Will a roller nut provide more tuning stability than one made of graphite?

[oilpit]

This is regarding a Stratocaster with a regular 2 point tremolo.

The question is pretty straightforward, assuming the guitar is properly set up, all other components the same (that means locking tuners in either scenario), will a roller nut provide a tangible benefit over a Graphtech Tusq?

I'm putting together a Strat and my final decision is the nut. A roller is slightly more expensive which I am happy to shell out for but I just figure at a certain point you reach a level of tuning stability that can't be further improved upon, or if it is it's a negligible difference.

Thoughts on this?

 

[RorySquier]

Re: Will a roller nut provide more tuning stability than one made of graphite?

You may experience difficulties with a roller nut if you change the gauge of strings that you use. But I think both are good. Graphite nuts provide great tuning stability, etc. It depends more on the looks and that's a personal preference.



;>)/

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Will a roller nut provide more tuning stability than one made of graphite?

Get a Zero Glide nut. No string binding for excellent stability, they accept any string guage without modification, they have the string intonation of a compensated nut, and your open strings sound like fretted notes. They are almost drop in replacements as well.

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: Will a roller nut provide more tuning stability than one made of graphite?

OP, what style guitar do you plan to play on this guitar?

Personally, I think a roller nut is a waste -you are solving a problem that largely doesn't exist with a properly setup guitar

I do see the tangible benefits of a Graphtech nut -especially with a guitar that travels between tropical and arid climates and flies. Graphtech provides a maintenance free way to insure some movement and relief from binding of the string under tension versus a traditional material for a nut.

I do see the advantages of a Roller Bridge for vintage style Trem systems because the larger angle and greater tension at the closest friction point from the Bigsby

 

[Mincer]

Re: Will a roller nut provide more tuning stability than one made of graphite?

I dig graphite nut + saddles. No tuning issues, ever.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Will a roller nut provide more tuning stability than one made of graphite?

The slight potential benefit is not worth the extra effort. A well-cut nut that is properly lubed will work without issue.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Will a roller nut provide more tuning stability than one made of graphite?

I do not particularly like my roller nut, it requires maintenance (got to clean the fuzz and stuff out) and still isn’t as good as a tusq with graphite powder.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Will a roller nut provide more tuning stability than one made of graphite?

I have a wilkerson roller nut on my daphne blue strat
And it works just fine

Electric Guitar Roller Nut Adjustable Chrome Black Gold
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/buOIcAl2

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Will a roller nut provide more tuning stability than one made of graphite?

Never seen that style before.

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Will a roller nut provide more tuning stability than one made of graphite?

I like the idea of them - but also never had trouble with tuning stability on any standard nut so it's a true 'bonus' for me. I don't like the idea of not having independent rollers per the nut linked above, I can see bending one string doing strange things to the others; maybe it's a non-concern.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Will a roller nut provide more tuning stability than one made of graphite?

I have both older styles on two Strat Plus models. I can't really say I see a benefit over a proper nut.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Will a roller nut provide more tuning stability than one made of graphite?

bending plain strings really doesnt affect the other plain string
its kinda round on top

thats something else you need to think of with the wilkerson style

they need a large shelf and the break point is about 3 mm back from the fret board
to make it work out you will have to remove 3 mm of rosewood and scooch it forward

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Will a roller nut provide more tuning stability than one made of graphite?

I prefer graphite. Everyone I know who has a roller nut had problems with it.

Bill

 

[oilpit]

Re: Will a roller nut provide more tuning stability than one made of graphite?

Get a Zero Glide nut. No string binding for excellent stability, they accept any string guage without modification, they have the string intonation of a compensated nut, and your open strings sound like fretted notes. They are almost drop in replacements as well.

I came across this name as I was looking into the topic of this thread, but I didn't really put together how good it would be for a tremolo.

You've had good experiences?

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Will a roller nut provide more tuning stability than one made of graphite?

I came across this name as I was looking into the topic of this thread, but I didn't really put together how good it would be for a tremolo.

You've had good experiences?

Yes I have. And if I were a betting man, I'd bet that all of the people on this thread recommending a graphite nut have never tried a Zero Glide. The only downside compared to a traditional nut is that some people unjustly give them a bad rep because in the past zero frets were used on crappy oriental guitars. I'm currently in the process of installing them into most of my guitars.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Will a roller nut provide more tuning stability than one made of graphite?

I am a big fan of zero frets, if done well.

 

[oilpit]

Re: Will a roller nut provide more tuning stability than one made of graphite?

Yes I have. And if I were a betting man, I'd bet that all of the people on this thread recommending a graphite nut have never tried a Zero Glide. The only downside compared to a traditional nut is that some people unjustly give them a bad rep because in the past zero frets were used on crappy oriental guitars. I'm currently in the process of installing them into most of my guitars.

I am a big fan of zero frets, if done well.

Okay I watched some youtube videos in bed last night and I'm going to go for it. Doesn't require any special woodwork like the roller and only 5 bucks more than the Graphtech.

Thanks for the suggestion boys!

 

[rainsong86]

Re: Will a roller nut provide more tuning stability than one made of graphite?

If the roller nut doesn't need any extra routing then go for it. Personally I got good results by replacing all points of string contact with graph tech parts on a strat. That includes the saddles, nut, and often-forgotten: the string tree! I changed the tuners too but would've been even better if I'd gotten staggered tuners and done away with a string tree altogether. String trees ravage tuning stability IMHO!

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Will a roller nut provide more tuning stability than one made of graphite?

On occasion I've eliminated string trees from guitars while I worked through other tuning issues - but ultimately I've never been able to determine a string tree contributed to tuning problems on a vintage trem or hardtail bridge. Even a cheap eBay metal tree works fine on my six-screw parts Strat right now, set up for up and down-bend. Maybe there's a possible difference using a vibrato with more range, but I've checked that guitar against very accurate tuners- and all my guitars have stock metal trees except my G&L that came with a Graph-tech.

Still the *concept* of no trees appeals to me; don't have any on my one guitar with staggered tuners.

Back to nuts - Another consideration is while you can shim a roller nut for overall height, you'll need to stick with whatever radius it was manufactured as.

 

[Adieu]

Re: Will a roller nut provide more tuning stability than one made of graphite?

Built a partscaster w/ roller nut a few years back, it was a great player and pretty stable iirc

Beware: afaik, there's only a single nut width available in rollers. Make sure it matches yours.