Members doc oc Posted December 19, 2009 Members Share Posted December 19, 2009 I understand why slots that are too small are a problem for tuning stability because of the string getting pinched, but is there any problem with the slot being too big as long as the action is okay? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PanaDP Posted December 19, 2009 Members Share Posted December 19, 2009 If the slots are too big, it will do negative things to the tone and sustain of your guitar. Energy will be lost when the string slides side-to-side in the slot. I cut my first nut and went too wide with the slots and it sounded deader than dead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members doc oc Posted December 19, 2009 Author Members Share Posted December 19, 2009 Any advice on how to cut one? I have never done it before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members groho Posted December 19, 2009 Members Share Posted December 19, 2009 be careful, cutting your nut will hurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members doc oc Posted December 19, 2009 Author Members Share Posted December 19, 2009 be careful, cutting your nut will hurtThat's exactly why I didn't specialize in urology. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PanaDP Posted December 19, 2009 Members Share Posted December 19, 2009 After shaping and ruining a couple of antler nuts, I finally decided that there is no good way to do it except to buy a set of files made for the purpose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members curseoftruth Posted December 19, 2009 Members Share Posted December 19, 2009 John Wayne Bobbet is the man to consult with on this topic... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted December 19, 2009 Members Share Posted December 19, 2009 After shaping and ruining a couple of antler nuts, I finally decided that there is no good way to do it except to buy a set of files made for the purpose. There really is no substitute. Wide slots can also cause buzzing and intonation issues. If you want to learn how to cut nuts, order at least a few extra and don't be surprised or upset if you have to order more because you f-ed them up. It's tricky and takes skill and patience. One wrong move with a file and the nut is trashed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fewlio Posted December 19, 2009 Members Share Posted December 19, 2009 maybe talk w/ a jewish rabbi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SuproSuper Man Posted December 19, 2009 Members Share Posted December 19, 2009 here is a link to a lesson on how to cut nuts from stewmac guitar luthrene site LINK FULL LINK - http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Nuts,_saddles/Special_tools_for:_Nuts_and_saddles/Double-edge_Nut_Files.html?tab=Articles#details [YOUTUBE] [/YOUTUBE] [YOUTUBE] [/YOUTUBE] [YOUTUBE] [/YOUTUBE] [YOUTUBE] [/YOUTUBE] some more various videos on the subject with tips , hints, and ideas on the matter... LINK good luck.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members schoolie1 Posted December 19, 2009 Members Share Posted December 19, 2009 Warmoth has a good deal on nut files, $69 for 8 files. It's a great investment, and you can also use them to slot new saddles. http://www.warmoth.com/Nut-Files-Set-of-8-P45C215.aspx I now realize that if I'd spent $250 on good tools, I could have saved $600 in all of the work that I've sent to the guitar tech. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MahaloVision Posted December 19, 2009 Members Share Posted December 19, 2009 The files are definitely worth it. I also picked up the string spacing gauge from StewMac, and it's proven it's value too. Before I got the files, I used a combination of rolling the razor saw in the slot and whatever cheap needle files I could find. It works OK, but it does take some touch to do it well. The files are definitely safer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Belva Posted December 19, 2009 Members Share Posted December 19, 2009 I like to cut my nut slots just a tiny bit wide. Ex: .012 for a .010 string. Too much and the previously mentioned problems surface. But a bit wide just lets the string slide freely. Also allows you to move to a fatter guage string if so desired without having to break out the files. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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