Nuts!!!!!

[Inspector #20]

Restrung my 2016 Gibson Les Paul 50's Tribute late last night for a paying session today. Oddly, I happened to look at the nut slots and I was surprised to see the strings only touching the slots in a few places.

Now this guitar is played constantly and I have no complaints to share, but I didn't like it.

I took my welding tip cleaners and gently cleaned the slots just enough to give a nice, rounded profile and full contact.

The action at the 1st fret did not change and intonation was only slightly affected, requiring every saddle to be moved towards the bridge 1/4 to 1/2 turn.

The lighting bolt pattern is very pronounced on this guitar and intonation is greatly improved.

No rant here, but just a reminder to check your nut slots for uniformity....

 

[Session 5]

Good piece of advice Rob.

 

[eSGEe]

check yer nuts -- got it

 

[Inspector #20]

I like to set my strings deep in the nut, when I make a nut from scratch, but on my Gibson, the strings just barely drop into the lot...

 

[BlackSG91]

You need this Rockin' Robby...a whole lifetime supply of...

;>)/

 

[syscokid]

I like to set my strings deep in the nut, when I make a nut from scratch...

Why do you like to do that?

 

[Inspector #20]

Why do you like to do that?

I have always felt the deep nut keeps the string from popping off a shallow groove. It's likely a habit from the guy who taught me to slot nuts, but it makes sense to me...

 

[eSGEe]

its more fun to nut slots --- than to slot nuts---

 

[syscokid]

I have always felt the deep nut keeps the string from popping off a shallow groove. It's likely a habit from the guy who taught me to slot nuts, but it makes sense to me...

Fair enough... But if the groove is not too wide or too narrow for the corresponding string gauge it shouldn't be a problem. Especially with an angled headstock. String trees help minimize "popping off'' on non-angled headstocks.

For some reason, deep guitar nut slots remind me of this:

 

[smitty_p]

I have always felt the deep nut keeps the string from popping off a shallow groove. It's likely a habit from the guy who taught me to slot nuts, but it makes sense to me...

The general recommendation is to cut the slot just deep enough so only about half the diameter of the wound strings sit in the slot.