Which nut?

[JMW1312]

Hi, sorry if this is in the wrong place.

I recently bought an Epiphone Dot in Pelham Blue, it looks awesome. However, I was changing the strings as I bought it used and then the far bit of the nut broke (the furthest bit closest to the low E string). I spoke to a tech who is able to put a new one on for a REALLY cheap price, compared to other techs. But which nut is best: bone, tusq or brass? I would like to but a bigsby on it eventually if that is of any importance.

Cheers

[Skilpad]

Hi!

Maybe "Guitars, Amps and Effects" would have been a better place. I think "Tech" is more about hardware/wiring/...

I cannot help you a lot. However, in another thread about cheap material improvement, some guy suggested to set a earvana nut. Maybe it can be a good thing to use your misfortune as an occasion to try this.

[Kiichi]

Dunno about the bigsby thing, but I personally do not like brass for anything other than trem blocks these days, well if bone is available as an alternative anyway and especially on the nut. Thing is that brass is too heavy and compact, it can actually choke things a bit or so I (and a former Gibson masterbuilder I spoke to) feel at least. When I tried brass it made the sound more focused and warm, but also took shimmer, volume and life out. Since the nut only affects open strings this is especially bad, as those are after all the lowest postions of the strings, so having something that will keep em open, bright and clear seems good to me.

The tusk material seems good to me so far, but if bone is offered it just rules in my mind, so I would go with that. Or earvana, heard good things about it and Jonathan (Felineguitars) uses it and I trust that man.

[38thBeatle]

I would also say use this as an opportunity to get an Earvana nut. Failing that, I can't honerstly make any suggestions about materials-one of mine has a bone one installed in place of it's original Gibson nut. Before my time though so cannot tell you what the difference(if any) was.

[Lucas]

I would definitely go for bone nut. The other thing is that all LP style guitar has one issue when it comes to nut and an ange which strings are coming out of nut in.
As you can see in Fenders headstock is not in angle in comparison with the neck as well as strings are coming out out of nut to tuners in perfect straight lines, there`s no angle, extra unnecessary tension ect.
All LP style axes have that issue and due to that problem sometimes string catches and blocks in that nut causing specific 'pop' while tuning and then going out of tune.

I had the same problem, so I suggest installing bone nut with slots especially cut for that guitar. Cutting slots according the the strings` angle perfectly solves that issue. Getting bone nut especially tailored for my guitar helped.
If you would decide to get bone nut while restringing guitar applying some graphite (eg. Guitar Grease) in nut`s slots helps even more.

You might not have that the moment yet, but believe me, sooner or later you will. 

[Dave Sloven]

I would avoid brass.

I have some issues with the corian nuts in my Gibsons, and a tech recommended a Graph Tech nut.  Are those good?  Looking at their site that seems to be tusq

http://www.graphtech.com/products/product-categories/nuts

[Lucas]

I`ve never used TUSQ nuts but apparently those new Graphtech picks (A5) are made from the same material as nuts. I used to have a pack of them and they truly make the difference. They make notes more articulated, clear, precise and they really are determinant to the tone. Other picks sounded dull, lifeless and 'plastic' in comparison.
I found them slightly 'faster' (If you know what I mean) than Dunlop picks that used for years (both 1mm). The only one bad thing about them was the fast that they were getting worn really quickly.

so I suppose those nuts are great improvement as well. And the good thing about them is that they don`t need the lubricants like bone nuts. Easy and handy!

[FELINEGUITARS]

The earvana nuts are made from the same material as Graphtech Tusq

[Lucas]

The earvana nuts are made from the same material as Graphtech Tusq

earvana nuts are another variation of Buzz Feiten nut idea? Is there much difference between them two apart from the fact that BFS nuts have be made from bone? Ive BFS in my Dean but never had any contact with Earvana nuts.