Nut question

Lew UK · April 16th, 2003, 12:45 PM

just installed a graphtech tusq nut,it has made difference in tone and looks good but as a result tjhe action is too high,shall i file the slots some or should i leave them and adjust it saddle end?
thanks

davidmenke · April 16th, 2003, 12:51 PM

If you adjust the bridge and leave the nut height "up" this will effect the action...
Lew , if you have not done the setup before , take it to a tech and see if he or she will let you watch... worth the trail and error.

eryque · April 16th, 2003, 12:54 PM

You can't compensate well for high action at the nut by lowering the saddles. If the strings are higher than you like at the 1st fret, you have to file the nut down. Adjusting the saddle height will affect the action at the higher frets, and maybe cause some buzzing.

A common rule of thumb is that when you fret behind the 3rd fret, the string should just barely clear the first fret. Adjust to taste.

Lew UK · April 16th, 2003, 01:01 PM

thanks both,i will leave it as is then and get local tech to lower the nut some at the same time i have the hipshot b-bender fitted. :D
thanks

Lance · April 16th, 2003, 01:07 PM

Just go slow and use a little nail file to shave down the BACK of the nut until the height is correct. I did this on mine and it worked great.

Lew UK · April 16th, 2003, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lance

Just go slow and use a little nail file to shave down the BACK of the nut until the height is correct. I did this on mine and it worked great.

The back being nearest to headstock?

Thanks

Lance · April 16th, 2003, 01:19 PM

Shave the side opposite from the grooves for the strings. Then the strings will lower down. Just do a little at a time.

Lew UK · April 16th, 2003, 01:47 PM

it worked!
Thankyou it only needed a few rubs...what a difference,
I love this place

Scotland · April 16th, 2003, 02:27 PM

Hi Lew, how different is the tone? I've wondered about these but have never spoken to anyone who has one.
Thanks,
John.

Lew UK · April 16th, 2003, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotland

Hi Lew, how different is the tone? I've wondered about these but have never spoken to anyone who has one.
Thanks,
John.

Hi John,ive had several nuts in this tele,i pulled the stock one out because it was plastic i think (96 MIA STD) and was just curious to what different nuts would do,The Tusq is a good direct fit(like most graphtech) and very little needs to be done to get it playing well(and im no tech!).
There is a difference in tone but subtle,i found from changing from plastic to now tusq the tone is brighter in a good way and the strings are more dynamic/sensitive and tuning stability is a heep better.
Help you?

Scotland · April 16th, 2003, 02:39 PM

Thanks for that Lew, I have wondered for a long time but was too big a coward to try it and see for myself.

Lew UK · April 16th, 2003, 02:49 PM

lol i didnt have a clue i just got some pliers ripped it out and stuck another in

still with experience comes refinment!

Lance · April 16th, 2003, 02:53 PM

I bought a used custom shop neck w/o the nut. I figured, for $10....what the heck? Anyway, it was very simple to install (didn't even have time to finish a beer!). Since the string grooves are already cut, you only shave the back until the string height is correct. It doesn't sound different from bone as far as I can tell.

astro · April 16th, 2003, 03:37 PM

I made my own from a blank. I just got the right files at a wood working store and followed Rob DiStefano's instructions he had on some web page and it worked out great. Its not as hard as you think.

Dacious · April 16th, 2003, 08:10 PM

...said the actress to the bishop.

April 16th, 2003, 12:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
Lew UK Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: UK Posts: 1,388	Nut question just installed a graphtech tusq nut,it has made difference in tone and looks good but as a result tjhe action is too high,shall i file the slots some or should i leave them and adjust it saddle end? thanks

April 16th, 2003, 12:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
davidmenke Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sammamish, WA Posts: 232	If you adjust the bridge and leave the nut height "up" this will effect the action... Lew , if you have not done the setup before , take it to a tech and see if he or she will let you watch... worth the trail and error. __________________ David Menke davidmenke@comcast.net

April 16th, 2003, 01:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
Lance Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,083	Not hard to do yourself! Just go slow and use a little nail file to shave down the BACK of the nut until the height is correct. I did this on mine and it worked great. __________________ Lance "not very good...but I make up for it by playing loud"

April 16th, 2003, 01:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
Lance Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,083	Nope.... Shave the side opposite from the grooves for the strings. Then the strings will lower down. Just do a little at a time. __________________ Lance "not very good...but I make up for it by playing loud"

April 16th, 2003, 02:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
Scotland Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland, Yewrup Age: 54 Posts: 6,215 3 Photos	How? Hi Lew, how different is the tone? I've wondered about these but have never spoken to anyone who has one. Thanks, John. __________________ All those who believe in psycho-kinesis, raise my hand !

April 16th, 2003, 12:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
eryque Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: albany, ny [not chicago] Posts: 6,745 44 Photos	You can't compensate well for high action at the nut by lowering the saddles. If the strings are higher than you like at the 1st fret, you have to file the nut down. Adjusting the saddle height will affect the action at the higher frets, and maybe cause some buzzing. A common rule of thumb is that when you fret behind the 3rd fret, the string should just barely clear the first fret. Adjust to taste.

April 16th, 2003, 01:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
Lew UK Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: UK Posts: 1,388	thanks both,i will leave it as is then and get local tech to lower the nut some at the same time i have the hipshot b-bender fitted. :D thanks

April 16th, 2003, 01:47 PM	#8 (permalink)
Lew UK Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: UK Posts: 1,388	it worked! Thankyou it only needed a few rubs...what a difference, I love this place

April 16th, 2003, 02:39 PM	#11 (permalink)
Scotland Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland, Yewrup Age: 54 Posts: 6,215 3 Photos	I see Thanks for that Lew, I have wondered for a long time but was too big a coward to try it and see for myself. __________________ All those who believe in psycho-kinesis, raise my hand !

April 16th, 2003, 02:49 PM	#12 (permalink)
Lew UK Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: UK Posts: 1,388	Jump in the deep end lol i didnt have a clue i just got some pliers ripped it out and stuck another in still with experience comes refinment!

April 16th, 2003, 02:53 PM	#13 (permalink)
Lance Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,083	Yeah...very easy! I bought a used custom shop neck w/o the nut. I figured, for $10....what the heck? Anyway, it was very simple to install (didn't even have time to finish a beer!). Since the string grooves are already cut, you only shave the back until the string height is correct. It doesn't sound different from bone as far as I can tell. __________________ Lance "not very good...but I make up for it by playing loud"

April 16th, 2003, 03:37 PM	#14 (permalink)
astro Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: North Shoa, MA Posts: 872	Blanks I made my own from a blank. I just got the right files at a wood working store and followed Rob DiStefano's instructions he had on some web page and it worked out great. Its not as hard as you think.

April 16th, 2003, 08:10 PM	#15 (permalink)
Dacious Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Godzone Posts: 2,601 35 Photos	...said the actress to the bishop. __________________ My other Telecaster is a Thinline The Tele Bible, Ch 1, v 10 Love thy Telecaster, covet not thy neighbour's Strat!