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Nut width disaster

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Boo
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Posted by: Edwin

Better not use 80 grit....................

Ouch! 

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Boo
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Posted by: darrenking

Hey, That's been bookmarked! Thanks

Darren

Found this too Darren, it may come in handy one day.

multi-scale fret calculator - http://www.ekips.org/tools/guitar/fretfind2d/  

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mark bailey
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If you are worrying about string spacing at the nut then I highly recommend this tool from Stewmac:

https://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Types_of_Tools/Straightedges/String_Spacing_Rule.html

Keeps things simple...(it was a lot cheaper when I got mine yrs ago! - but I would not be without it)

 

Mark in 1/8" (3mm or whatever you heart desires) from each side for the E-E and then use the string spacing rule to mark the remaining 4 strings.

(if you don't want to splash out or wait use a compass/dividers and/or adjust spacing by eye)

Its very easy to over-complicate these things with formulas and measurements in mm to 4 decimal paces! 😛

 

I use a scriber (sharp pointy thing) to mark the positions - you can check this with the strings on - they will sit in the grooves made by the scriber. When your happy with the spacing then file to depth...

 

FYI: I have cut hundreds of nuts completely by eye - nobody has ever complained about string spacing...

If it looks right then it probably is right...use the force John...that's what it's for. Your 'Guitar Makers Eye'.  I sense that the force is strong within you...Can't you feel it yet?

 

My point is - unless you are a machine - you cannot hope to measure or mark out to those tolerances so why bother even trying? And who cares what the exact measurements are?

If you can see that it is wrong then you can adjust it until it looks right...right?

 

Everyone agrees my guitars play and feel great and I have NO IDEA what the string to string spacing is to the 4th decimal point 🙂

 

 

?

 

 

Measure twice, cut once...


   
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Boo
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Hahaha...... Excellent! 

This is all good to know Mark, thanks. 

My lovely horse! ? 

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Boo
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I’ve just taken delivery of some nut files, a nut blank and a nut shaping file. It cost a bit but I will have a go this weekend at making the nut I need for this guitar build. 

1B522581 A45C 4171 A9EE D8FFEAC0ECAB

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Boo
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I’m getting there! Done it all by eye. 

6236D3D6 0031 4757 823F F49F9E4D9A96
4594E8F6 C1C4 4471 A9F1 05E39A2D92D4
C605D224 0AD3 4596 8DD8 CF7AE60C5AFC
0FF045AC 5ACB 49FA 9D25 FE98C18A0974
ECF51AE6 A8B4 4E92 97A2 839BCB854C54
A50EC660 5C00 4AEB A516 40E69275A195

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Boo
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OK, all done! 

This my first attempt at making a nut. It’s not too bad, even though I say so myself.

37CD0A76 AECF 44DB 8D87 9A0DDEC6E156

Make guitars, not war 🌍✌️🎸


   
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mark bailey
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Excellent! Well done - looks great 🙂

Measure twice, cut once...


   
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