Guitar String Spacing & Making A New Nut

GUITAR NUT MAKING SYSTEM - COMPENSATED STRING SPACING

Our guitar nut making system employs compensated string spacing. The string spacing is incrementally increased so that the space in-between adjacent strings is similar across the fretboard. This allows a little more room for easier playing on the heavier gauges. It also enables an increase to the overall 'E' to 'E' spacing for greater comfort (subject to fret chamfer encroachment).

The precision spacing guides ensure the string positions are correct & avoids errors of hand marking out as all of the string slots are cut in the same setting.

A unique feature of this tool is its comparison of the instrument. The jig is set up directly from the guitar. If necessary, a precise re-make or copy of the nut is straightforward with the jig already setup for the guitar.​

Ibanez Art Series guitar requiring a replacement nut:-

The bone nut blank is cut and sanded to fit the slot.

GUITAR NUT & SADDLE VICE

​The central component of the jig is the Guitar Nut & Saddle Vice.

The vice simulates the instrument by gauging the bottom of the nut slot using a sliding plate arrangement (similar to using a vernier depth gauge).

After making the comparison, the jig plates are locked together. This creates a datum on the jig identical to the guitars nut slot depth.

The nut is placed in the jig and clamped using the template. The choice of template will depend on the radius of the fretboard.

The purpose of the nut top profile template is to provide an accurate reference for shaping the nut so as to leave a minimal amount of material for nut filing.

The arc of the top profile gradually increases in height from treble to bass. This will leave approx 0.5mm (0.020”) stock material for nut filing at the treble side, and 1.0mm (0.040”) at the bass side.

The nut is placed back on the instrument and the outer string positions marked.

The Top Profile Template is then replaced by the String Action Template.

Note - as the string action templates are smaller than the top profile templates, the top face of the nut profile can be seen with an increase in height from 0.5mm at the treble to 1.0mm at the bass.

The string spacing guide is adjusted left or right until the required string spacing is found (the outer string positions previously marked across the nut each align with a guide slot).

The string positions are marked across the top of the nut. The system ensures precise positioning and avoids discrepancies with individual hand marking out of each slot.

(Where the string slots need to be angled towards each individual tuner, a small notch can be made at each string position and the nut placed back on the instrument to determine the angle of each slot).

The spacing guide is removed and each string slot can be filed using the string action template as a reference to final depth.

Please Note! Because the jig has been referenced directly from the instrument, the top profile of the plate will set the action at approximately 0.5mm over the 1st fret (assuming a nominal 1mm fret height). This is a general guide and will be subject to other factors including the fret heights and string gauges. We recommend checking the action on the guitar with strings tensioned before using the full allowance on the jig.

Note the original pencil line and relationship to string slots. When the instrument has been strung to tension the slots can be fine tuned as required.

The nut can also be fine tuned in the jig with occasional reference to the instrument. An offcut of the same string gauge will also assist this and help to identify any string binding. (Example photo from 8-string guitar).