Nut Questions

[Bradock PI]

Some aspects of having a bone or tusq etc nut replacement will improve the guitar perhaps because they are a better cut nut but I am also sure that the nut strongly influences tone during bends (from listening to guitar playing friends not my own!! Couldn't do that to save me life atm) as it effects the way the string moves.

/Debate

[Lew]

Some aspects of having a bone or tusq etc nut replacement will improve the guitar perhaps because they are a better cut nut but I am also sure that the nut strongly influences tone during bends (from listening to guitar playing friends not my own!! Couldn't do that to save me life atm) as it effects the way the string moves.

/Debate

 :lol: :lol:

Have you read the replies so far?   8)

[Zaned]

What Nut do you use and why?

Was it origional or did you change it?

Do you use the same in all your guitars?

1) Both the left and the right. Use them because they like it.

2) Both originals  :lol:

3) Ahem..

Ok, seriously :D I haven't done a direct comparison, but a well cut bone nut or a graph tech nut (or similar material) both sound great. I have never had a brass nut (would like to try a guitar with one! like an Yngwie strat)..and I hate the plastic ones.

-Zaned

[Afghan Dave]

Some aspects of having a bone or tusq etc nut replacement will improve the guitar perhaps because they are a better cut nut but I am also sure that the nut strongly influences tone during bends (from listening to guitar playing friends not my own!! Couldn't do that to save me life atm) as it effects the way the string moves.

/Debate

 :lol: :lol:

Have you read the replies so far?   8)

Sounds like a good place to start...

Debate?  :? :lol: :lol:

[Bradock PI]

People were talking about open strings - no debate there - but also as to if it made a difference on fretted notes - static fretted notes it does not but it does make a difference when going for bends etc. No one had discussed much of that so far.

[Lew]

People were talking about open strings - no debate there - but also as to if it made a difference on fretted notes - static fretted notes it does not but it does make a difference when going for bends etc. No one had discussed much of that so far.

Oh right, I see!

No it doesn't affect it, it's in your head.

End of debate.

 8) 8) 8)

[Bradock PI]

Well of course it doesnt effect it for you you always have a cappo on !

[Lew]

I was being sarcastic, I really don't have a capo made from dinosaur bone and blessed by celtic druids.


... and you kinda just proved the point anyway! If your saying a capo would stop the nuts tonal properties from reaching past the fret then so would fretting with your finger 0_o


 8)

[Bradock PI]

I was trying to make the point that when you bend the string ie move your finger the nut will have some influence as you are moving the string between the two riding points and as far as I can recall I have never seen a capo that can bend a note but mebbe dinosaur bone ones can!!

[Lew]

There's no difference if your bending or just fretting as far as the nut's concerned, how could there be?

If any builder wants to explain otherwise to me then I'm up for learning, if you look earlier Wez agrees with me but maybe Bob and Jonathan don't?  :D

Anyway I think we've exhausted this so untill then... and in Dragons Den style, I'm out  8) 

[noodleplugerine]

Lew, you're having way too much fun lol.

Keep feeing dem trollz.

[Lew]

Bah, he's not a troll! He's just eager  8)

[Bradock PI]

When you bend a note your finger is driving the string to stretch and a part travels through the nut the other across the bridge as you now have elongated the string between its two fixed mounting points. More importantly when you relax the elastic properties of the string pull it back across the nut the way it behaves there can influence the sound.

But since you signed off Lew you won't be able to reply  :(

[Lew]

You're meant to deny Nooodle calling you a troll  :lol: ...

I don't know what to say really without coming across as rude, having played for 15 years I'm quite aware of what string bending does, thanks. And although I'm certainly no tech I've installed Bone, Tusq, Graphtec and even an Earvana nut in several partcasters that I've put together for fun.

Once the string's fretted, it's fretted and doesn't matter if you bend it, bang it, bong it or fry an egg on it.
If you can find someone with actual experience playing guitar or a builder (lot's of both here on the forum) to educate me with facts telling me otherwise then I'll be more than willing to learn  8)

Please explain what you mean when you say 'elastic properties of the string' and 'the way it behaves there can influence the sound' in detail because I don't think you can. Quite frankly I don't think you have a clue what your talking about  :D

[noodleplugerine]

I was calling you a troll Lew :p

I think what Bradock's saying is that when you bend the string - You're stretching it.

When you stretch the string, the stretching is distributed across the length of the string.

If the nut grips the string, then it won't stretch uniformally - Which'll have an effect, not neccesarily a negative effect I'd imagine, but hell, a nut is meant to be be perfectly transparent, and allow the motion of the string to be unhindered.

If the nut grips the string, then everytime you move the string through it (everytime you bend the string, stretching it and then unstretching it) it won't neccesarily return to its former position, and thus will reduce tuning stability.

Ofcouse, stretching and unstretching strings has its own tuning problems, but that's to do with the properties of the string, not the nut, and adding more complications again - doesn't help.