[Vizcaster]

I understand from your post that you had the nut recut for the new gauge of strings. Is there any particular string you're having more trouble with? Sometimes there's a problem if your 4th string is .026 and the nut slot file set used by your tech has only an .024 file.


Sometimes even a properly cut nut slot can benefit from a little polishing. Wound strings are easy, just use a scrap of string with some reasonably abrasive compound on the string (like Menzerna pre-polish or old fashioned Turtle Wax Compund - the gritty stuff). Pull the scrap string back and forth a bit in the slot to smooth out the file marks from the nut slot file and you should find the tuning is much more reliable. This won't work for plain strings, so there you might have to use a bit of folded 600 or 800 grit sandpaper. Bone cuts pretty fast so go easy. After the slots are cleaned out, use a little graphite or Guitar Grease in the slot.

Also, once the slots are at the proper depth for your action preference, you sometimes have excess material so the mountains between the valleys are too high - that can be fixed by filing down the top of the nut until the wound strings sit a little deeper than half their width, and the plain strings are no deeper than their full diameter. Otherwise you might have too much friction from the sides of the slots.