Guitar Nut / Tie Block question

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HolyEvil

Posts: 1240
Joined: Nov. 6 2008
From: Sydney, Australia

Guitar Nut / Tie Block question

Hi there guys, just checking whether my yamaha CG171sf guitar's nut is glued on. and if it is, how do we remove it to lower the nut? It seems hard to budge, I don't really dare to use alot of force on a guitar.

another question is that my Anders has a 12 string tie block and it's WAY easier to tie strings and looks alot neater, not to mention the increased break angle. I was wondering whether a classical guitar repair shop will be able to drill extra holes into my Yamaha to make it a 12 hole tie block instead of a 6 hole that it is now.

cheers

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 10 2009 7:52:44

Kubase

Posts: 72
Joined: May 20 2009

RE: Guitar Nut / Tie Block question (in reply to HolyEvil)

Dunno aabout the nut, I've never had a guitar with a glued on one before. I imagine there's an easy way of getting it off though, maybe with a very thin, flexible blade? Let's see what the experts say.

As for your tie-block, I'm also a fan of the 12 hole type. Looking at my guitar, it looks like the block would need removing before any extra holes could be drilled, so in that case you'd have to ask if it as worth it. I could be wrong though.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 10 2009 10:33:05

XXX

Posts: 4400
Joined: Apr. 14 2005

RE: Guitar Nut / Tie Block question (in reply to HolyEvil)

You have an Anders? Throw the Yamaha away then!!

Just kidding. But seriously, why do you want to invest in the Yamaha? Why not sell it?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 10 2009 10:38:54

Armando

Posts: 302
Joined: May 27 2005
From: Zürich, Switzerland

RE: Guitar Nut / Tie Block question (in reply to HolyEvil)

Hy HolyEvil

Bone parts such as bridge saddle and nut should never be glued inn. They are actually only inlayed into the slot. Ideally the size of the slot is just right to take the bone without having play (sin tener juego). If the bone is glued inn then i assume it was either done by a previous holder or the guitar is a cheapy.
Saddles and nuts which were not inlayed with the necessary accuracy are often responsible for tone problems such as lacking of trebles or tightness.

Indeed it shoud be possible to remove these parts with a thin blade, actually not even that should be necessary.

If i remember well, CG stands for classical guitar in the yamaha series, so it is obvious why the guitar has a higher action. Trying to make a flamenco guitar out of a classical by just lowering the action is more likely to fail than not. I would think twice before doing it.

Regards

Armando

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 10 2009 12:56:14

HolyEvil

Posts: 1240
Joined: Nov. 6 2008
From: Sydney, Australia

RE: Guitar Nut / Tie Block question (in reply to XXX)

deinz- hey mate.. well I just got the Yamaha about 3 months back so it's pretty new and if I sell it now I'll lose money for nothing,
most importantly.. I like to go to different places to practice guitar (maybe not as much now because it's winter). and I don't want to take my Anders to be played on a cliff beside the sea.. And it's nice to have a guitar where you can take anywhere..

I've attached a pic so you know know what I mean, I'll def bring my Yamaha there and not my Anders.

Armando - the CG171SF is the Flamenco version of the 171, so it has tap plates, slightly lower action - 3mm over the 12th fret and a lower string over soundhole height and lower bridge too.. but of course being a beginners, not by heaps.. but good enought to learn on I believe.

But the nut action is quite high for my liking, when I play like
1
2
2
0
0
0

it tends to hurt my index finger..

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 10 2009 16:28:02

HolyEvil

Posts: 1240
Joined: Nov. 6 2008
From: Sydney, Australia

RE: Guitar Nut / Tie Block question (in reply to HolyEvil)

Another pic.. it's REAL pretty there..
It's called Bronte on the east of Sydney..

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 10 2009 16:30:20

GuitarVlog

Posts: 441
Joined: Mar. 19 2009
From: San Francisco Bay Area

RE: Guitar Nut / Tie Block question (in reply to HolyEvil)

It's glued. But I think it's just a spot of glue. I tapped off the nut of another Yamaha once and there was just a small circular dab in the center.

If you want to replace, follow this procedure:
http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthier/Technique/Setup/NewNut/newnut1.html

If you just need to adjust the action, Kenny Hill adjusted my CG171SF using a pippin file and his feeler guage. Took him about ten minutes (but then of course he's a professional luthier).
http://www.hillguitar.com/scripts/frameit.cgi?/website/news/articles/classical_guitar_setup.html

Nick Nicholson (another luthier and dealer of Francisco Navarro guitars) seems to love turning 6-hole tie-blocks into 12-hole. He did them to the older and lower-end Navarros and he offered to do it to any guitar he'd sell to me.

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Upgraded Yamaha CG171SF
The Guitar Student Journal

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 10 2009 18:24:05

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: Guitar Nut / Tie Block question (in reply to HolyEvil)

whoa, what a view! is that how you got so good after 11 lessons? cuz you got such an inspirational place to practice?

new anders, awesome place to practice, clubbing with chicas, im totally jealous

try tapping very gently on the nut with a rubber mallet.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 10 2009 19:09:17

HolyEvil

Posts: 1240
Joined: Nov. 6 2008
From: Sydney, Australia

RE: Guitar Nut / Tie Block question (in reply to at_leo_87)

quote:

ORIGINAL: at_leo_87

whoa, what a view! is that how you got so good after 11 lessons? cuz you got such an inspirational place to practice?

new anders, awesome place to practice, clubbing with chicas, im totally jealous

try tapping very gently on the nut with a rubber mallet.

hey anthony, you're too kind! wish I was as good as you said.. I need to find more time to practice.. and it's a really nice place to practice.. I get nice german chicks coming up and talking to me.. a nice feeling =)

and I think I'll get my yamaha to the guitar repair store where I got the bone saddle from, they bloody dropped their prices for a nut from 110 to 65.. and a saddle from 98 to 50, now I wish I waited till now to get the bone saddle for the yamaha.. lol

hope you get your c3f soon!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 12 2009 3:54:06

GuitarVlog

Posts: 441
Joined: Mar. 19 2009
From: San Francisco Bay Area

RE: Guitar Nut / Tie Block question (in reply to HolyEvil)

quote:

ORIGINAL: HolyEvil .. I get nice german chicks coming up and talking to me.. a nice feeling =)

Explains why you're practicing out there.

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Upgraded Yamaha CG171SF
The Guitar Student Journal

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 15 2009 8:14:13

HolyEvil

Posts: 1240
Joined: Nov. 6 2008
From: Sydney, Australia

RE: Guitar Nut / Tie Block question (in reply to GuitarVlog)

quote:

ORIGINAL: GuitarVlog

Explains why you're practicing out there.

that's one reason, another reason is if you look to the left of my picture, there is a beach there.. and beach = chicks in nice outfits.. if I wanna rest from guitar playing, get a coffee, sit at the beach watching the scenery.. =) REAL nice..

well decided just to get the guitar repair shop to take down the nut a little, told them I don't mind buzzing when I play it really hard..
on thursday would take my anders to get some bone dust to raise the action on the low E.. then it'll be playing like a dream =)

GuitarVlog, you have to come to an australian beach in spring/summer..

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 15 2009 8:25:57