Nut slot depth

Greenman · #1 09-01-2006, 10:46 PM

I've done a lot of searching and either missed it or didn't find it. I've read Pilotjones thread on string spacing etc. How much space between the top of the frets to the lowest point of the nut slot for J type Warmoth neck.

Thanks in advance.

**Rodent** · #2 09-01-2006, 11:05 PM

just installed a BEAD nut tonight on a friend's OLP, so ...

the frets measured out at 1/16" high, and the final slot depth was just slightly more than that at a little proud of 5/64" on the B for comfort of his playing style and technique

hope this helps ...

R

Greenman · #3 09-01-2006, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodent

just installed a BEAD nut tonight on a friend's OLP, so ...

the frets measured out at 1/16" high, and the final slot depth was just slightly more than that at a little proud of 5/64" on the B for comfort of his playing style and technique

hope this helps ...

R

1/64" higher then the frets. I'll convert to thousands tommorow. Thanks for the info.

erikbojerik · #4 09-02-2006, 06:31 AM

Here's what I do:

Use a Dremel cut-off wheel to slice a (sharpened) pencil in half length-wise. Sand it flat, then lay it across the first 2 frets and scribe your line on the nut (dry-fit in place).

Slot down to the line, then glue the nut in. String it up.

Capo at the third fret, the gap between the bottom of the string and the first fret should be 0.005 for a guitar and 0.010 for a bass (use a feeler gauge). File slots down until you get there.

Make sure the slots are angled back toward the tuners ever so slightly, so that the string rests on the bridge-side edge of the nut.

pilotjones · #5 09-02-2006, 01:43 PM

Theoretically the slot should be exactly the same as the height of a fret. (Contrary to what some people may say.) Do you make the 2nd fret higher than the 3rd? Or the 1st fret higher than the 2nd? The nut (effectively, the 0th fret) is no different.

That being said, the nut is generally a little higher than that. Reasons to do this: 1. in filing a nut you can go too far, so it's safe to stop a bit short; 2. if you leave it high, you can really bang on an open string without it buzzing. Reasons not to do this: the higher the nut, the more intonation compensation you need, and the more out of tune you are at the first few and at the higher frets, despite this compensation.

Greenman · #6 09-02-2006, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotjones

Theoretically the slot should be exactly the same as the height of a fret. (Contrary to what some people may say.) Do you make the 2nd fret higher than the 3rd? Or the 1st fret higher than the 2nd? The nut (effectively, the 0th fret) is no different.

That being said, the nut is generally a little higher than that. Reasons to do this: 1. in filing a nut you can go too far, so it's safe to stop a bit short; 2. if you leave it high, you can really bang on an open string without it buzzing. Reasons not to do this: the higher the nut, the more intonation compensation you need, and the more out of tune you are at the first few and at the higher frets, despite this compensation.

Thanks for the info PilotJ. I'll start a little high and experiment from there. If I blow a nut oh well, their only 4 bucks.

Regards

pilotjones · #7 09-02-2006, 04:43 PM

Mind you, the normal way to cut it is to make it a little high--not the way I suggest.

pilotjones · #8 09-02-2006, 10:08 PM

I'd also point out that any measurement of the gap at the first fret while capo-ing between the 2nd and 3rd frets will be entirely affected not only by the height to which you've cut the nut, but also by the amount of relief present (neck forward curvature) as a result of string tension and truss rod adjustment.

Greenman · #9 09-02-2006, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotjones

I'd also point out that any measurement of the gap at the first fret while capo-ing between the 2nd and 3rd frets will be entirely affected not only by the height to which you've cut the nut, but also by the amount of relief present (neck forward curvature) as a result of string tension and truss rod adjustment.

Understood.