The guitar well become easier to setup in general making that super-slinky low action achievable. Checking However, most of the time the slots were binding the strings and hanging them up at the nut. The correct nut height is the same as the frets. With the guitar, banjo, mandolin or any other fretted instrument tuned to pitch: 2. The glue will harden to the point that you can file it like it’s part of the nut. When the nut slots have been started just deep enough to hold the strings, switch to your nut files and X-acto sawblades. The last aspect of nut slot adjustment is the angle at which it’s cut. If you continue without changing your settings, you're agreeing to receive all cookies on the StewMac website. Again, these nut slot height measurements are workable specs to shoot for. If, for instance, you are changing your string gauges from 10’s to 11’s, you will also want to widen the slots to accommodate the thicker string gauges. If the gauge pushes the string up, then the slot will need to be filled and re-cut to raise the slot. High strings at the nut can cause sharp intonation and make playing in first position difficult, while low or worn slots can result in open-string fret buzz. Whats the standard nut slot height? The next fret clearance is the same. To cut the nut slots deeper, get yourself a good set of nut slot files, e.g. most new instruments only receive a cursory "set up" at the factory. because they seem to have minds of their own. that there are some musicians whose playing attack is so vigorous that they require The low E may need the same height as the second fret distance depending on scale length and string gauge. The ideal nut slot height, in terms of playability, is subjective — much like string action height at the bridge. For proper string nut slot depths, use the feeler gauges. There are three aspects of the nut slots that you will be addressing in the setup process in order to make sure that they are cut correctly: You typically make adjustments to the nut after setting the bridge, as the heights of the nut slots are a function of the overall string angle. The ideal height would be just about This is just a preliminary exercise, and is only a minor precaution. The individual slot depths are cut so each string can clear the first fret. I have seen expensive guitars that came with as much as .035'' of first fret clearance, truly a finger killer. Here's the first string: But the customer will ultimately decide what feels right, as they can dramatically affect the playability of the setup. With the correct nut height, action at the first fret should be about 12% of the action at the 12th fret. The vice allows you to just go for it and be as aggressive and messy as you like. For proper string nut slot depths, use the feeler gauges. too low. on Guitar nut height adjustment – 7 easy steps, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), The Golden Age of The Video Game Arcade : 1980, BOSS ME-80 Guitar Multiple Effects Review. I frequently see guitar on which it is impossible to bar a first position Leave a bit of the pencil line showing so that you can file and smoothly sand it away without chipping. Baking soda works great, too, and is easy to find. New total: 0.040" (the 0.035" frets, plus 0.005"). Pledge your support and get bonus lessons! Luckily, there’s a much easier and cheaper way to sort the problem. Black Friday Sale! Now just re-string and tune up your guitar and we’re done. Nothing to worry about here, just use what you can…. Add 0.005" to 0.010" (or any figure you come up with after experimenting) to this measurement. When the string slots are properly spaced and filed, the nut can be shaped and finished. OK, I know that some instruments have a fret right up next to the nut. Generally, the bottoms of the nut slots should be a few thousandths of an inch higher than the tops of the frets when the neck is straight. . 0.002" or so can be added to the measurement as you go across the fingerboard toward the bass side, slightly raising the bass strings. 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Take a close look at the before and after pictures to see a clear lowering of the action over the first fret on the treble side. Notice the On a Gibson, (which has symmetrical offset tuners) you will direct the file with a slight angle pointing to each tuner post. This is determined by the string pull of the headstock (either straight string pull or angled). Here's how. General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion, http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Musi...uts/nuts1.html, http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Musi...nutaction.html, http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Luth...ut/setnut.html, http://www.homedepot.com/p/Gyros-5-1...6008/204627232. How much too low is impossible to tell because the string is being held One of the main causes of guitar playability issues is the guitar nut height. Back to Index Page. If there is extra space, then the slot is cut too high and will need to come down until the string lightly touches the top of the gauge. Adam Harkus is a guitarist, singer/songwriter and author with a new-found passion for sharing the knowledge and experience gained from 20 years of playing, writing and producing. What ive been looking for: Good info for how to do a nut (for anyone coming across this post). As a starting point, shoot for .02” in between the top of the first fret and the bottom of the string at the first fret on the wound strings (low E, A and D), and .018” for the plain strings (high G, B, and E). Open chord fretting requires far less effort. Surely everyone has these in one of their cupboards. Once the relief has been set, measurements for string height should be as follows: (measures top of fret to bottom of string): Bass side string height 1st fret: 1.5/64” Treble side string height 1st fret: 1/64” Bass-side string height at 12th fret: 2.5/32” Treble-side string height at 12th fret: 2/32" In practice, I've found We are dealing in fractions of a millimetre here. MEMBERSHIP IS NOW AVAILABLE IN GERMANY! It pays to be nearsighted. As a starting point, shoot for .02” in between the top of the first fret and the bottom of the string at the first fret on the wound strings (low E, A and D), and .018” for the plain strings (high G, B, and E). You’ll need a set of nut files to properly lower the slots, but a triangular needle file may suffice as long as the slots aren’t too deep in the nut. the same as a fret's height in the same position as the nut. 0.002" or so can be added to the measurement as you go across the fingerboard toward the bass side, slightly raising the bass strings. Don't give it the King Kong On most instruments the nut is a piece of bone (or whatever) that thinks it's a fret. As a rule, you typically want to cut a nut slot slightly wider than the actual string so the slot does not bind or choke the strings at the nut.