LSR roller nut shim?

[Surf n Music n Ski n Bike]

I swear I saw a thread before on shims people have used for setup on these but I can't find it now. Has anyone had experience with setup? What shims did you use if any and how did you determine height. I found this. Would this be a good approach?

Barre the strings at the first fret. Look at the height of the strings above the second fret. That is the height they should be above the first fret when the barre is removed. Best is to take automotive feeler gauges and actually measure those heights precisely. The nut slots need adjusting to achieve these heights.

Next. Barre (or better capo) the strings at the third fret and look at the clearance of the strings above the first fret. Higher than the measurements you previously took? So now lift a string up out of the slot onto the top of the nut and have at the slot with the correct sized nut file a touch. Return the string to the slot and recheck the measurement. Once all the strings are the heights above the first fret that you measured at the start, remove the capo and give it a try. You should have a correctly set nut.

 

[Cagey]

It sounds like you've found some usable string height adjustment advice, but for a standard nut vs. an LSR. You can't file LSR nut slots; you have to raise/lower the entire nut using shims. LSR nuts will come come with a set of 6 or 8 shims of varying thickness for doing just that - setting string height.

 

[Surf n Music n Ski n Bike]

It sounds like you've found some usable string height adjustment advice, but for a standard nut vs. an LSR. You can't file LSR nut slots; you have to raise/lower the entire nut using shims. LSR nuts will come come with a set of 6 or 8 shims of varying thickness for doing just that - setting string height.

Haha But I got my ball bearing file all ready  :laughing11:. Thanks Cagey, I got my shims ready. Just making sure I'm on the right track.

 

[Cagey]

Ok, good.

Just be sure you've got a good #0 Phillips head screwdriver, or you'll destroy the retaining screws. Don't even think about cheating. If you don't have a driver that size that's in good shape, head over to Sears and hit the screwdriver aisle. Also, be sure to wax the screws. Even with the right-sized driver, you can twist their little heads off with little or no difficulty.

 

[Surf n Music n Ski n Bike]

Ok, good.

Just be sure you've got a good #0 Phillips head screwdriver, or you'll destroy the retaining screws. Don't even think about cheating. If you don't have a driver that size that's in good shape, head over to Sears and hit the screwdriver aisle. Also, be sure to wax the screws. Even with the right-sized driver, you can twist their little heads off with little or no difficulty.

Got it. I got a brand new #0. Thanks for the reminder on the wax. I actually didn't have that in my mind. Coulda been bad. Those screws are so tiny.

 

[Cagey]

Ultimately, you wanna use beeswax. It doesn't rot or get rancid or adversely affect the wood. But, people have successfully used paraffin or crayons or candles as well. You don't need much, so a pack such as at the link above will last you about 100 years. But, it's also necessary for tuner anti-rotation screws, pickguard screws, etc. so it's definitely something you want to have around the house.

 

[Surf n Music n Ski n Bike]

I'm on it. Those little bees are amazing. Their honey is packed full of vitamins and minerals and wax last forever. Love it.

 

[NovasScootYa]

A few years ago I purchased a neck off eBay that had Warmoth installed LSR nut and was very impressed. When purchased I did not expect the LSR to feel right and assumed I would spend time tweaking a problem. However cowboy chords were easy, the ends of the LSR were not rough feeling, etc. Overall it felt surprisingly right so I left well enough alone. It was a luxury because at the time I was using bone to make nuts. Definitely a hats off to whoever engineered the LSR.

And for a way-pass-due hats off I want to congratulate Cagey for building a beautiful, top-shelf instrument and for pointing the crowd in a different, more challenging direction.

And hat's off to Surf n Music for a Strat build that can Hang-10 on a volume control.

 

[Cagey]

Thank you for the kind words. If you're talking about the L5S, the build thread is here if you haven't seen it and would like to.

 

[Surf n Music n Ski n Bike]

Thanks NovasScootYa! I love that Seafoam Strat  :toothy10:. I agree on the LSR nut. It is awesome. Right from the get go it has been so stable. I am running 12-54 Pyramid strings and they fist just fine. Had to shim the treble side just a bit for initial set up and now I just play it and never have a problem. I almost wish I put it on the seafoam guitar too. But I am happy with both.