GUITAR NUT REPLACEMENT
Our universal system makes it possible to profile a new top nut, choose the best string spacing and set the nut action with precision.
The system comprises of 5 main components.
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Guitar Nut & Saddle Vice.
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Nut Top Profile Template.
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String Action Template.
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Proportional String Spacing Guide.
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Wire Gauges for Fine Adjustment.
A distinctive attribute of this system is the replication of the exact fingerboard nut slot depth and fingerboard radius. This permits nut shaping, string spacing and nut filing to be performed off the instrument. Anybody struggling with close vision problems or neck ache as a result of poor posture will certainly benefit from using this tool!.
PROPORTIONAL STRING SPACING
With standard spacing, the string positions are equal but the space in-between them decreases from treble to bass. This can be quite quite significant for heavy gauges.
With proportional spacing, the distance in-between adjacent strings is the same for all positions.
The advantage of proportional guitar string spacing is easier fretting and less muting of adjacent strings. A disadvantage is that once you've tried this method, you might never revert to standard spacing!.
To get the best proportional spacing for your guitar, we recommend increasing the overall string spacing to the maximum that the guitar will allow. A small increase without encroaching on the fret chamfers is usually achievable.
This system is accurate and repeatable. A specially made string position marker and guiding template ensures the strings are precisely positioned along the nut. This avoids any discrepancies with individual hand marking out of each slot as all of the slots are cut in the same setting.
An original feature of this tool is its comparison of the instrument. The jig is set up directly from the guitar. Different string spacings can be easily experimented with and fretboard offcuts make ideal test pieces.
Should you need to do so, a precise re-make/copy of the nut is simple & fast using the same jig setup.
GUITAR NUT & SADDLE VICE
The central component of the jig is the Guitar Nut & Saddle Vice (shown above). This is a useful tool in its own right and is also available for purchase separately from the webstore.
It has been designed with other fretting tasks in mind and there are a number of useful accessories available.
GAUGING THE NUT SLOT DEPTH
The jig incorporates two sliding reference plates. The plates are used to make a comparison of the instrument by gauging the bottom of the nut slot (similar to using a vernier depth gauge). This creates a step in the jig identical to the guitars nut slot depth.
The plates are then locked together when the comparison has been made.
NUT TOP PROFILE TEMPLATE SET UP
The Nut Top Profile Template is used as a guide to shaping the top face of the nut. Spacing washers (included) are fitted at the lower stud to keep the profile plate parallel in the jig.
For thicker nuts the loose clamp jaw can be fitted over the profile plate for extra rigidity.
SHAPING THE TOP PROFILE
The top of the nut is shaped to the template profile.
The nut profile template is designed to leave approx 0.5mm (0.020”) stock material for nut filing at the treble side, and 1.0mm (0.040”) at the bass side. (See photo below - Fitting the String Action Template).
This leaves a minimal amount for nut filing and improves string spacing accuracy as there is less tendency for the files to wander.
As can be seen, the shaped profile is accurate & uniform.
MARKING THE STRING SLOT POSITIONS
The semi-finished nut should be placed on the instrument and the outer string positions marked on the top.
FITTING THE STRING ACTION TEMPLATE
The Nut Profile Template is removed from the vice and the the String Action Template fitted.
Note - the top face of the nut (shaped when using the Nut Profile Template) which increases in height from 0.5mm at the RH side (Treble) to 1.0mm at the LH side (Bass).
PROPORTIONAL STRING SPACING GUIDE
The Proportional String Spacing Guide ensures precise string positioning and optimised spacing.
The slots are proportionally spaced allowing for a progressive increase in adjacent string centres from treble to bass.
The guide slots are numbered and diagrams are provided for easy reference.
The String Spacing Guide is fitted over the String Action Template. The guide is then adjusted left or right until the desired string spacing is found.
The string positions should be marked on the nut using the marking saw provided. The String Spacing Guide is designed with an arc/radius of movement. This is to aid contact of the marking saw with the top of the curved nut i.e. to avoid cutting at a slant and to keep the saw central in the slot.
Note the slight progressive increase in adjacent string positions for a 6-String Bass Guitar with 42.1mm overall string centres - from highest to lowest indicated by the rule in the photo below.
Moving the string spacing guide 1-pitch to the right in the photo would reduce the overall centres to 41.4mm, and moving 1-pitch to the left would increase this to 42.9mm centres. (Graduated rule not included!).
The string spacing guide is removed after marking the string positions.
Each slot can now be filed with the correct size nut file until flush with the top of the string action template. It is recommended to use gauged nut files for this task.
Relief, & action can all be fine tuned in the jig, with occasional reference to the instrument.
The nominal action achieved using the jig before any final adjustment on the guitar will be approx 0.020” (0.5mm). (This is dependent on several factors including the fret thickness, string gauge and also the bend radius of the strings over the nut).
The nut string slots can be checked for any binding using an offcut of the same string gauge.
PROCEDURE FOR FINE ADJUSTMENT OF STRING HEIGHT USING THE JIG
The system includes a feature that enables fine adjustment of string height to be performed on the jig itself.
With the nut temporarily fitted on the instrument, tension the strings to pitch and check the string action at the 1st fret.
Re-fit the nut to the jig & insert a wire gauge underneath the nut as per photo below.
This raises the height of the nut in the jig and enables the slots to be accurately filed to an increased depth. (Note in the photo below, the bottom of the previously flush string slots are now proud of the jig plate).
Four colour coded wire gauges are included. These are spaced in 0.004” / 0.1mm increments:
1) 0.012” / 0.3mm
2) 0.016” / 0.4mm
3) 0.020” / 0.5mm
4) 0.024” / 0.6mm
Use the smallest gauge for initial adjustment and increase the gauge size if further depth is required.
12 STRING INSTRUMENTS
12 string slot configurations can be achieved by allowing approx 2.5mm extra for the outer string position at the bass side when marking out. After marking the 1st group of six slots, the guide is then moved along to the next pitch (increased overall 'E' to 'E' on the guide) and positioned to mark the 2nd group of six with an initial spacing of 2mm at high 'E'. Each paired spacing will then increase proportionally up to low 'E'. (Approx 2.5mm).
Dependent on range selected and gauge of strings used, some minor adjustment of individual positions may be necessary.
JIG OPTIONS & ACCESSORIES
There are several jig options available dependent on fingerboard radius and string centres required. These are available to purchase direct from the Luthier Tools Webstore.
Additional accessories including fretwork plates, profile plates, proportional string spacing guides for smaller / larger instruments and a nut bottom shaping template are also available.
The photo below depicts a 9.5" radius nut bottom profile plate for preshaping the underside of a curved nut.
Our Guitar Nut Replacement & String Spacing Systems are available from the Webstore.