how much does the nut contribute to tone?

Matt Plescher · April 24th, 2003, 03:44 PM

How much difference does the nut material make?

cheers
Matt

sean001 · April 24th, 2003, 03:50 PM

Nut material makes some difference but not that much. As soon as you fret a note, the nut is pretty much out of the equation. Nut material only really effects open strings. I think nut cut is more important that material.

John E · April 24th, 2003, 04:21 PM

The whole setup of an axe is important but if the nut is not properly cut the rest of the setup is wasted... But I think the material(actually I should say density) makes a difference also. I've had PVC nuts(which I hate and change as soon as possible) swapped out with corian or bone and it makes a big difference to my ears. The older I get(hey I ain't old yet though 8) ) the more important the nut appears to be... I've had guitars in the past, that were so-so or were just bad playing or sounding. I've had buzzing and tightness, even weird overtones dissappear after a nut cut/replacement... in particular there was a tele I had that felt like I was in a wrestling match whenever I played it, it changed totally with a replaced nut - became much easier to play and sounded better. I've heard alot of people say that material doesn't matter except for when playing open strings, but my ears find this to be false, I find an overall improvement in tone/sustain with harder nut substances(ie. bone, corian). As always your ears/fingers may disagree...

Brad · April 24th, 2003, 04:34 PM

I just changed the nut on my newly put together home brew. I did have a graphite nut I cut myself ( first ever attempt at nut cutting ) on it. While it sounded and felt OK, I knew something was missing. So, I paid to have a new bone one cut and installed. The difference in tone was most obvious on the G-B-E strings. They were a bit dull with the graphite nut and have much more ring and sutain with the bone nut. While it may be the difference between bone and graphite, it' probably my feeble nut cutting abilities!. I actually did pretty good for the first time but after seeing ( and hearing ) the bone nut done by a pro....I realize I have a looooong way to go!

Paul in Colorado · April 24th, 2003, 11:23 PM

You'd think that the nut would be out of the equation once you fret it, but I'm of the opinion that it still makes a difference. There's still some energy transfered to the neck through the nut. I don't know the science behind it, but I've found I notice it. For the record, I have a bone nut on my Tele. I sent a luthier friend a piece of fossil ivory from Alaska. He made a nut out of it for his Martin. He said it made all the difference in the world on his guitar. It brought out the tone that he hadn't been able to get with other materials.

PhatBoy · April 25th, 2003, 08:27 AM

Does the type of bone make a difference? And corian, is that just a harder plastic or what?

And Brad,will the new cut bone give you an example to work with? (I am wanting (doing) to do the same thing. i.e. both the files. But that don't make me a luthier.

curious......

Jack L. · April 25th, 2003, 09:18 AM

Hi,

A friend gave me a bunch of Corian material to try out. I've always wanted to replace the cheap plastic nut and bridge piece on my Acoustic guitar. Yesterday I made a new nut and bridge piece out of Corian, and the tone of the Acoustic improved from dull sounding to a more livelier sound with more definition. Corian is a great material to work with and polishes up well.
There's some high priced guitar companies that use Corian for their guitar nuts.

Here's a definition of what Corian is:

"Corian is an advanced composite of natural minerals and pure acrylic polymer."

Take care,
Jack L.

Kurt · April 25th, 2003, 09:24 AM

(warning - I am not an expert, but love working on guitars and learning as I go) I can't hear much difference between bone and other materials. However, there a number of folks who swear by bone. Based on nuts I've made so far, I like working with bone better than other materials. Using my own mistakes as examples, I can hear the difference between a well-cut and poorly cut nut. In addition, setting the right nut action is part of a good setup. Most factory setups tend to be a bit high.

sears · April 25th, 2003, 01:59 PM

Also, whenever someone says "it only makes a difference on open strings" think about your own guitar technique. Unless you're playing a six-string chord or intentionally muting strings, you will likely have some open strings vibrating sympathetically with what you're playing. Therefore, the nut material might make a difference.

Roger Alburn · April 26th, 2003, 09:54 PM

We had a Corian counter-top installed a couple years ago. As part of his pitch, the dealer gave a Corian slab a full-windup whack with a claw hammer. The surface didn't shatter and showed no trace of a dent. Yet apparently it can be worked with conventional wood-cutting bits and blades. (I wouldn't expect those baldes to last long.) The stuff comes in all kinds of decorator colors and with speckles and veins and stuff. I've got some 2" x 2" samples around someplace that maybe I'll work into a nut, based on you all's recommendations. You could probably score some cool Corian blanks by going to Home Depot acting like you're totally hot to do your kitchen over.

Tone to the bone.....

sanhozay · April 26th, 2003, 10:52 PM

i think bone is the best, but it wears quicker.

i would agree the shape and how it's cut is a huge factor.

i agree with sears - open strings are always being used. especially if you fingerpick, play blues shuffles, blues licks & turn arounds, rock chords, etc.

April 24th, 2003, 03:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
Matt Plescher Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: West Michigan Posts: 837	how much does the nut contribute to tone? How much difference does the nut material make? cheers Matt __________________ She's not your satellite She doesn't miss you So turn off your smoke machine And Marshall stack

April 24th, 2003, 03:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
sean001 Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Gilberts, Illinois Posts: 308	Nut material makes some difference but not that much. As soon as you fret a note, the nut is pretty much out of the equation. Nut material only really effects open strings. I think nut cut is more important that material. __________________ The more you drink, the less I stink...

