Is this a well cut nut?

[frank1985]

I've been experiencing tuning instabilities with my SG 61 standard and decided to have a closer look at the nut. Does this look like a well cut nut to you? I assumed those notches were supposed to be on the front edge only? Also two of them are wonky. Should I have it replaced?

 

[NYCBURST]

The ones that you say are "wonky" are cut that way on purpose, that's okay... I'd have to see a side view picture with the stings on and tuned up. I'd be happy to help you with this.

 

[frank1985]

The ones that you say are "wonky" are cut that way on purpose, that's okay... I'd have to see a side view picture with the stings on and tuned up. I'd be happy to help you with this.

Sure i'll upload one very soon...thank you

 

[frank1985]

Duplicate

 

[frank1985]

The ones that you say are "wonky" are cut that way on purpose, that's okay... I'd have to see a side view picture with the stings on and tuned up. I'd be happy to help you with this.

 

[charliechitlins]

That is a very sloppy nut.
The ones that you think are wonky are probably the best; although they would probably be/appear better if the slots were slanted towards the headstock to match the angle of the string as it goes to the tuner.
On an angled headstock, approximately half of the string should sit proud of the slot. This will minimize tuning issues and I have experienced this opening up the sound of open strings, especially on acoustic guitars.

 

[charliechitlins]

The quick way to check slot depth is to fret the string at the 3rd fret and there should be just a hair of daylight between the string and the 2nd fret. As little as the thickness of a piece of writing paper is OK.

 

[frank1985]

I fretted the 3rd fret - there's a tiny bit of resistance but i can ultimately pass a sheet of paper through at the second.

Do you think I should just get a new one made that isn't as shoddy, or buy an earvana for my local luthier to install?

 

[Kutt]

It's still somehwhat hard to judge based on the pics but the G looks slotted low to me.

If you know of, or know, a reputable luthier I would take it to him first. He may be able to simply fill the questionable nut slots and reslot them. That route would be cheaper than an all-out replacement where he has to gently cut the lacquer around the nut and ultimately shape and slot a new one. If he thinks most of the slots are shoddy, then yes I'd consider having a new bone nut installed and professionally slotted.

Poor nut slots drive me absolutely crazy. I've had about 8 factory nuts replaced on different guitars over the years and a few others touched up with the filling/re-slotting approach I mentioned above.

What an experienced tech will probably do if touching it up is use a mix of bone dust and thinned out super glue (or similar concoction of their choice) to fill the crappy slot(s). It dries quickly then he can reslot it. It's fairly quick and effective long term fix.

 

[frank1985]

I'll have it looked at tomorrow then. Cheers.

 

[Kutt]

I just looked at the first batch of pics, I was focusing on the second batch you posted. It could definitely use some help. But again it may be salvageable.

Keep us in the loop. I always like a good nut betterment story!

 

[charliechitlins]

If the slots are the right depth as you say from the fretting at the 3rd fret, everything else can be tweaked.
The widths can be checked to ensure there is no binding of the string, and the top of the nut can be profiled so the strings will sit proud of the slots.
The nut material on a Gibson guitar is good enough that it doesn't need to be changed.
That nut just needs finishing.

 

[frank1985]

Will do, kutt

 

[NYCBURST]

Here is an example of a nut that was cut like yours, but simply reshaped with fingernail sanding files.. They work perfect. The idea is to keep only the minimum of the slot, with the least amount of contact.

 

[charliechitlins]

Here is an example of a nut that was cut like yours, but simply reshaped with fingernail sanding files.. They work perfect. The idea is to keep only the minimum of the slot, with the least amount of contact.

Next project...get a crown on those frets.
Are they really that flat?

 

[NYCBURST]

Next project...get a crown on those frets.
Are they really that flat?

They are, the kind of guitar you don't want to mess with, lol if you know what I mean.

 

[charliechitlins]

They are, the kind of guitar you don't want to mess with, lol if you know what I mean.

I mess with ALL of them.
I'm about to try a new tailpiece on my $99 Epi LP Special and am considering a refret on my '58 ES175.
And everything in between.

 

[frank1985]

Took it to the luthier and he said the only problem with the nut was the low E being too high in its slot, so he cut it a little deeper. He also slotted the saddle as the high e and b strings kept popping out during high bends. Still having trouble keeping the thing in tune with more aggressive playing though, even after playing them in. Tuners perhaps?

 

[charliechitlins]

Took it to the luthier and he said the only problem with the nut was the low E being too high in its slot, so he cut it a little deeper. He also slotted the saddle as the high e and b strings kept popping out during high bends. Still having trouble keeping the thing in tune with more aggressive playing though, even after playing them in. Tuners perhaps?

It's virtually never the tuners.
Unless you have ancient tuners that were crap to begin with and they're actually slipping.
Keep windings on the post to a minimum.
If you ever hear a "dink" when tuning, that string will never stay in tune.
Sorry to be "that guy" but that's no luthier who though only the low E slot was a problem.