guitars sound different from Gibsons. Are you thinking Les Paul? If so there's lots of differences between the two - as you already know.

1. The body is thicker on a Les Paul
2. Most Les Pauls have a TOM bridge and stop tailpiece - very different tone than a McCarty bridge/tailpiece
3. Les Pauls have a shorter neck with a single cutaway vs. the long neck and double cutaway
4. PRS uses a longer scale length than Gibson

I think the single cutaway really makes for a stronger less flexable neck than the long neck and double cutaway PRS design. Also,although they are both glued in, PRS attaches the neck differently, with a different style tenon than Gibson.

I think those are some of the main reasons for the diff in tone between PRS and Gibson.

Lew

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: PRS - How much of the tone is the graphite nut?

I think trying to compare a PRS to a Gibson, is sorta' like comparing a Fender with a Gibson- just 2 different guitars, that will never sound that much alike.
Apples and oranges! Do folks expect a PRS to sound like a Gibson- if so, seems like they would just buy a Gibson.

Yeah, I never compare. All I play is Gibson, PRS, and Fender....and Martin. I love those 4 companies, and never feel like I have to identify myself only with 1. My two PRS McCartys are the remaining gems after owning 6 PRS's. The Customs left. The McCartys stayed.

In my vintage sunburst McCarty, I have the bridge humbucker I made at the 2005 User Group Day....a 15.3K Custom 5....basically a hotter Custom 5 with thicker mids. That's what the C5 should be! And the teal black McCarty has zebra C5/59. The C5/59 is great for LP's and PRS guitars. I consider it a hotrodded 59 set.

 

[marvar]

Re: PRS - How much of the tone is the graphite nut?

My working collection is Gibson, Fender, PRS, Epiphone, Washburn, and Hamer, they all have specific duties, although some of them can be interchanged, I just usually pick the one that works best for the song I'm playing- I even go thru the set list and make notes as to when and what guitar to change to , so the boys know when to stall (talk to) the audiance a bit

 

[scottish]

Re: PRS - How much of the tone is the graphite nut?

i have a graphite nut on my strat and i think it sounds amazing. i wouldnt call it dull, still plenty stratty and snappy.

its not a prs and its not buckers so it probably has no relevance what so ever. i also started off with a graphite nut so i have nothing to A/B it with on that guitar.

 

[metlking]

Re: PRS - How much of the tone is the graphite nut?

I had to replace the nut on one of my McCarty's and I went with bone. The difference is amazing, but....I'm a firm believer in the placebo effect and I may have been effected by that. My PRS was unplayable and had severly worn frets and the D string gave a sitar kinda sound. I had the frets crowned and the nut replaced and its an amazing guitar once again.........I have two other McCartys, they are both nice but don't have quite the "MOJO" of the other one, maybe it's the bone nut? They all have the same pickups.....Hmmmmmm.........

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: PRS - How much of the tone is the graphite nut?

For me, I think one big reason why I like PRS is because of the graphite nut. What some people call "bland", I call "balanced". I hate guitars with scooped frequencies where one area really stands out amongst the rest (guitars with pingy high ends are useless to me). I don't like having to EQ my amplifier to make up for the fact that a guitar has something really crazy going on. The guitars I've held onto are all balanced sounding (the ones I've gone through ranged from decent to pretty good). The only exceptions would be the '76 Explorer I had that was God-like and my most recent one I had to let go, the '62 RI Strat (which was one wonderful guitar - warm, smooth and still had that quack).

I don't have anything against other tone woods, it's just that graphite seems to just make things "work" well for me. There's less playability issues (graphite is a natural lubricant), the strings tend to have a more even response and I don't notice any lack of sustain. Notes may not have a bright edge to them like bone, something that seems "alive" to people, but I don't find that any of the characteristics of bone or the like really translate as well as people make them out to be when you're plugged in. Heck, my '56 RI Strat isn't graphite, but plugged in it doesn't really pop or stand out more than my PRSi do. I may end up changing the nut on my '56 to graphite just to help keep more stability with the trem (plus, it's a good way to add some warmth to the ash/maple mix).

