Deeeeeeeez Nutz...

[willo]

:D

So, for my custom guitar project I need to work out what nut to get. Anyone got any considerations as to whats best, and why?

[lepersmeesa]

earvana

[jt]

:D Is this were we put things like KP or Brazil/P or even Dry roasted !  :P

seriously thou if your going to have a Trem then i`d go for a Grav-Tech / Graphite nut. They enable the strings to move properly & are said to help keep the guitar in tune.

 :D  8)

[TwilightOdyssey]

Depends on the trem system. Bone nuts are great; locking nut if you're using a Floyd.

[willo]

Depends on the trem system. Bone nuts are great; locking nut if you're using a Floyd.

I'm just using one of those Callaham Vintage Strat style trems. What are the pros and cons of each type of nut; i.e. bone?

[dpmasunder]

GraphTech tremnut. If it has string trees then use GraphTech trees too.
Bone will give you tuning difficulties, plus the GraphTech products have a brighter sound that gives the open strings a more similar tone to the fretted notes. It's also easy to work and doesn't have the stench of bone when you grind it.

[HJM]

I like graphtec, but I have an Earvana too, it works making th tuning better across the range, but it's not as good as the graphtec tusq nut. Not as clear.

Apart from floyds, all my nuts are Graphtec. Oh and teh gordon smith with a brass nut, it sort of 'sings' may be the guitar, but it's a warmer more sustained tone, but rings too....

[PhilKing]

I like the Graphtech Tusq nuts, but they can be a little bit bright.  The normal Graphtech is a little mellower.  I have the Earvana in 2 guitars and it does make a difference (especially when you have open strings ringing).  They come in a few styles and in black or off white.  You have to specify the guitar style and fingerboard width.

I have bone in some of my older guitars, but a lot of stock older Gibson and Fender nuts are plastic too.  

The nut material changes the sound a lot, as it is the contact point for the strings (even when you are playing down the neck).  In some ways you need to know what the guitar sounds like first.  I changed my saddles to Graphtech on a Wilkinson trem with a Walnut guitar, and I am changing them back because they are too bright.  I have them on other guitars and they work well, but with this particular guitar the tone change was too much.

[R/2e]

Bone will give you tuning difficulties,

I don't agree with this, only badly cut bone will give you tuning difficulties.  Bone is an excellent nut material, though it can be a little difficult (and smelly) to work at times. I like the Graptech and Tusq nuts but tend to prefer bone on my own guitars.

[Ratrod]

How about the Slip-Stone nut from Stewmac? It's made of Delrin, a self lubricating material.

[jt]

:D i`ve got a Bone nut on my Strat & i`ve never had any abnornal tuning problems out side of the normal. But Brass is said to drain the sustain out of the guitar i`m surprised you like it HJM.

 :D  8)

[Custom79]

My tech makes his own from what looks like perspex off cuts, could be Delrin as he says it's self lubricating. He fitted one to my Les Paul and it works great, no tuning issues.

[dpmasunder]

:D OK, so *will* is a going a bit far, and yes, a well cut bone nut can be very reliable but once the strings start to wear into they grip more easily. It depends how fussy you are and whether you use techniques that require a very low friction nut.

[HJM]

Bras, I know...just works on that guitar - Brass is standard on Gordon Smiths too! I also had a Brass block PRS trem fitted to my PRS after the original one had worn out.......that made the PRS sound weightier, before it was a bit brittle with the one piece trem. So I'm not 100% anti-brass!

[tech33]

have to say, a well cut bone nut surpases anything in my opinion. never had any tuning issues with mine, but also use a custom built Gordon Smith with a brass nut, and that is a meaty sounding guitar as well.