Strat intonation problems......

[fenderiarhs]

The G string on my fender am.std goes out of tune even after some slight tremolo use. All other strings keep their tuning very well.....the problem is happening only with the G string. I suspect that the slot in the nut for the G string is not cut well. What can i do ????

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Strat intonation problems......

Fold a piece of fine sandpaper in half and run it through the slot to widen it just a bit.
Make sure the guitar is intonated so good that all the open notes and every note above the 10th frets reads dead center on your tuner.
Buy a small tube of white teflon powder for greasing model airplane motors at the hobby store and use it instead of messy graphite or lip balm.

 

[nuntius]

Re: Strat intonation problems......

I got a tip on cheap lube from someone - scrape some graphite from a pencil tip (using a knife) over some vaseline, mix, and put it in your nut using a toothpich or something like that.

I've only done it once to one of my guitars, and tbh I wasn't having any problems in the first place I just decided to do it when I changed the strings... Maybe someone will validate it?

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Strat intonation problems......

I've heard of using all these as nut lubes......pencil lead, liquid graphite, powdered graphite, Vaseline, Carmex lip balm (Joe Perry), black teflon, white teflon, etc.

If your nut is cut properly, you really don't need any of it, since the string will slide in the slot without binding. However, I've come to the conclusion that the White Teflon powder and the Carmex lip balm are the two best solutions. Anything with graphite in it will make a big black mess all over the white plastic, or your guitarcase, clothes, or fingers. Vaseline works, but since it's petroleum based, I'm assuming it can break down the plastic and cause it to wear faster or unevenly. White teflon is like slick baby powder, so it's easy to blow away the excess, plus it's the same color as the nut.
Wax based lip balms like Carmex aren't bad, but sometimes the excess can get onto your wound strings and make them dead sounding quicker. I rarely use anything, but the little $4 tube of white teflon I bought at a hobby store seems to be the best.