If I've learned anything over time - if it's not broke, don't fix it. Some guitars sound great as-is. Leave them alone. Pickup changes on guitars that sound good stock don't make sense. Changing out tailpieces and bridges on guitars that sound great as-is doesn't make sense. Everything impacts everything and before you know it, you've changed out things for the sake of changing out things without having any reason other than "I'm shelling out more money for it, so it must be better". I don't know how many guitars I tried doing some different with them and it ended up turning me off of them and they got sold. Very few guitars that I touched, I really made better. One of the few examples was the Gibson Firebird V. The 50's Lollar custom P90 was beautiful sounding and the graphite nut took down the high end a hair to make for a well balanced guitar.

 

[3'scompany]

Re: PRS - How much of the tone is the graphite nut?

I have a bone nut on my Cu22. I took it in to have some setup work done, the goon broke the nut, and they replaced it w/ a bone one. After I got it back, I immediately thought it sounded a lot warmer. I might dare say slightly less defined, but fuller sounding. I don't know if it really did change the tone, or if I was just imaging it. This was almost 6 years ago though, and the guitar has gone through about 4 pickup swaps, so I can't say that I would be the best judge as to how the nut changed things considering all the other variables.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: PRS - How much of the tone is the graphite nut?

I will say that the TUSQ nut I put on my Squier '51 made that guitar fawesome

I also replaced every single other part of the guitar, too, so maybe it wasn't the nut :laughing:

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: PRS - How much of the tone is the graphite nut?

I'm definitely curious, keep us updated Joe.

 

[d1dsj]

Re: PRS - How much of the tone is the graphite nut?

Maybe Mr. Smith deliberately set about creating his own unique, signature tone. The fact that most people still identify with a particular Gibson tone is the reason why so many (including me) have stuck with the generally inferior build, fit and finish of Gibson? One day though I will own a McRosie (McCarty with rosewood neck). I too look forward to see what Joe's thoughts are on the tonal differences in nut materials.... he could well be on to something here.

 

[phil_104]

Re: PRS - How much of the tone is the graphite nut?

I have a bone nut on my Cu22. I took it in to have some setup work done, the goon broke the nut, and they replaced it w/ a bone one. After I got it back, I immediately thought it sounded a lot warmer. I might dare say slightly less defined, but fuller sounding. I don't know if it really did change the tone, or if I was just imaging it. This was almost 6 years ago though, and the guitar has gone through about 4 pickup swaps, so I can't say that I would be the best judge as to how the nut changed things considering all the other variables.

I'm starting to think that a Tusq nut could sound great in my CE24. I mean, it's a maple bolt on, so it has plenty of clarity and not definition, so perhaps adding a bone nut would give it just a tad more warmth. I like the sound of it right now, but if GJ can display that it makes a difference, I might have to give it a shot.

I'm definitely curious, keep us updated Joe.

+10000

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: PRS - How much of the tone is the graphite nut?

I agree with The Chris about not changing parts when the guitar sounds fine. A few years ago, I'd convinced myself that I needed a Tonepros bridge. After installing that expensive bridge, I realized that it created a brighter harder sound with too much sustain - if that makes any sense. I put the original aluminum McCarty bridge back on, and like it better.

I wouldn't even be messing with the idea of changing the PRS nut if I didn't screw up the current one. I figure if I'm going to change it, I may as well go for the best - a bone nut.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: PRS - How much of the tone is the graphite nut?

I guess I've had this wrong ????

I always thought the graphite nut would be a warmer sound than the bone? I was considering installing an unbleached bone nut on my Schecter.

Excuse my French, but I was thinking graphite nut for guitars with tremolo, and bone for the hard tails.

 

[veryhungrycaterpilla]

Re: PRS - How much of the tone is the graphite nut?

Compared to all the other parameters that make a PRS (like all PRSi are constructed and/or sound the same), the nut tone effect is about the magnitude of a pebble thrown into a medium-sized inland lake filled with waterskiing boats speeding around on a summer Saturday afternoon.