Help with nut

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Help with nut

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Manitas de Lata

Posts: 659
Joined: Oct. 9 2018

Help with nut

Hey guys , i take off the strings for cleaning hydration the scales , wax the guitars and change strings.

When i go to the second one i realized that the nut was all loose (WTF?) , i think this isnt a stock feature ... so i saw a classical girl changing strings and the nut of her guitar was all loose (Wtf again) like it was a normal thing..

should i glue it or leave it and put the strings anyway?

i didnt had this question until i saw her guitar..

Thanks

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 2 2024 22:54:08

Richard Jernigan

Posts: 3431
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA

RE: Help with nut (in reply to Manitas de Lata)

Don't glue the nut in place.

It is meant to be held only by the proper fit of its slot and the tension of the strings.

"Hydration of the scales" is not a phrase in English about flamenco or classical guitars. No part of them is normally called "the scales." Post a picture of a guitsr and clearly indicate which part you are calling "the scales" so somebody can tell you the correct name.

Then perhaps we could figure out what you mean by "hydrating" them.

RNJ

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 2 2024 23:11:10

Manitas de Lata

Posts: 659
Joined: Oct. 9 2018

RE: Help with nut (in reply to Richard Jernigan)

what do you mean for "dont glue it" ?
leave it as it is and put the strings , or a new nut?

fretboard=scale=escala

Hydration Hydrate

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 2 2024 23:22:55

Richard Jernigan

Posts: 3431
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA

RE: Help with nut (in reply to Manitas de Lata)

If the nut fits well in its slot and is held securely by string tension, leave it as it is, don't glue it.

"Fingerboard" and "fretboard" are the usual names for a part of a guitar. I have played guitar for 67 years, but I have never heard or read of any part of one called "the scales."

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary gives the following definitions:

"hydrate

verb
hydrated; hydrating
transitive verb
1
: to cause to take up or combine with water or the elements of water
2
: to supply with ample fluid or moisture
hydrates and softens the skin"

Thus the word is a little confusing. The first definition implies that the fingerboard is made to absorb water. I doubt this is what you meant. More often people put some sort of oil on the fingerboard. This corresponds to the second definition, but again, I have never heard "hydrate" used in this context.

No criticism is implied. I'm just trying to be helpful.

RNJ

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 3 2024 2:53:19

Manitas de Lata

Posts: 659
Joined: Oct. 9 2018

RE: Help with nut (in reply to Richard Jernigan)

well the nut doesnt fit well thats why its loose... but didnt tried put string on with the nut like this, should i try ?

well im not going to discuss semantic , im not native , but if i was... you can hydrate something more than skin ... and scale have some meanings not only one including in this context like fretboard , fingerboard and so on , but not the issue here.

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 3 2024 9:16:18

Ricardo

Posts: 14841
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Help with nut (in reply to Manitas de Lata)

quote:

When i go to the second one i realized that the nut was all loose (WTF?) , i think this isnt a stock feature ... so i saw a classical girl changing strings and the nut of her guitar was all loose (Wtf again) like it was a normal thing..

ABSOLUTELY a normal thing!!!! You are not supposed to take ALL the darn strings off, you can just slack them if necessary, but when changing do one at a time. Otherwise if they must come off then put a little clear tape piece on the nut so you don’t lose it (or put it back in backwards, which is what you would certainly do.

). And when you do make sure you have it aligned as you like (I always push my nuts on EVERY GUITAR I own, a bit up toward the bass side off center, and yes EVERY single nut on all 18 of my guitars are loose enough for an easy slide if the strings are slacking, (except on the Kramer and Ibanez which have locking nut mechanisms).

The reason you don’t want your nut NOR THE BONE SADDLE fitting too snug in the slot is because your guitar and EVERY GUITAR, is made of WOOD. And Ironically, you are using hydrate or whatever wacky thing, the truth is WATER is getting drawn in or expelled at any given moment on your guitar. When it is expelled, things get loose. If the guitar drinks up too much water than you will NEVER be able to change a bone saddle or nut, it will get locked in place. I have to say I have seen this happen to Cejillas (trad style) and Calvijas (pegs). One time I had a gig out door on a humid day and the cejila locked and I could not get it off. Plyers was the only way. Anyway, you don’t want this going on with nuts and bones and yes it is normal that can just fall right out if the guitar is super dry (which yours probably is).

_____________________________

CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 3 2024 12:06:23

Manitas de Lata

Posts: 659
Joined: Oct. 9 2018

RE: Help with nut (in reply to Ricardo)

thanks Ricardo , never happen this before (i guess..) not even with the electric.

but today when i was driving to work , it crossed my mind.... the guitars are now on a place with less humidity and some more temp. degrees, so what you say makes sense , the guitar was with more humidity , now is more confortable and thats why it happen.

