Author Topic: Think I've balls'ed up my strat (Read 6860 times)

_tom_ · « **on:** November 29, 2006, 08:28:17 PM »

I got a new nut and tuners for my strat so I decided to install em. Well the tuners went on fine but the nut was a bit of a bugger to fit but I got it in anyway.. trouble is, now my guitar wont play in tune. The strings themselves are in tune but when I play a chord it sounds horrible. Now I thought it was the intonation, but after some tweaking with my Korg tuner to get it "roughly" intonated as close as I can (same as I did with my Epi which sounds in tune).

The nut seems to be in the same position as the other one, ie I dont think its affected the scale lenth or anything like that, but it was a bit of a bodge job and I'm wondering whether getting the new nut fitted properly is really worth it for such a cheap guitar.

And yes, its a fresh set of strings.

Joe Dorcia · « **Reply #1 on:** November 29, 2006, 09:02:15 PM »

Have you accurately slotted the strings into the nut?

If they are too high then in won't play in tune

As a rule when you are slotting a nut, make the slots fractions of a mm larger than the string itself, then it needs to be low enough that when you fret between the 2nd and 3rd fret, the string should be 0.25mm from the first fret. if this makes sense :)

Let me know if it helps

joe

_tom_ · « **Reply #2 on:** November 29, 2006, 09:05:09 PM »

Ah I didnt actually cut the nut, its a graphtech which came pre-slotted. They dont specify which gauge they are slotted for though, probably 9's as lots of stock guitars come with em I guess.

Why must people even use 9's?! They're awful. My friend uses em on his LP and its impossible to play!

The nut does seem a bit higher than the last one, it made my action a bit higher. Could the bottom of the nut need filing/sanding down a bit to compensate?

Joe Dorcia · « **Reply #3 on:** November 29, 2006, 10:46:49 PM »

Yes but dont file or sand it with just anything.

You may want to just take it to a tech, as slotting files are expensive and something to accurately measure the width of a string (digital calipers) are also expensive. My guess is that the strings are probably not sitting in the slot, and balancing on top especially with the lo strings, the slots may be deep enough, but not wide enough, if you have a very thin file you can widen then on either side, very very carefully so that the string sits nicely in it. Dont go to big though so take it slow, the higher strings should fit in, but to widen them you need to use a razor saw (a very thin saw) and just twist it as you cut to widen the slot slightly.

Hope it helps

Joe

_tom_ · « **Reply #4 on:** November 29, 2006, 10:49:45 PM »

Cheers, I think I'll take a photo of the nut tomorrow so you can maybe tell if the slots need any adjustment. I'm embarrased to take it to a tech though as my job of actually fitting the nut is pretty poor (the old one snapped when I tapped it out, and took some wood from the bit behind the nut with it) :oops:

JamesHealey · « **Reply #5 on:** November 30, 2006, 08:53:49 AM »

the guitar store near me will put a new nut in your guitar for £10 its not expensive dude just get a tech to do it!

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #6 on:** November 30, 2006, 11:04:57 AM »

Here's a great DIY guide but you'd need certain tools

http://www.stewmac.com/nuts

_tom_ · « **Reply #7 on:** November 30, 2006, 11:58:51 AM »

Well whilst taking the picture I just realised the nut isnt even level :oops:

Thats probably what the main problem is!

Do the slots look ok from this (pretty cr@p) pic -

I've just taken it out, straightened everything out and put it back in so we'll see how it goes when the adhesive sets and I can string it back up again.

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #8 on:** November 30, 2006, 01:19:24 PM »

Yep - looks uneven in the picture
The grooves are only guides and you really are supposed to cut the slots according to the needs of the guitar it is fitted to to get the right depth for each string and there fore the right radius for the fretboard
the stewmac guide I listed shows how it's done - what you may not have are the nut files - which cost about £50-65

One other problem too - maybe not putting quite enough string on around the posts - i always start with 2" (5cm or 2 extra tuners worth) of extra - first wrap goes over the top of the string passing through the head and then the next 2 wraps go underneath so that the string exits the machine-head from lower down and gives a better angle over the nut.

In the picture the low E is leaving from the top of the machine-head and that wont give good pressure over the nut and may not ring out so well and may cause other problems too

Elliot · « **Reply #9 on:** November 30, 2006, 02:47:59 PM »

Except those tuners look like Wilkinson EZ lock - which aren't supposed to be wrapped (well according to the instructions i've got) - the idea in the design is that you do away with wrapping because you have the second hole that locks the strings in place.

_tom_ · « **Reply #10 on:** November 30, 2006, 03:26:59 PM »

Quote from: Elliot

Except those tuners look like Wilkinson EZ lock - which aren't supposed to be wrapped (well according to the instructions i've got) - the idea in the design is that you do away with wrapping because you have the second hole that locks the strings in place.

Yeah they are the EZ locks (except mine came with no instructions), so I assume I'm stringing em right.. I dont actually like em too much, they dont feel very "solid". I'm probably gonna replace em with either Planet Waves or some standard Grovers or something and just string it "properly"

Jonathan thanks for your help, if it still seems off after the glues set I'll take it out again and take it to a local tech to try and sort out.

Elliot · « **Reply #11 on:** November 30, 2006, 04:04:33 PM »

Of course - you don't have to use the second hole - you can use the top or the bottom hole as a normal through string tuner - and do the rest with wraps.

I quite like EZ locks - at least I prefer them to the old Fenders that you put the string in the top.

big steve · « **Reply #12 on:** November 30, 2006, 04:16:45 PM »

feline, could you post a pic of what you mean with the wrapping? it seems like a good idea, i just can't really understand what you're describing (the effect of trying to memorise sociological patterns and attitudes to the media, no doubt...)

if u have the time of course

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #13 on:** November 30, 2006, 06:02:57 PM »

Ah - didnt realise they were Wilkinson EZ locks
Kinda changes things, but.......
look at the low E in the piccy and see how it is near the top of the machinehead- compare it to the A which looks right to me

It is maybe just the last wrap that should go under and not over - copy what you have done for the A string

_tom_ · « **Reply #14 on:** November 30, 2006, 09:55:16 PM »

Yeah I realise now, dont know why I didnt see that before!

How much would you say is a reasonable price to properly fit a nut and get it filed to suit my strings? I dont really wanna get ripped off or anything if I decide to take it to a tech.