Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi everyone... Been a lurker a lot here, trying to learn as much as I possibly can. Finally gotten very confortable with doing nuts and saddles and worked up an ebony nut for my 2004 J-45 (named after my Grandmother-- long but wonderful story). I'm gonna try to put the image in below as well as a link to my webshots page with it on there. I feel really great about this nut as it took 5 tries with some very brittle ebony to get this to happen, but it was well worth the effort. I think this is the kind of sound Norman Blake would be happy with, and I know my Grandmother would be proud of the work. That said, ya'll are the experts, so if you see any places where I might could improve my technique on these nuts, please gently point them out to me... I'm trying to learn as much as I can. Thanks in advance!!
http://community.webshots.com/photo/551399991/22900932300834 49712mtjQlq

http://community.webshots.com/photo/551399991/22900932300834 49712mtjQlqpharmboycu38883.7875347222

Welcome!

That looks pretty cool. I've never seen an ebony nut before. You could
try polishing it up if you like a shiny look??? Just a thought.

Mike

_________________
Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

Almost all Violin family instruments use ebony for the nut, but it is uncommon on guitars. I would guess that it dampens the highs, but I don't know for sure.

Al

I have seen a lot of archtops with ebony bridges but I never seen any use a ebony nut except on violins.

I believe Martin used ebony for nuts for some time up through the
1930's. I have been working on an OM with an ebony nut from that
period.
They do wear faster than bone, especialy on wound strings.

i made a bass nut out of lignum vite (sp?) and as I tuned it up you
could watch the strings shave the nut slots down. That one got bone
for the final set up!


Louis

_________________
- Louis Freilicher

Oh No! Not another learning experience!

I'm suprised at that. Lignum vitae also called ironwood has been used in naval ships as bearings in the propeller shaft's in surface ships and sub's. It is very strong hard wood that holds up well under submerged conditions. It has a natural self lubrication. They have used this until just recently. No they use some type of composite material. Are you sure thats what you had?

Benedetto's La Venezia model has an ebony nut as a standard appointment. I used one on the first archtop I built about three years ago and it's held up without any trouble, though it's strung with flatwound strings.