April 24th, 2003, 04:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
John E Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,396	Well, it's not the material so much as the cut/setup IMO The whole setup of an axe is important but if the nut is not properly cut the rest of the setup is wasted... But I think the material(actually I should say density) makes a difference also. I've had PVC nuts(which I hate and change as soon as possible) swapped out with corian or bone and it makes a big difference to my ears. The older I get(hey I ain't old yet though 8) ) the more important the nut appears to be... I've had guitars in the past, that were so-so or were just bad playing or sounding. I've had buzzing and tightness, even weird overtones dissappear after a nut cut/replacement... in particular there was a tele I had that felt like I was in a wrestling match whenever I played it, it changed totally with a replaced nut - became much easier to play and sounded better. I've heard alot of people say that material doesn't matter except for when playing open strings, but my ears find this to be false, I find an overall improvement in tone/sustain with harder nut substances(ie. bone, corian). As always your ears/fingers may disagree...

April 24th, 2003, 04:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
Brad Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 1,294	New nut I just changed the nut on my newly put together home brew. I did have a graphite nut I cut myself ( first ever attempt at nut cutting ) on it. While it sounded and felt OK, I knew something was missing. So, I paid to have a new bone one cut and installed. The difference in tone was most obvious on the G-B-E strings. They were a bit dull with the graphite nut and have much more ring and sutain with the bone nut. While it may be the difference between bone and graphite, it' probably my feeble nut cutting abilities!. I actually did pretty good for the first time but after seeing ( and hearing ) the bone nut done by a pro....I realize I have a looooong way to go! __________________ We don't stop playing because we get old, we get old becasue we stop playing.

April 25th, 2003, 08:27 AM	#6 (permalink)
PhatBoy Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 343 3 Photos	So is a bone bone? Does the type of bone make a difference? And corian, is that just a harder plastic or what? And Brad,will the new cut bone give you an example to work with? (I am wanting (doing) to do the same thing. i.e. both the files. But that don't make me a luthier. curious......

April 24th, 2003, 11:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
Paul in Colorado Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Fort Collins, CO Age: 55 Posts: 3,964 3 Photos	You'd think that the nut would be out of the equation once you fret it, but I'm of the opinion that it still makes a difference. There's still some energy transfered to the neck through the nut. I don't know the science behind it, but I've found I notice it. For the record, I have a bone nut on my Tele. I sent a luthier friend a piece of fossil ivory from Alaska. He made a nut out of it for his Martin. He said it made all the difference in the world on his guitar. It brought out the tone that he hadn't been able to get with other materials.

April 25th, 2003, 09:18 AM	#7 (permalink)
Jack L. TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Amherst, NY Posts: 56	Corian material.. Hi, A friend gave me a bunch of Corian material to try out. I've always wanted to replace the cheap plastic nut and bridge piece on my Acoustic guitar. Yesterday I made a new nut and bridge piece out of Corian, and the tone of the Acoustic improved from dull sounding to a more livelier sound with more definition. Corian is a great material to work with and polishes up well. There's some high priced guitar companies that use Corian for their guitar nuts. Here's a definition of what Corian is: "Corian is an advanced composite of natural minerals and pure acrylic polymer." Take care, Jack L.

April 25th, 2003, 09:24 AM	#8 (permalink)
Kurt Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: MA Posts: 353	Personal preference and a well-cut nut (warning - I am not an expert, but love working on guitars and learning as I go) I can't hear much difference between bone and other materials. However, there a number of folks who swear by bone. Based on nuts I've made so far, I like working with bone better than other materials. Using my own mistakes as examples, I can hear the difference between a well-cut and poorly cut nut. In addition, setting the right nut action is part of a good setup. Most factory setups tend to be a bit high.

April 25th, 2003, 01:59 PM	#9 (permalink)
sears TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 66	Also, whenever someone says "it only makes a difference on open strings" think about your own guitar technique. Unless you're playing a six-string chord or intentionally muting strings, you will likely have some open strings vibrating sympathetically with what you're playing. Therefore, the nut material might make a difference.

April 26th, 2003, 09:54 PM	#10 (permalink)
Roger Alburn Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: West Chester, PA Posts: 114	For your oxymoron collection: Corian mojo We had a Corian counter-top installed a couple years ago. As part of his pitch, the dealer gave a Corian slab a full-windup whack with a claw hammer. The surface didn't shatter and showed no trace of a dent. Yet apparently it can be worked with conventional wood-cutting bits and blades. (I wouldn't expect those baldes to last long.) The stuff comes in all kinds of decorator colors and with speckles and veins and stuff. I've got some 2" x 2" samples around someplace that maybe I'll work into a nut, based on you all's recommendations. You could probably score some cool Corian blanks by going to Home Depot acting like you're totally hot to do your kitchen over. Tone to the bone.....

April 26th, 2003, 10:52 PM	#11 (permalink)
sanhozay Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 188	i think bone is the best, but it wears quicker. i would agree the shape and how it's cut is a huge factor. i agree with sears - open strings are always being used. especially if you fingerpick, play blues shuffles, blues licks & turn arounds, rock chords, etc.