Author Topic: Nuts (Read 8280 times)

Fubar · « **on:** August 23, 2006, 02:25:32 PM »

My strat needs fitting with a new nut (after a bit on the low E string came flying off), I'm a bit confused by the possible alternatives; what effect will changing it to brass or graphite have on tone, sustain, string wear etc. looking at the spec of the american version (it's a malmsteen sig) it has a brass nut, I remember reading years ago that this apparently "improves" tone but in what way does it change it?

jordan · « **Reply #1 on:** August 23, 2006, 03:04:50 PM »

I replaced the stock plastic (?) nut on my 50s reissue strat with a graphtech graphite nut. There's no difference at all in tone, and I haven't broken a string since fitting it.

There's some pics of the installation in the blog link in my sig. It wasn't too bad, but it did require a fair amount of sanding to get rid of the central notch that the nut came with. I think I just got lucky because it now seems perfectly fitted, and I definitely wasn't an expert (read: had never removed/fitted a nut before).

I'm not sure about the brass nuts. It sounds like they'd add a fair amount of weight, although that might be desirable - kinda like a permanently installed Fat Finger on the headstock :)

Hope that helps,
Jordan

Twinfan · « **Reply #2 on:** August 23, 2006, 03:05:55 PM »

A brass nut will increase sustain, but also brightness. They can be a bit "sticky" as metal to metal doesn't go together well. On a guitar with a vibrato, I'd see this as a bit of an issue. My Gordon Smiths have brass nuts - they're fixed bridges but I still get creaking and the odd tuning issue after heavy string bending etc.

Graphite nuts are great for vibrato guitars - very low friction to aid tuning and harder than plastic so you get increased sustain and a touch more brightness. I'd recommend one of these for a strat. I believe the GraphTec ones are the best.

You can also get bone or man-made bone nuts. These are more often used for acoustics but I have a Tusq nut on my SG and it's great. Increased sustain over the cheap plastic nut that was on there originally plus a bit more warmth and acoustic tone. It gives the guitar a very natural sound. It's subtle, but you can tell it's there.

WezV · « **Reply #3 on:** August 23, 2006, 03:13:48 PM »

If you want to hear a real improvement in tone change to a bone nut, although even graphite should be better than plastic.

Brass nuts were a big thing at one time but they have fallen out of favour. The idea was that they improved sustain because they were heavy brass. In fact the oppostite usually applies, but tonally they are still better than plastic which sucks tone away. One of my friends has a 68 les paul black custom which had a brass nut put on it and that actually sounds ok because the added brightness helps the solid mahogany body

one advantage of brass nuts is that the open strings sound closer to the sound of the fretted notes.

I have been using graphtech, Tusq and delrin (slipstone) nuts for a while but now i have got used to the awfull smell of cutting a bone nut i will stick with them.

Fubar · « **Reply #4 on:** August 23, 2006, 03:22:11 PM »

Cheers for your help guys! :D

Jordan - Looking at your blog it looks like you've just completed what i'm kinda setting out to do, i've been looking at the titanium saddles that are now available instead of the graphite ones, yet again, they're "the single most important mod you can do for your tone" or somesuch! :lol: Am also looking into refinishing it as a.) it's taken a huge amount of abuse over the last 13 years and b.) When I was younger I wanted to be andreas Kisser from Sepultura and decided to cover it with stickers! :lol:

jordan · « **Reply #5 on:** August 23, 2006, 03:58:32 PM »

Quote from: Fubar

Jordan - Looking at your blog it looks like you've just completed what i'm kinda setting out to do, i've been looking at the titanium saddles that are now available instead of the graphite ones, yet again, they're "the single most important mod you can do for your tone" or somesuch!

Titanium?
Ah, you must have perfected the art of cr@pping money :-)
I looked at all the titanium parts you can get, and they do seem pretty sweet, but the saddles would have cost more than the set of Apaches I put in!

Shag101 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 24, 2006, 07:03:08 PM »

WOW

You must have read my mind. I was just thinking about changing out my nut, but am unsure if its the plastic kind. I have a Gibson SG standard.
If it is plastic, what nut would you guys recommend. thanks!

Sorry to hijack

Fubar · « **Reply #7 on:** August 24, 2006, 07:25:00 PM »

Have now ordered a Graphtech graphite nut, i'm not actually a heavy whammy bar user but that strat has always had horrible problems with tuning instability when even using it slightly. Now i've gotta decide wether I can actually pluck up the courage to try and remove the old one and fit the graphtech or wether to wimp out and pay someone else to! :lol:

Fubar · « **Reply #8 on:** August 24, 2006, 07:27:04 PM »

Quote from: Shag101

WOW

You must have read my mind. I was just thinking about changing out my nut, but am unsure if its the plastic kind. I have a Gibson SG standard.
If it is plastic, what nut would you guys recommend. thanks!

Sorry to hijack

The properties of them all are pretty well outlined above! :) Just because your guitar had a plastic nut to start with, it doesn't mean that you can't change it.

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #9 on:** August 25, 2006, 12:48:08 AM »

I really like the Graphtech and Tusq nuts as well as good old fashioned bone

Just to throw a spanner in the works I will comment on something that we have started stocking: Earvana nuts

These are an alternative to the much discussed Buzz Feiten system for improving the intonation of the guitar at almost every fret position.

We are fitting them as an option to our custom built guitars and also fitted the retrofit version too.

Below are their claims for improvement in pitch from using their system

Do have a look at the site http://earvana.com/

Fubar · « **Reply #10 on:** August 25, 2006, 12:53:39 AM »

Quote from: FELINEGUITARS

I really like the Graphtech and Tusq nuts as well as good old fashioned bone

Just to throw a spanner in the works I will comment on something that we have started stocking: Earvana nuts

These are an alternative to the much discussed Buzz Feiten system for improving the intonation of the guitar at almost every fret position.

We are fitting them as an option to our custom built guitars and also fitted the retrofit version too.

Below are their claims for improvement in pitch from using their system

Do have a look at the site http://earvana.com/

Is that like an adjustable nut or one that's a pre-set different shape?

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #11 on:** August 25, 2006, 01:14:18 AM »

It's a preset
The retrofit has a separate sliding top that you have to set in place

The one for guitar makers is different but you must remove aout 2mm+ of fingerboard

blue · « **Reply #12 on:** August 25, 2006, 01:20:12 AM »

how does that work if you have a floyd rose?

Guitarzan · « **Reply #13 on:** August 25, 2006, 02:03:59 AM »

About the Earvana nuts...is the nut hieight preset?

I ask because I am having trouble with my new Warmoth neck and getting it right. Everything above the 12th fret hits the frets.

I'm just assuming that it is the nut height, I'll probably get one anyways, but I just need to know.

I chose an odd sized neck, ans I think they can do the size I need. Graphtech is a little too wide.

Sorry for the Hijack!

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #14 on:** August 25, 2006, 09:50:19 AM »

Quote from: Guitarzan

About the Earvana nuts...is the nut hieight preset?

I ask because I am having trouble with my new Warmoth neck and getting it right. Everything above the 12th fret hits the frets.

I'm just assuming that it is the nut height, I'll probably get one anyways, but I just need to know.

I chose an odd sized neck, ans I think they can do the size I need. Graphtech is a little too wide.

Sorry for the Hijack!

Nut height only really affects open strings
Frets 1-6 affected by truss rod and height of bridge (or uneven frets)
Above 7th only affected by height of bridge (or uneven frets)