Will cotton on nut affect tone?

tobie · #1 02-19-2009, 01:53 AM

Took my guitar in for a quick setup to a vendor today.

When installing my D'addario flatwounds a fortnight ago, I've realised that the 'cotton' covered edges cross the nut, but paid no attention to it. The luthier today reckon that it might affect the tone as it's not 'metal on the nut'.

Is this true? If so, what to do about it? These things are damn expensive, so the last thing I want to do is replace them so soon with a longer set - in fact, ! wasn't planning on replacing them in years!

JimmyM · #2 02-19-2009, 02:17 AM

You can carefully cut off the threads with a single edge razor blade, or just start picking at the silk and unwind it by hand till it clears the nut. But if the skinny part of the string is hanging over, you should get a longer scale, otherwise they'll be just fine if you cut off the excess.

JimmyM · #3 02-19-2009, 02:32 AM

BTW, does it affect tone? Well it might but only on the open notes. Once you fret a note it doesn't matter anymore.

tobie · #4 02-19-2009, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

BTW, does it affect tone? Well it might but only on the open notes.

Valid point - why haven't I thought of that? Thanks for the advice!

Funny - the string package did say 'Long Scale' - implying that I should have gone for 'Super Long Scale'?

seanm · #5 02-19-2009, 10:03 PM

You don't want the silk in the nut. Not because of tone, but because the string could "hang up" in the nut and go slightly out of pitch.

Jimmy's suggestion with the razor is what I have done in the past.

**line6man** · #6 02-19-2009, 10:29 PM

Like JimmyM said, just get a razor and cut it off.

I hate silk wrapped strings with a passion because i constantly feel the need to pick at them until the string is bare and ragged looking. If you suffer the same compulsion to pick at the wrap that i do, then your silk wrap will be gone in no time.

tobie · #7 02-23-2009, 01:45 AM

Thanks for the responses, guys!

santucci218 · #8 02-23-2009, 09:12 AM

when it happened to me i loosened the string and gave it a quick hit with a butane lighter.

seanm · #9 02-23-2009, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by santucci218

when it happened to me i loosened the string and gave it a quick hit with a butane lighter.