Creaking sound on my Baja

[Willyguitar]

I absolutely love my Baja - I play the hell out of it especially since getting a Vox AC30cc2 with alnico blues. However, recently I have noticed that when I do relatively powerful bends on the G or B string, I get this creaking sound (like wood creaking) coming roughly from the nut area. It doesn't get amplified but is loud enough to be annoying.

Could this just be the nut, and is it likely in need of replacement? Or is it possibly something more serious?

I am also considering putting 11s on it, but am a bit concerned that the added tension may make the situation worse... although I would probably go for a re-set up with a luthier, especially if the nut needs redoing.

Anyway, any suggestions on the creaking would be most appreciated.

[Mark Davis]

Loosen the strings a little lift them out of the nut slots and apply something to lube it.

Your strings are probably binding in the nut slots.

[Willyguitar]

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

Loosen the strings a little lift them out of the nut slots and apply something to lube it.

Your strings are probably binding in the nut slots.

Cheers Mark. I'll try that.

[BritishBluesBoy]

Try rubbing a soft pencil in the slots. Graphite works great as a lubricant.

[Willyguitar]

Originally Posted by BritishBluesBoy

Try rubbing a soft pencil in the slots. Graphite works great as a lubricant.

Cheers - will try that too!

[cc9cii]

This works, but can leave dark smudges around the nut...

[BritishBluesBoy]

Originally Posted by cc9cii

This works, but can leave dark smudges around the nut...

Not can. It will. It's a pencil...

[cc9cii]

I was trying to be polite I managed to clean mine, but I remember I got a bit miffed when I tried it for the first time.

Doesn't someone sell white graphite for such purposes, anyway?

[Mark Davis]

Best stuff Ive found is sold at Radio Shack it comes in a small needle tip applicator. Its a thick sorta oil that stays in place. I think I have an old pic lets see Im sure it wont be in this same package but just look for the same product I think the package is white now.

[Willyguitar]

OK, being the cheapskate that I am, and having only seen Mark's post this morning, I went ahead with a 6B pencil.... and it has worked a treat it seems! Yes, black marks on the nut, but I feel that kind of fits with the rough and ready, slightly beaten up vibe of telecasters in any case. In fact, I may just scribble a few more sketches over the main part of the body later.

Thanks all, and apologies for my stupidity and general naivity. You would think I'd been playing for 20 months rather than 20 years!

[Mid Life Crisis]

I find that sometimes, the binding occurs because of a tiny burr in the nut slot, which no amount of lubricant can overcome. In this situation, running a piece of fine sandpaper through the slot usually cures it.

[telbert twang]

...plus the possibility that usually the stock nuts come with narrow stringslots (most suitable for 9-42 string sets). If you use something bigger (11´s, sometimes even some 10´s) , the slots might get too narrow. The latter influences both the sustain and also bending ease. In my modest experience, the nut slots best size would be pretty tightly around the string as possible ( no lateral play) , but on the other hand - allowing string to turn freely in it´s slot (around its axis) while bending (should be noticed in the string zone between the nut and tuner(s))

[AngelStrummer]

Originally Posted by telbert twang

...plus the fact that usually the stock nuts come with narrow stringslots (most suitable for 9-42 sets) , if you use something bigger ( 11´s, even some 10´s) , the slots might get too narrow. The latter influenting both sustain and beanding ease. In my modest experience , the nut slots best sise would as tight around the string as possible, but on the other hand - allowing string to turn in the slot (around its axis) while bending (should be noticed in the string zone between the nut and tuner(s))

In this particular case, Baja factory strings are 10s, so I doubt the string slots would be too narrow.

[telbert twang]

I didnt know that (Baja with 10s stock) - I bought mine used (my main tele, love it !) . Mine has a bone nut by now anyway.

Angel, you quoted me too early, I was just editing my misspells :-)

[PJ]

Have a luthier adjust your slot widths to the strings you use and your creaking will be gone, magically!

[jefrs]

It might be worth mentioning, that if you have not already done so, having the nut slots attended too. The nuts on new guitars are invariably not cut deep enough, nor for that matter, the right shape.

You have found that your nut creaks. That can occur when the string bears down on the nut a little way back from the front edge where it is against the fingerboard. This allows the string to swing back and forth in the nut when you bend it and it emits an orrible pinging as it slips across the lip of the groove (try a zero fret sometime). The more it does this, the wider the front of the slot becomes. This can mean that the nut would benefit from some re-shaping and a bit more slope down to the tuning pegs. This would happen with a good 'nut job' by an luthierologist. The height of the string over the first fret is supposed to be the same as its height over the second when it is fretted at the first, but not less, you can always take more off....

You may be tempted to have a go yourself, please do practice on something else first :)

[AngelStrummer]

Originally Posted by jefrs

This would happen with a good 'nut job'

[Willyguitar]

Gosh. This thread is still going. You TDPRI people are so generous.

The nut is cut really very deeply... in fact my first thought was that it might actually be too deep, and beginning to shift or something. However, the pencil has (so far, with quite a bit of playing today) seemed to do the trick. If it comes back though, I will certainly consider some more attention to my nuts...

... which I understand is also good for your health.

[jefrs]

It does not help to have the slots too deep, just deep enough to seat the strings. Yet the strings must be at the right height over the first fret. If slots are too deep then nut is too tall and needs to be filed or sanded down. I find fettling of the nut is best done on the guitar with the strings an and tuned up, lift each string out in turn to file its slot. Your nuts should not be loose and wobbly.