Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi there.

I have a (now) frustrating problem with a nylon string classical guitar I made from a kit.

I set the nut too low (or the one supplied was not deep enough) and I've tried to remediate this by having a high bridge. As such the action is high but the guitar is still playable. However it's started to develop a slight buzz on the top E string when strummed at either the 1st or 2nd fret.

Is there any alternative to chiseling out the nut and making a new one that is slightly taller?

Your comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Geoff.

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Building my first Ukuele.

Geoff - welcome to the OLF!

Removing the original nut is not hard to do and making a new one is pretty easy too - that's what I would do.

You can shim the nut after removing it by installing a thin strip of something, bone, wood, etc. on the bottom and then reinstall and refile the slots as required too.

Yep adding a taller saddle changes the action from the bridge end and has the least effect at the nut and first few frets. It also makes the action very high the further down the FB you play. Raising the nut will have the opposite affect. What you need is a action setup that is a balance of nut fitting and saddle fitting. You should not look at them independently. But as a unit to achieve the proper action along the FB.