hey deacon mark

[Nate Najar]

I have a nut question. My classical guitar has a bone nut and with some strings the g string doesn't sit all the way in it- it sort of sits part in it and part on top of it. could this be contributing to wacky intonation in the lower frets on that string? and is it something I can rectify myself without doing screwing anything up?

thanks!

N

[deaconm...@gmail.com]

Nate,

If I understand correct the intonation is off in the first few frets? Is this as you fret the string and play? In general you need to look at the total picture. Could be the action at the nut is too high. Could be the way the nut is filer to have the string sitting without " capturing " the string. Normally for wound strings it is ok to leave the string sitting about 1/2 the diameter of the string. Sitting down too far, or just up on top can be a problem.

This why guitar repair is an art and a science. It depends and it is a process. The important thing is that the slot for the nut is rounded. on the bottom so it slides smooth. You could check this first that would be my guess. You need files that are round and reasonably match the string gage.
Also use lube under the strings as the sit it the nut. You can even load them with pencil lead or graphite lube.

Can you do it yourself? Maybe but if you don't have the right files and feel uncomfortable then have someone check it you trust. For what it is worth if you live in town I would be getting it back in shape pronto for $50 max.As long as you don't need any materials this is just minor adjustment. Those minor things can be major headaches.

Does that help?

Deacon Mark

[mark cleary]

wrote in message
news:67f16460-fab7-4996...@googlegroups.com...

Typing on my iphone is not easy. Also need to make sure as you make the slot
for the strings in the nut that they angle correct. In other words as the
string exits toward the machine heads then you need to angle the cut just
slightly toward the side to get a better line. Frankly after you do this
100's of times it just becomes second nature. The key for any action
adjustment is not the height of the action at the 12th or 17th fret, but the
height of the action at the first fret. Get this correct and then work your
way up the neck. I am guess yours is a combination of the slot being not
rounded and capturing the string, height at the 1st fret, and angle of the
cut. Check how this string sits in relation to the others as you sight down
the first fret.

Report back and we can proceed.


Deacon Mark Cleary
Epiphany Catholic Church

[Nate Najar]

Thanks so much mark! Based on what you say I should probably take it to someone. It is a nice and quite expensive instrument and I would hate to screw up the nut because I didn't use the correct tool or do it right. It is the g string only, and only certain types of strings.... But it sort of sits "on top" of the nut instead of going fully into the slot. So the first 3 or 4 frets have a strange tone and wonky intonation. Thanks so much!
N

[Greger Hoel]

If it sits too high on the nut, you are probably pressing the string out
of tune when fretting, just like when you fret a string heavily and it
goes sharp.

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