If it moves more than a few thousandths of an inch, it should be filed lower. Luckily, there’s a much easier and cheaper way to sort the problem. Another way to look at it is that a capo on the first fret creates a new nut......which is exactly the same height as the frets. If you find that a nut slot is too low and your neck has the correct relief, filling (not filing) it can work nicely. 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. Usually i go ever slightly lower as there is less vibration closer to the nut. Bear in mind that nothing is absolute when it comes to instrument set up. nut is one of the more easily described and yet more overlooked aspects of set up. You can measure the nut slot heights by placing a feeler gauge in between the bottom of the string and the top of the first fret when the guitar is up to pitch and after the neck and bridge are adjusted. Mark off the excess material on the nut blank and remove it with a razor saw, file and sandpaper. The ideal height would be just about New total: 0.040" (the 0.035" frets, plus 0.005"). Mark off the excess material on the nut blank and remove it with a razor saw, file and sandpaper. Add 0.005" to 0.010" (or any figure you come up with after experimenting) to this measurement. 3. Measure the height of the first two frets by laying a straight edge across them and sliding different combinations of feeler gauge blades under it until they touch the straight edge. You can start this process by making sure the guitar is up to pitch. OK, I know that some instruments have a fret right up next to the nut. up by the fret and is no longer straight. On Fender guitars with a scooped headstock design, you will want almost no angle in your cuts because there is almost no break angle in the string after it leaves the nut slot on the way to its corresponding post. I read from Stuart Mac .30'' over the first fret. How much space? It pays to be nearsighted. second fret. I can fix the issue by simply widening the nut slots .002” over the size of the actual string width and cutting the slots correctly. Umm ok, so how do i figure what to cut the nut slots to? The distance between the string and the 1st fret would nearly always be below .020 (.5 mm). How to use feeler gauges to control nut slot depth. The ideal nut slot height, in terms of playability, is subjective — much like string action height at the bridge. To check nut-slot height, hold the string down at the third fret, and see … Why the Fender Stratocaster is better than the Gibson Les Paul. 2. because they seem to have minds of their own. Well, it varies with need, but generally, I like to see just enough To cut the nut slots deeper, get yourself a good set of nut slot files, e.g. Here's how. If you're having difficulty seeing the tiny gap under the string, try this: With Don't make a new nut just to fix a low slot—fill it! Stack a combination of feeler gauges equaling the total measurement (0.040"), and hold the stack down against the fretboard and up against the front edge of the nut. The idea is to avoid having the string elevated artificially, as it and the first fret: On Fender style guitars, you won't need a steep back-angle; just file the appropriate angle for each string post. 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. Baking soda works great, too, and is easy to find. The correct nut height is the same as the frets. Checking I could’ve spent a fortune on expensive nut files, but it’s a fiddly job best handled by a professional. The guitar well become easier to setup in general making that super-slinky low action achievable. But the customer will ultimately decide what feels right, as they can dramatically affect the playability of the setup. The Blogging Musician has grown from a personal hub into a valuable resource community for musicians and writers alike. 3. Continue filing until your file contacts the gauges. Again, these nut slot height measurements are workable specs to shoot for. Some guitar nuts just act as string spacers and the contact point for the string is actually a fret. You can almost always fix this issue by filling the nut slots and then re-cutting them correctly. So i really just cut the slots to the first fret height? Then read the nut slot depths. I use bone dust, but I’m guessing most of you don’t keep that in your spice rack. Notice the In practice, I've found 1. For best results, let the fill cure overnight. I dont just measure the first fret height and then cut the slots to that do i? There's no need for a straightedge here, the string is straight! The Toothpick Trick: Guitar Setup and Maintenance, Adjusting Pickup Height: Guitar Setup and Maintenance, Cleaning a Guitar’s Electronics: Guitar Setup and Maintenance, Adjusting Intonation: Guitar Setup and Maintenance, Using a Strobe Tuner: Guitar Setup and Maintenance. Press the string in question down between the second and third frets: On Fender guitars with straight string pull, you’ll cut straight and in-line with the tuners. We're assuming that you've already roughed-in your nut blank, and have laid out the string spacing. With that in mind, action over the first fret depends on the saddle height. I forgot what we did at Taylor, haven't done one in like 10 years. •   No matter how many orders you place. This is because the manufacturer will cut the nut slots on the high side on purpose. How to Play Acoustic Bob Dylan: the Secrets Behind 10 of His Greatest Songs, Big Fun, Low Price: Small-Bodied Acoustic Guitars Under $600, Review: Taylor’s American Dream AD27 Delivers All the Tone Without the Frills, Video Lesson: Play the Blues Like Alvin Youngblood Hart, Three New Waterloos: WL-14, WL-K, and WL-JK [Video Review], Guitar Wall Mounts, Floor Stands, & More—How to Keep Your Instrument Safe at Home, Acoustic Guitar Review: Gretsch G9520E Gin Rickey Is a Secret Tone Weapon, 5 Ways to Play C Augmented | Chord by Chord, How to Play E Diminished Voicings | Chord by Chord. They can also throw off the tuning and intonation. For proper string nut slot depths, use the feeler gauges. that there are some musicians whose playing attack is so vigorous that they require You may find it useful to use a feeler gauge a few thousandths of an inch thicker than your fret height in front of the nut as a reference when filing. https://www.guitarplayerworld.com/setup/proper-guitar-nut-action fret tends to stand just a little high. Record this measurement (let's say 0.035" for an average, somewhat worn fret height). Sand down the top of the nut to eliminate excess slot depth, finish rounding and shaping the nut, and remove scratches with 320, 400 and 600-grit finishing sandpapers, in that order. Fender-Style nuts can be knocked out with a will placed hammer strike. Build the pedal that redefined overdrive. With that in mind, action over the first fret depends on the saddle height. On acoustic guitars with a wound G, you will also shoot for .018” of space since this a thinner-wound string. Leave a bit of the pencil line showing so that you can file and smoothly sand it away without chipping. Job done! In other words, unless you like a 12th fret action of 1/4", then 0.030" at the first fret is way too high. This is just a preliminary exercise, and is only a minor precaution. If the string actually touches the first fret when tested this way, it is definitely