Nut Stuff (graphtech)

[fdesalvo]

Setting up the Candy Red Strat. String bends and the slightest tremolo work send all 6 strings sharp and flat.  Zero pinging at nut.

Strings have been stretched, teen springs and truss rod have settled, all is quiet on the western front.

I’ve used the ol stewmac slotting files to lower the string action at the nut and I’m happy with the action in general. A little higher than Mr Doot and BBQ Floyd set up, but great for a guitar meant for the blues. 

The random sharp/flat return on random strings leads me to believe the nut has some work left in it. Gonna give the Mitchell abrasive cord a go to open up the slots a bit tomorrow and will report back.

Is there anything else I should consider?  Maybe the lsr rollers on the other two have me spoiled, as they return to pitch like a locking nut.

Btw, I’ve set the guitar up with the bridge decked, tilted at the back a’la fender, and floating with bridge plate parallel to the deck like a two post trem should be.  Same results for all setups. Currently in floating position.

 

[Cagey]

If you've got locking tuners and the nut slots have been properly cut, then it's more likely the bridge isn't returning to neutral after having moved by using the wang bar or otherwise stretching (bending) strings. This is often due to some friction at the pivot points of the bridge. It's very comon and difficult to eliminate entirely with some bridge designs, notably the 6-screw Fender-style bridges that are often seen on Strats. It's an inherent design flaw, which is why it's mpossible to elminate. A proper setup and perhaps some lithium grease at the pivots will reduce it fairly well, but those are usually temporary fixes. Some players develop an instinctive move to bump the bridge in the right direction to sharpen/flatten strings, but for obvious reasons this is more of a compensatory move than a fix.

 

[fdesalvo]

Thanks, KG; excellent tips, as usual.  Got it resolved.  Tuning stability is now pretty damn solid.

I tried reducing the height of the nut so only about 50% of each string would be inside their respective slots.  Have a bit more sanding to do to really complete this part.  If you rub your finger along the top of the nut, you can feel the strings.  I then cut a gradual 45* slope towards the tuners into each slot, leaving about 30% of the back halves to contact the strings.  Finally, I flared out the slots on the tuner end.

I used the Stemac round bottom nut files, a toothbrush (to clean out waste material), and some 220 grit for shaping the top of the nut.

Gah! I missed some dried compound around the truss access hole? Or is that some finish from the allen wrench?  WIll have to clean that up.

 

[bagman67]

Nice work, Frank!

 

[Verne Bunsen]

Looks good! I’m feeling kind of inspired to re-visit a couple of my nuts where the skinny strings are completely burried...

 

[rgand]

Nice, Frank.

 

[fdesalvo]

Thank you, sirs.

I'll be finishing up the nut this monday, I hope.  The parts that have to be finished are intricate and very hard to see in most instances.  Sometimes you have to go by feel and that's terrifying given that you can't always go back and repair a mistake.  I'm done with the slots, but still have to tune the final height.  After taking pics and then magnifying them, I have noticed some strings are still at least 75% buried.  Time to call the grave digger.  Gonna be hairy around the skinnies, but I'll be cautious.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

Thanks, KG; excellent tips, as usual.  Got it resolved.  Tuning stability is now pretty damn solid.

I tried reducing the height of the nut so only about 50% of each string would be inside their respective slots.  Have a bit more sanding to do to really complete this part.  If you rub your finger along the top of the nut, you can feel the strings.  I then cut a gradual 45* slope towards the tuners into each slot, leaving about 30% of the back halves to contact the strings.  Finally, I flared out the slots on the tuner end.

I used the Stemac round bottom nut files, a toothbrush (to clean out waste material), and some 220 grit for shaping the top of the nut.

Gah! I missed some dried compound around the truss access hole? Or is that some finish from the allen wrench?  WIll have to clean that up.

This is pretty much how I do it, but I'll use some polishing compound (Mirror Glaze) to polish the slots.
I want those nut slots to function like a water slide, lol...

 

[fdesalvo]

I just tried that with some megs ultimate polish, but I can’t fit my buffer into the high b and e slots.  :dontknow:

 

[AirCap]

A length of cotton string will work, or a thin cloth wrapped around a 6 inch scale. I use toothpaste as a polishing agent.

Don't forget to lube the slots.... I use Chapstick, low melting point.

 

[fdesalvo]

A length of cotton string will work, or a thin cloth wrapped around a 6 inch scale. I use toothpaste as a polishing agent.

Don't forget to lube the slots.... I use Chapstick, low melting point.

I didn't get the notification that you'd responded.  I found my mitchell abrasive cord and polished out the slots using that it it's taken me even closer to perfect tuning stability.  Will five that chapstick a shot, though I have some synthetic machine gun grease that I'm tempted to try, as well.  Works a treat on the bridge posts.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

Ever tried dental floss, the waxed kind?

 

[fdesalvo]

Only on the ol’ choppers

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

Sometimes I will use to to polish the bottom of the nut slots