Nut materials, your thoughts

[rusty66]

Just a quick one on what the difference is between nut materials tone / sustain wise.

Brass / Bone / or nylon, whats your choice & why!

Cheers,
Rusty

 

[Tony G]

I prefer graphite. It is a nice smooth surface so the string won't bind up and makes for easier and more precise tuning, IMO.

 

[stedtale]

The nut cannot make difference in sound, except for open strings, and that is up for grabs, I'm not touching that. Graphite is nice and smooth, makes tuning easy.

 

[FL Knifemaker]

I prefer graphite. It is a nice smooth surface so the string won't bind up and makes for easier and more precise tuning, IMO.

I think you mean Carbon Fiber?? Graphite would be a mess. I like Carbon Fiber and will be making a few nuts from it soon.

 

[stedtale]

I guess I meant graphtech.

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[Tony G]

I think you mean Carbon Fiber?? Graphite would be a mess. I like Carbon Fiber and will be making a few nuts from it soon.

Hmmm... I never though about it like that. I assume many people refer to carbon fiber nuts as "graphite" though? Here is a quick google search of "graphite nut":

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=graphite+nut

Is there a difference between graphite and carbon fiber when it comes to pre-manufactured nuts?

 

[Tony G]

I guess I meant graphtech.

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But even Graphtech says their nuts are "graphite"...

 

[FL Knifemaker]

I guess I meant graphtech.

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Hmmmmmmmmmmm. I need to get a piece of that and see what it is I was going to use the F-22 carbon fiber scrap that I use on my knives.

 

[stedtale]

But even Graphtech says their nuts are "graphite"...

You would know better than I, sir. I hadn't looked that up. I do suppose that graphtech is a company, not a material.

 

[Tony G]

You would know better than I, sir. I hadn't looked that up. I do suppose that graphtech is a company, not a material.

Well, this is the standard Graph Tech "graphite" nut: http://www.graphtech.com/tremnut_info.php

...a nut manufactured from an engineered resonant base material impregnated with Teflon.

 

[Tony G]

More info on "graphite" nuts:

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Graphite nuts are in demand for their self-lubricating properties, which reduce tuning problems caused by the string getting hung up in the nut slots. The tone is sightly darker than bone.

 

[stedtale]

thanks for the info

 

[Tony G]

thanks for the info

No problem. I'm assuming that all "graphite" nuts are some kind of composite, but are just more easily refered to as "graphite".

 

[stedtale]

No problem. I'm assuming that all "graphite" nuts are some kind of composite, but are just more easily refered to as "graphite".

That would be my bet to.

 

[Askia]

bone. cow bone.
or ebony. somehow it affects the overall sound. or maybe I'm just hallucinating.
Or using too many open strings

 

[Rodent]

since I use a zero fret on almost all of my new builds, my preference is for

* easy to work
* looks good
* wears well

I have used a lot of bone nuts, even with the zero frets, but this is mostly due to what I happened to have on-hand at the time

Corian makes for a great nut, and doesn't stink like bone when you get it warm/hot.

I don't like brass - no specific reason, I just don't like it ... but if a client just had to have a brass nut I'd use it

I've been considering utilizing some acrylicized wood, as it wears every bit as well as bone or Corian. Not too sure how it would be received, though, as it could be considered somewhat experimental

all the best,

R

 

[FL Knifemaker]

There needs to be a blind nut test

Carbon fiber isn't exacly self lubricating. It's tough as hell though. Maybe I'll just leave my brass nuts alone, they sound fine. I just thought a carbon fiber nut would look cool

 

[knuckle_head]

Is there a difference between graphite and carbon fiber when it comes to pre-manufactured nuts?

Huge difference - carbon can be fiberous or not, and carbon can also be emulsified and molded.

Carbon fiber is exactly that - stranded carbon - and is less than ideal for nuts but perfect for structural purposes.

Solid carbon makes a good nut but is hell to work - can only be ground down with abrasives, not cut with blades or files.

Emulsified carbon is ideal as it works easier than solid carbon (though it will still wear hard on files) and can be molded nearer to final shape to minimize dimensioning, etc.

Edit; OT - I have no preference in nut material, but like my nuts to match my fretboards or contrast consistently with the balance of the instrument.

 

[misrule]

I think you mean Carbon Fiber?? Graphite would be a mess. I like Carbon Fiber and will be making a few nuts from it soon.

You have a graphite nut on your LeCompte, don't you? And very nice it is too ...

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Cheers

Mark

 

[OldG]

The nut cannot make difference in sound, except for open strings, and that is up for grabs, I'm not touching that. Graphite is nice and smooth, makes tuning easy.

I have a Gordon Smith GS1 guitar (UK made LP Jnr type) with a brass nut fitted as standard, it has a real 'sting' to it's tone. I tried a plastic nut one day to see if I could get more mellow... I found it had the same fundemental tone, but slightly more hollow and a lot less lively.

Might try brass on my Tokai Jazz with some flats to see if I can get mellow with the flats, but with cut available.

Cool thread, you got me wanting to experiment.