astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Over the years I've gotten pretty good at some of the technical aspects of electric guitar maintenance. I often feel I've perfected the setup on my Gretsch Corvette just to pick it up the next day and notice a detail I had overlooked. It was this way that I learned how to tell the difference between a "straight" neck and a back bowed one...and the amazing difference in feel that that has, sometimes we have guitars that have a back bow and do not even notice simply because our eyes play tricks on us.
I've noticed that the nut on my guitar, while being "bone (according to every musical instrument dealer on the internet), seems to be cut all wrong. It has the strings "sinking" into it, the nut slots are deep enough to almost hide the string entirely. I've also noticed that the nut itself could have a better break angle over the back heading towards the tuners, the pitch of the headstock seems to be a little sharper than what the nut will currently allow them to be.
I've considered picking up a set of nut files and learning the craft... which in all sincerity does not seem to be a difficult process at all. Just pick the right gauge, measure twice and cut once..so to speak.
I believe this will make all the difference between an "ok" feel at those lowest frets and a superb playing instrument.
the frets themselves are actually very level, the guitar does have a good fret job from the factory, I'm currently playing it with no relief and the action set at around 3/64ths of an inch on the 15th fret on both sides and it barely rattles. I have a very light touch.
I believe the nut, when worked on, will also help the guitar stay in tune better after it's slots have been properly shaped and made to serve as simply what aligns the strings on the headstock and keeps the strings with a good intonation point... i feel the reduced height and better angle will keep the strings from binding at the nut.. and then my locking tuners and big bends nut sauce will truly do the trick and keep my guitar in much better tune.
It's not *that* hard to work on nut slots, is it?
I've noticed that the nut on my guitar, while being "bone (according to every musical instrument dealer on the internet), seems to be cut all wrong. It has the strings "sinking" into it, the nut slots are deep enough to almost hide the string entirely. I've also noticed that the nut itself could have a better break angle over the back heading towards the tuners, the pitch of the headstock seems to be a little sharper than what the nut will currently allow them to be.
I've considered picking up a set of nut files and learning the craft... which in all sincerity does not seem to be a difficult process at all. Just pick the right gauge, measure twice and cut once..so to speak.
I believe this will make all the difference between an "ok" feel at those lowest frets and a superb playing instrument.
the frets themselves are actually very level, the guitar does have a good fret job from the factory, I'm currently playing it with no relief and the action set at around 3/64ths of an inch on the 15th fret on both sides and it barely rattles. I have a very light touch.
I believe the nut, when worked on, will also help the guitar stay in tune better after it's slots have been properly shaped and made to serve as simply what aligns the strings on the headstock and keeps the strings with a good intonation point... i feel the reduced height and better angle will keep the strings from binding at the nut.. and then my locking tuners and big bends nut sauce will truly do the trick and keep my guitar in much better tune.
It's not *that* hard to work on nut slots, is it?
