Sounds hokey. Compensation (AFAIK) being moving the witness point off the theoretical position, it would mean that your strings were not zeroed at the zero fret position. Normal compensation is done at the bridge end - with standard fret positions I'm dubious that it would be good at the nut end. I'd need a good deal more than handwaving to change my mind, and all I see there is handwaving and "we said a magic word, perhaps it will open wallets."
That's what I thought at first as well, but they just appear to be higher or lower slots based on assumed string diameter.
No, they are cut toward the bridge , or back from the nut center line to mildly change the string length to compensate "temper" the intonation for the first few frets, part of the Buzz Feiten system.
*I don't believe that there will be much benefit on a bass guitar*
That Said:
Far from hogwash/popycock/snake oil. There is logically some merit and some science behind it.
Here's what MusicMan has to say about it:
MUSIC MAN GUITARS
Your guitars have a different kind of nut. What is it called and what is its purpose?
The nut is called a Compensated Nut. We have a patent on this design.
The purpose of this new nut design is to improve note accuracy all over the fretboard. This is most apparent at the lower frets.
There is no special tuner, setup, or intonation required.
This nut is standard on all Music Man guitars and basses (of course except guitars equipped with Floyd Rose tremolo systems).
The Compensated Nut has been engineered to improve your Music Man instrument's potential to play perfectly in tune up and down the fretboard. Each string has an individual intonation pocket that slightly changes the effective string length, causing notes that traditionally play sharp to be more in tune.
The design has been optimized for standard string gauges and tunings, but will be of benefit when used with alternate tunings, string gauges, and playing styles.
Buzz:
How It Works
How it Works:
The Buzz Feiten Tuning System solves tuning and intonation problems with 2 simple steps:
Shelf Nut
Our exclusive Buzz Feiten Tuning System¨ (BFTS) Shelf Nut moves the strings closer to the first fret according to our Patented Formula. This eliminates sharp notes at the first three frets.
Each Shelf Nut is precision machined from high quality bone for superb tonal response.
The strings are moved closer to the first fret a precise distance based on the scale length, fret width and string gauge of your guitar. The slight overhang of our nut (the 'Shelf') does this without altering your guitar in any way. So it's even fine for vintage guitars.
2. Intonation
Your guitar's bridge is adjusted according to our Patented Pitch Offsets, creating balanced intonation over the entire fingerboard - every fret - every string.
Your Bridge Is Adjusted to BFTS Pitch Offsets
----------------
The following tuning methods were specifically developed for guitars with the Buzz Feiten Tuning System®.
Tuning with an Electronic Tuner
Electric guitars
- Tune slowly and carefully. A little more time now will mean more playing enjoyment later.
- When using the Korg DT-7 tuner, use a medium attack with your picking hand, center the green "in tune" light for approximately 1.5 seconds, then it should drift slowly flat (to the left).
DO NOT TUNE SHARP AND WAIT FOR LED TO "SETTLE" TO PITCH !
If you use this method, when you play hard with other instruments, your guitar will sound sharp. (Be especially alert to the G string... that string has a tendency to "spike" sharper than the other strings, because it has lower tension.)
The Korg DT-7 automatically senses the string you are playing, allowing you to accurately tune to the precise pitch for each string.
The Korg DT-7 is the fastest, most accurate and most reliable way to tune your guitar, and, because of its exclusive BFTS intonation mode, allows you to check intonation on your Feitenized guitar.
- If you use a tuner other than the Korg DT-7, you can simply tune to all "E's" i.e.
1st
E
Open
2nd
B
5th fret
3rd
G
9th fret
4th
D
14th fret
5th
A
7th fret
6th
E
Open, 5th fret Harmonic
You can also use this method to tune by ear, using the Open E string (1st) as your reference string.
Acoustic guitarsIf you use a Korg DT-7, set the switch to "Acoustic" and follow the same guidelines described above.
If you use a different tuner, you can also tune using the "All E's" method described above.
12 Strings:
- Tune the 2nd string of each "pair" of strings using the methods described above.
- To tune the 1st string of each pair (octave), use the following methods:
a) Using an electronic tuner:
Tune normally.
b) Using a Korg D-T-7:
Set the rear slider switch to "Chromatic", and tune normally.
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