I never paid much attention to this until I was having problems with my new Warmoth neck returning to pitch...
Lateral Misalignment @ Nut:
- Thread starter Inspector #20
- Start date
OP
Note the pinching in the nut slots....
Note here how the low 'E' unwinds from the post during a tremolo dive and actually wears a ragged edge in the treble side of the low 'E' nut slot:
This prompted me to start really looking seriously at this condition. I found it present on some of my custom built Von Herndon's that used Graph Tech Pre-Slotted Nuts:
And then I started looking at photos of Telecasters and Stratocasters on the web and I found these right away:
In the image below, everything is shifted to the treble side:
In this image, the low 'E' slot has been cut super wide to try and correct the misalignment. Note the 'G' strings slot is cut at an angle and the string is cocked:
I fixed this problem when I made the brass nut for my yelloStrat by shifting the low 'E' down towards the centerline of the neck, shifting the A/D/G/b/e up towards the bass side of the fretboard:
This won't hurt you too much if you don't have a tremolo and if you don't push down on the strings behind the nut enough to leave divots in the fretboard, but it is apparently a real problem that is often overlooked!!!!
Note here how the low 'E' unwinds from the post during a tremolo dive and actually wears a ragged edge in the treble side of the low 'E' nut slot:
This prompted me to start really looking seriously at this condition. I found it present on some of my custom built Von Herndon's that used Graph Tech Pre-Slotted Nuts:
And then I started looking at photos of Telecasters and Stratocasters on the web and I found these right away:
In the image below, everything is shifted to the treble side:
In this image, the low 'E' slot has been cut super wide to try and correct the misalignment. Note the 'G' strings slot is cut at an angle and the string is cocked:
I fixed this problem when I made the brass nut for my yelloStrat by shifting the low 'E' down towards the centerline of the neck, shifting the A/D/G/b/e up towards the bass side of the fretboard:
This won't hurt you too much if you don't have a tremolo and if you don't push down on the strings behind the nut enough to leave divots in the fretboard, but it is apparently a real problem that is often overlooked!!!!
Last edited:
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
OK Houston, WTF is that Kluson doing on there? Robert
OP
String angle at the nut...
The Grover 136G6 has the same button as the Gotoh SD-91's, fits in the same spot, shares the same screw spacing, but has the longer post of the Gibson/Kluson.
Look how extreme the low 'E' string angle is...with the vintage Gotoh SD-91 tuners:
Now, regarding the A/D/g/b/e strings, the angle through the nut is perfect with the vintage Gotoh SD-91, short-shaft tuners, and no string trees are needed...bit on the low 'E' string, I wanted a shallower angle.
Last edited:
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
So u really needed a long shaft SD 91 and 5 short ones.
Is the issue with the angle simply clearance at the pointy part where your behind nut bends eeeked out the wood, or is it a tuning issue due to more or less angle?. If it were my neck , I would have sanded off that pointy part and not had all those divots in there.
Is the issue with the angle simply clearance at the pointy part where your behind nut bends eeeked out the wood, or is it a tuning issue due to more or less angle?. If it were my neck , I would have sanded off that pointy part and not had all those divots in there.
OP
I mushed those divots in with the strings, then i filed them deeper for more sharpness in the bends. It doesn't bug me because it's an 8-5 workhorse.
The issue is the steeper angle caused the low E to hang up. Remember, I'm doing 11 semitone divebombs.
Long shaft SD-91 is not made.
Grover 136G6 is almost identical to the SD-91, but has a threaded ferrule and long post.
OP
Every string here has a different center-to-center spacing...but all are a straight shot to the tuners.
Although you can find blueprints that give specific string spacing values, the strings will NOT align correctly if they are ALL evenly spaced.
The 'answer' appears to be hogging out the slot for a .046" 'E' string to .065"-.070" and I won't do it. But, this is what I'm seeing on brand new Fenders coming out of Corona...WTF???
My slots are only .004" over my string diameter and polished with a Dremel and jeweler's rougue.
Although you can find blueprints that give specific string spacing values, the strings will NOT align correctly if they are ALL evenly spaced.
The 'answer' appears to be hogging out the slot for a .046" 'E' string to .065"-.070" and I won't do it. But, this is what I'm seeing on brand new Fenders coming out of Corona...WTF???
My slots are only .004" over my string diameter and polished with a Dremel and jeweler's rougue.
Last edited:
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
OP
No.mi like staggered, man...
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
If you are trying to say you don't like Staggered.
It sure beats an oddball Kluson. You can steal/ or ask Gotoh for one of the 2 tallest ones for your low e? No?
It sure beats an oddball Kluson. You can steal/ or ask Gotoh for one of the 2 tallest ones for your low e? No?
OP
The only key that will replace that Kluson is a Grover 136G6
OP
Now, on a $400 Warmoth neck, with CNC milled nut slots, don't you think they would have figured this misalignment out???
Nope. They just keep cutting them based on a theoretic value...SMH
OP
Dudes!!@@!!
I get a call today from a Fender warranty guy I know who has a brand new Yngwie Stratocaster that will not come back to pitch. He wanted to know if I would come look at it.
I asked him to check the angle of the string pull through the nut and he said, "I'll be damned. Crooked as a dog's hind leg!!!"
30 minutes later, he's installed a new brass nut with straight pull and it will divebomb almost a full octave and come back to perfect pitch!!!!!
I'm 100% sure Fender is using either pre-cut, or semi-finished nuts.
You can buy Fender brass nuts already slotted and they are slotted wrong!!!!
I get a call today from a Fender warranty guy I know who has a brand new Yngwie Stratocaster that will not come back to pitch. He wanted to know if I would come look at it.
I asked him to check the angle of the string pull through the nut and he said, "I'll be damned. Crooked as a dog's hind leg!!!"
30 minutes later, he's installed a new brass nut with straight pull and it will divebomb almost a full octave and come back to perfect pitch!!!!!
I'm 100% sure Fender is using either pre-cut, or semi-finished nuts.
You can buy Fender brass nuts already slotted and they are slotted wrong!!!!
Last edited: