Nut problem???

[The Thinker]

I recently bought an old Squier II to use as a beater. I strung it up with some broken-in flats and as I was playing I noticed the notes at the bottom of the neck, particularly on the E, sounded out of tune.

Sure enough, my pitchblack tuner shows that the notes are sharp to varying degreees down on the bottom 7 frets, especially on the E and A. Tightening the truss rod to reduce the neck bow helped maybe a little, and intonating at the bridge didn't really have much effect on the low frets.

I imagine this is a nut problem, right? Do sharp notes on the bottom 7 frets mean the nut slots are too high or too low? Any suggestions for how to fix, or do I need a new nut?

Thanks in advance!

[mongo2]

Too high. I recently fixed this issue on my Hofner Icon. Nut work is one of the more critical adjustments on an intsrument so if you're not confident you can do the work I recommend taking it to a tech who knows how.

Here's what I do...With the instrument tuned to pitch I press down on the 3rd fret and check the distance between the nbottom of the string and the first fret. I adjust it to my preferences using a set of nut files to deepen the slots slightly, checking every few strokes of the file as noted above. I also slope the slot down towards the headstock very slightly to help create a good witness point for the string as it comes off the nut.

[Slowgypsy]

Originally Posted by The Thinker

I recently bought an old Squier II to use as a beater. I strung it up with some broken-in flats and as I was playing I noticed the notes at the bottom of the neck, particularly on the E, sounded out of tune.

Sure enough, my pitchblack tuner shows that the notes are sharp to varying degreees down on the bottom 7 frets, especially on the E and A. Tightening the truss rod to reduce the neck bow helped maybe a little, and intonating at the bridge didn't really have much effect on the low frets.

I imagine this is a nut problem, right? Do sharp notes on the bottom 7 frets mean the nut slots are too high or too low? Any suggestions for how to fix, or do I need a new nut?

Thanks in advance!

I don't think this is a nut problem. Once you fret a string the nut is essentially taken out of the loop. The problem is somewhere else.

(1) Adjust the truss rod to where it needs to be.
(2) Adjust saddle height as well.
(3) Adjust intonation via saddles.
(4) Use new strings as really old strings sometimes don't intonate properly

Having too much relief and/or too high action can affect intonation as the strings are "bent/pulled" more than they should be. Once your instrument is properly set up, if intonation is still off, depending on what degree of offness, it's possible frets have worn unevenly.

[mongo2]

Originally Posted by Slowgypsy

I don't think this is a nut problem. Once you fret a string the nut is essentially taken out of the loop. The problem is somewhere else.

I disagree, the nut slot height should be checked. It sounds like a classic example of high nut slots. If the nut slots are too high the notes will be pulled sharp when the string is pressed to the frets. The closer to the nut the note is, the more noticeable it is.

[mech]

Originally Posted by mongo2

I disagree, if the nut slots are too high it will pull the notes sharp when the string is pressed to the frets. The closer to the nut the note is the more noticeable it is.

^^^^^This is correct.

mech

[GeoffByrne]

When a string is fretted between the 2nd & third frets, the clearance between the 1st fret & the string should be barely visible with the naked eye - the old cigarette paper gap. I check there's still a gap there by tapping down on the string & you should just hear the 'ting' as it hits the first fret.

If the gap is much more than this, you have to press harder to bring the string to fret, this adds tension and, naturally pushes up the note to be sharp.

You either need to get someone to do it for you or a set of needle files (or proper bass nut files, guitar nut files are mostly too narrow except for the G, but these are relatively expensive, needle files are not) and *gently*, one or two strokes at a time, take down the bottom of the slot. Remember to angle back toward the headstock a little as you want the proper break point (witness point) at the front of the nut, and Good Luck.

[Chrisk-K]

The E & A nut slots are too high.

[The Thinker]

Thanks, everyone! I think I'll have a tech do it since the pots need replacing as well.