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| I’m not happy with my nuts.... http://www-.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=5084 |
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| Author: | L. Presnall [ Tue Feb 14, 2006 9:15 am ] |
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Okay, okay, get it all outta yer systems, then help me out!  I've been to Frank Ford's site, looked around here and there, saw Bruce's gizzy in the tools section here...but, I just can't seem to get a graceful looking nut...I mean, they work, but just seem clumsy to me and I spend more time than I'd like shaping...probably because I don't have a clear picture of what I'm "shaping"...any advice on shaping nuts for dummies? 
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| Author: | peterm [ Tue Feb 14, 2006 9:31 am ] |
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I think I could use some advise on that too! My nuts work but I think there is gotta be a better way!
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| Author: | Cocephus [ Tue Feb 14, 2006 9:35 am ] |
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Grady, my three-legged cat is going to the vet tommorrow. I imagine he`ll have something like that to say after the surgery!
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| Author: | L. Presnall [ Tue Feb 14, 2006 9:39 am ] |
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| Author: | John Mayes [ Tue Feb 14, 2006 9:40 am ] |
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Well Larry how bout you show us your nuts (seriously horrible topic name) so we can suggest some improvements. |
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| Author: | peterm [ Tue Feb 14, 2006 9:55 am ] |
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I was afraid someone was going to ask to see pics
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| Author: | Cocephus [ Tue Feb 14, 2006 10:04 am ] |
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Ask Grady tommorrow! |
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| Author: | Laurent Brondel [ Tue Feb 14, 2006 10:40 am ] |
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Have a look there: Making a nut Can you be more specific on what difficulties you have? |
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| Author: | tl507362 [ Tue Feb 14, 2006 10:56 am ] |
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| Author: | burbank [ Tue Feb 14, 2006 10:58 am ] |
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Larry, I haven't done many recently, but when I was doing repairs and making new nuts, I eliminated as many flat surfaces as I could, except the bottom, the fretboard side, and the edge at the headstock. The top followed the fb radius more or less. I left only as much above the string slots to hold the string. AT the same time, the top also arched toward the headstock, with no flat surfaces there either. When looking at the nut in profile from the end, I'd make sure the thickness (the 1/4" part on a Martin-type nut) tapered smaller going from the headstock to the strings and was not parallel to the fretboard side. At the ends, I'd use as large a radius as possible where it curves down from the slots of the 1st and 6th strings, leaving only as much material there as is needed to hold the strings. Sometimes, if I was feeling especially generous or inspired, I'd create a sort of S-curve from the top surface down to the headstock, so that the nut would sort of "flow" from the top down to the headstock. Some old Martins have this curve. I found that eliminating flat and parallel surfaces and creating even the slightest curves wherever possible eliminated blockiness and made them more graceful. Time consuming, but my customers were very happy. Oh, for the days of readily-available $3 nut ivory! Ignorance was bliss. |
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| Author: | Bruce Dickey [ Tue Feb 14, 2006 11:01 am ] |
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Ha, you should see the one on the Ibanez my kid got for Christmas. It is a rabetted nut. The darn thing is full bottomed, then rabetted toward the tuners. Only an 1/8th inch of nut presents above the fretboard. They slotted that and they were done. Not elegant, but it works. I know. Not what you are looking for either. Everthing I learned I stole from Frank. Plus you get to hee-haw at the wonderful examples of how not to do it. www.frets.com Available on CD. |
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| Author: | Don A [ Tue Feb 14, 2006 11:04 am ] |
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Larry, you could buy Dan Erlewine's Nut Making DVD from StewMac. I've got it but haven't had a chance to look at it yet. |
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| Author: | Serge Poirier [ Tue Feb 14, 2006 11:10 am ] |
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Thanks guys, it made me feel better about using the LOL button I'm nuts about this place!
Serge |
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| Author: | Bruce Dickey [ Tue Feb 14, 2006 11:34 am ] |
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Hesh, you are right, you got to polish them, they are wonderful when shiny and reflective. Glasslike. Mmm MMM... |
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| Author: | Don Williams [ Tue Feb 14, 2006 11:35 am ] |
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Larry, have you seen a doctor about that? Perhaps a urologist... |
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| Author: | Bobc [ Tue Feb 14, 2006 11:45 am ] |
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Yup nothin' nicer than polished nuts!
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| Author: | Serge Poirier [ Tue Feb 14, 2006 11:48 am ] |
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I'm with you on that one BOB, as long as one doesn't have to bend over backwards to achieve this!!
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| Author: | L. Presnall [ Tue Feb 14, 2006 12:10 pm ] |
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I prefer not to bend over AT ALL!
Laurent, I checked that link...nice, but when I got to the "round over, file and shape the top and sides" part, that's all he said about it! I'm okay fitting and spacing and filing the slots, it's just that the shape and form of the nut comes out blocky, clumsy, and all the rest...by the by, is that you in your avatar? If so, may I say that you resemble a close personal friend of mine!
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| Author: | old man [ Tue Feb 14, 2006 2:23 pm ] |
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Is this a keeper or for someone else?
Have your customers complained? Did you ever notice that nuts spelled backwards is "stun!"   
Ron |
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| Author: | L. Presnall [ Tue Feb 14, 2006 3:11 pm ] |
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No one's complained, but I think out of kindness...they just don't seem like real nuts to me...(the guitar nuts, not my customers )...
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