Nut material that damp hamonics

[Bruce Johnson]

I didn't think about that. I have tried it with metal before to check if my nut was inducing unwanted sounds from being worn, but I didn't try anything softer. Thanks.

The best thing would be some 1/8" diameter styrene plastic rod from a hobby shop. We Luthiers use it to make side marker dots in necks. That would be about the same hardness as a soft plastic nut.

 

[Drop1]

The best thing would be some 1/8" diameter styrene plastic rod from a hobby shop. We Luthiers use it to make side marker dots in necks. That would be about the same hardness as a soft plastic nut.

Do you guys ever use multiple materials on nuts?

Like say bone or tusk on high strings with a peice of something else fitted to the lower strings. The best way I can think if to do this would be to have 1 piece of material go all the way across then notch thar peice and glue another small peice of material on top in the notch before cutting the string slots.

 

[Bruce Johnson]

Do you guys ever use multiple materials on nuts?

Like say bone or tusk on high strings with a peice of something else fitted to the lower strings. The best way I can think if to do this would be to have 1 piece of material go all the way across then notch thar peice and glue another small peice of material on top in the notch before cutting the string slots.

I haven't had the need to do that so far, but you certainly could if you want to. If the E string is the only one you want to soften, you could saw off the existing bone nut between the E and the A. Keep the bone nut on the three upper strings, and make up a small 1-string nut from soft plastic to go under the E. Buy a little length of 1/4" x 1/8" rectangular styrene plastic at the hobby shop.

 

[Bloomfield]

If it's just for the one string, you could also try a little piece of vellum under the string in the nut, like you sometimes see on violin family instruments. Baking parchment might work as a substitute for experimenting. I don't think regular cartridge paper would be strong enough.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Crafting a nut from a hardwood may suffice, after following @Bruce Johnson s advice.
Walnut and African mahogany can be obtained in craft sizes cheaply at HD and Lowe’s.

 

[maturanesa]

Wood