Earvana nuts on Warmoth style Necks? Warmoth says NO

[NutBehindTheGuitar]

So Warmoth only makes the Superwide Neck (48MM Nut) on two models. The Modern Construction Strat replacement neck and the "Warmoth" Modern Tiltback. However only the Strat replacement neck is available with a Earvana nut. In fact it clearly states on the website.

"This option (Earvana) is not available on Modern Tiltback construction necks."

Okay clear enough, but why?

So I figured that it must be something to do with intererence between the possibly wider Earvana nut and the Truss Adjustment Nut which is right behind the nut on a Tiltback neck.
However this doesn't make any sense to me. The "Vortex" and "Warmoth" necks use the same simple rectangular nut that Les Paul type guitars use. Loads of Les Pauls have been converted to Earvana nuts without issue.

Here a cropped image of the "Vortex/Warmoth" neck nut area


In this image where the nut is absent, you can see the truss adjustment nut, and you can see a witness line where the nut sits. There is very little space between the witness line and the adjustment nut.
Now a compensated nut is wider, but all that extra width is on the fretboard side of the nut, not on the headstock side, so a compensated nut would not interfere with the truss rod adjustment.

Here's a picture of Les paul type guitar before and after being fitted with a Earvana nut.

Before

After

Both of these are screenshots from this You Tube Video

Here's a different shot of a different lesPaul that was retrofitted with an Earvana nut


This is a clearer picture and you can see there is no infringment on the headstock area.

The extra width in these nuts comes from their being a "Shelf Nut" design, or as I like to call them an "L" shaped nut.
The normal nut on these guitars is a simple rectangular shape or as I call them "Straight Wall" nuts.

So does Warmoth have some corporate edict against "L" shaped nuts?

Now I know a lot of you reading this, think that the whole compensated nut business is a load of malarky and so on. Please, this thread is not about the merits of compensated nuts, there are other threads for that. I have swallowed the Earvana koolaid and will not hear otherwise.

So I want a 3 +3 headstock on my next project guitar, and I want it with a 48mm nut and I want that nut to be a compensated nut. So far I'm out of luck.
Warmoth are the sole source of quality bolt on 48mm necks, and they refuse to fit a compensated nut on any of their 3+3 necks. What am I to do?

 

[stratamania]

You have already answered your question. The "L shaped" as you call them are conversion nuts that are sold by Earvana and will work with the tiltback or to convert Gibson styles up to 1 11/16" neck width.
Warmoth do not offer the conversion type nuts. They are aftermarket offerings sold by Earvana.

Your options:

• A Straight headstock modern construction Superwide with a Warmoth cut Earvana.
• Tiltback up to 1 11/16" and an aftermarket Earvana conversion nut.
• Tiltback Superwide with a regular nut

/Thread

 

[aarontunes]

So does Warmoth have some corporate edict against "L" shaped nuts?

LOL. That's the gist of it, kind of.

It's not that it can't be done. It's that we have chosen not to offer it, as history hasn't shown enough demand to warrant the expense.

 

[NutBehindTheGuitar]

Hi Aaron
Thanks for responding, So it's true! There is a corporate conspiracy aginst "L" shaped nuts !

"...as history hasn't shown enough demand to warrant the expense."

"..enough demand..." Well I am demanding it now. Demanding it in a loud, strident, and annoyingly high pitched voice. Isn't that enough of a demand ?

I guess the question is how many people choose Eravana as an option when buying custom necks? Is it a lot ?

To me playing guitar, improving your playing, is hard enough. Any time you can make things easier on yourself by just buying something, is something you would jump on. The cheapest nut Warmoth offers is $27. The Earvana nut is $69 so it's $42 more. $42 does not seem like that much to reduce the aggravation you get from the confounded "G" string.

Think of all the songs that rely heavily on a open "G" chord. Every time you play that chord you have to do something to make that 3rd fret "G" on the low "E" string play nice with the open "G" on the "G" string. It's enough to drive you to play a Barre chord.

Please Warmoth please

 

[aarontunes]

"..enough demand..." Well I am demanding it now. Demanding it in a loud, strident, and annoyingly high pitched voice. Isn't that enough of a demand ?

 

[rockandroller]

Hi Aaron
Thanks for responding, So it's true! There is a corporate conspiracy aginst "L" shaped nuts !

"...as history hasn't shown enough demand to warrant the expense."

"..enough demand..." Well I am demanding it now. Demanding it in a loud, strident, and annoyingly high pitched voice. Isn't that enough of a demand ?

I guess the question is how many people choose Eravana as an option when buying custom necks? Is it a lot ?

To me playing guitar, improving your playing, is hard enough. Any time you can make things easier on yourself by just buying something, is something you would jump on. The cheapest nut Warmoth offers is $27. The Earvana nut is $69 so it's $42 more. $42 does not seem like that much to reduce the aggravation you get from the confounded "G" string.

Think of all the songs that rely heavily on a open "G" chord. Every time you play that chord you have to do something to make that 3rd fret "G" on the low "E" string play nice with the open "G" on the "G" string. It's enough to drive you to play a Barre chord.

Please Warmoth please

Maybe you need to jump on the 3D-printer forums and find somebody who can make you a custom width "earvana-style" shelf nut?
I'm sure all of the essential details are in the published Earvana patent...

 

[aarontunes]

Maybe you need to jump on the 3D-printer forums and find somebody who can make you a custom width "earvana-style" shelf nut?
I'm sure all of the essential details are in the published Earvana patent...

FYI, Warmoth pays a license fee to Earvana for every single Earvana nut we cut. I'm guessing (but not certain) that the exact details and specs for cutting these L-shaped Earvana nuts are not readily available.

 

[stultzies9]

I could also see them being a bit more of a time suck if you had to, say, cut the slots on one CNC pass, and then rotate it 90 degrees to get the "L" cut going. And more time would most likely equal more money, which would then possibly cut down on demand even more.

 

[NutBehindTheGuitar]

HI Stultzies
You said

And more time would most likely equal more money, which would then possibly cut down on demand even more.

"...more money..." I'm prepared to pay whatever exorbitant ransom that Warmoth wants for an "L" shaped Earvana type nut.
My other options / schemes including moving to Puyallup, and standing out side the Warmoth factory demanding they make these nuts available in (as I said earlier) Demanding it in a loud, strident, and annoyingly high pitched voice.

Peace and Goodwill to all (I'm on my Meds Today)