Thanks a lot , going to try put the strings on

PS: theres no wacky thing , its a fret hydrate , very common for decades, so , to clean (with the lemon oil) the fingerboard , hydrate (with the hydrate)and wax (with the wax..) the guitar had to put off the strings , since i had to change them anyway

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 3 2024 12:17:32

Manitas de Lata

Posts: 659
Joined: Oct. 9 2018

RE: Help with nut (in reply to Manitas de Lata)

no issue here , thanks for the advice.

the other piece from the sadle come out also , put it again and the nut , after that the strings without dificult , all perfect.
thanks again

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 3 2024 22:03:58

JasonM

Posts: 2058
Joined: Dec. 8 2005
From: Baltimore

RE: Help with nut (in reply to Manitas de Lata)

I wonder if the wood shrinks up slightly over time causing the nut slot to become loose -er? Theoretically, the head plate and scale grain fibers are running length wise and shrink /expand width wise, perpendicular to scale. plus they are laminated to the neck adding more stability. But I reckon it only takes a few thousands of an inch to move along the end grain to affect nut slot…? Anyway, why am I even giving this thought? Isn’t there something I could be watching on TV, hydrating with cervesa?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 4 2024 2:13:44

rombsix

Posts: 7816
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: Help with nut (in reply to Ricardo)

quote:

I always push my nuts on EVERY GUITAR I own

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Ramzi

http://www.youtube.com/rombsix

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 4 2024 3:47:51

Manitas de Lata

Posts: 659
Joined: Oct. 9 2018

RE: Help with nut (in reply to rombsix)

off topic , i think that i saw something from you regarding pick ups or so

i received for christmas an audio interface with record/produce software, so i was thinkin about to plug the Flamenco guitar to the interface , my guitar isnt wired amp , so i have to do it with an external pick up or something like that like .

What do you recommend that have nice quality and not very expensive ?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 4 2024 10:01:31

Ricardo

Posts: 14841
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Help with nut (in reply to Manitas de Lata)

quote:

theres no wacky thing , its a fret hydrate , very common for decades, so , to clean (with the lemon oil) the fingerboard , hydrate (with the hydrate)

Ever heard of water and a cloth? (Damp cloth). That cleans just as well. I only dampen part of the cloth then use the dry part to dry it all when done. At least for all ebony boards and Polyurethane finishes that has always done the job. Special cleaners only needed for French Polish shellac guitars.

_____________________________

CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 4 2024 11:44:07

Manitas de Lata

Posts: 659
Joined: Oct. 9 2018

RE: Help with nut (in reply to Ricardo)

not really , normally i use lemon oil to remove the dirt of the fingerboard and after that i use a dunlop fret conditioner , it looks like new.

didnt know that you can use water and achieve the same result...

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 4 2024 12:52:54

Stu

Posts: 2537
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

RE: Help with nut (in reply to Manitas de Lata)

quote:

off topic , i think that i saw something from you regarding pick ups or so

i received for christmas an audio interface with record/produce software, so i was thinkin about to plug the Flamenco guitar to the interface , my guitar isnt wired amp , so i have to do it with an external pick up or something like that like .

What do you recommend that have nice quality and not very expensive ?

external pickup?!!

ever heard of a microphone?

I've got one of these. its pretty great
https://www.bartlettaudio.com/products/guitar-mic-phantom-powered

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 4 2024 14:55:51

Manitas de Lata

Posts: 659
Joined: Oct. 9 2018

RE: Help with nut (in reply to Stu)

i dont care if is a mic , piezo etc
yours sounds great... really good.

know another option with quality more cheaper?
maybe i could get one of yours 2nd hand

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 4 2024 15:29:24

AndresK

Posts: 313
Joined: Jan. 4 2019
From: Patras, Greece

RE: Help with nut (in reply to Manitas de Lata)

If your audio interface has phantom power, any condenser microphone will do the job. If you do not have phantom power them you can get a condenser with a battery as Shure pg81 or akg c1000 . For many years I use akg c535 for live performances and recording at home which is actually a handheld microphone for singers. So get a cheap condenser and start recording.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 4 2024 17:19:07

Manitas de Lata

Posts: 659
Joined: Oct. 9 2018

RE: Help with nut (in reply to AndresK)

well i have also a Nux 30mg pedalboard

the other audio that i receive is a M-Audio Track Duo that have Phantom Power

whats a Phatom power?

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 4 2024 18:02:02

silddx

Posts: 570
Joined: May 8 2012
From: London

RE: Help with nut (in reply to Manitas de Lata)

quote:

whats a Phatom power?

https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/articles/what-phantom-power-need/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 4 2024 19:25:19

Stu

Posts: 2537
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

RE: Help with nut (in reply to Manitas de Lata)

Now you know. You Will notice you have it in that bit of kit. Little switch on bottom right area. Nice

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 4 2024 20:08:44

El Burdo

Posts: 632
Joined: Sep. 8 2011

RE: Help with nut (in reply to Manitas de Lata)

quote:

I've got one of these. its pretty great
https://www.bartlettaudio.com/products/guitar-mic-phantom-powered

So do I. They are really good - but there was an issue with the lengths of the connections to amplification etc. in the beginning that any potential purchaser should be aware of (in terms of 2nd hand).

The battery box had a clip to attach to clothing but it was easy to pull the box off your belt or tear the wire out of the amp. when standing up etc. Altogether very constricting.

Others obviously found the same problem and must have been more vocal about it because Bruce lengthened the cables and also improved the positioning of the mic and its sensitivity.

It's still a class act and now with no physical useability issues.

He also is a very decent guy and went out of his way to help me out, even to me being in the UK and he in North Carolina.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 4 2024 20:40:30

ernandez R

Posts: 742
Joined: Mar. 25 2019
From: Alaska USA

RE: Help with nut (in reply to Manitas de Lata)

https://www.bartlettaudio.com/collections/instrument-mics/products/guitar-mic-b-battery-powered

There is this version with a 1/4 phone plug instead of the XLR

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

Attachment (1)

_____________________________

I prefer my flamenco guitar spicy,
doesn't have to be fast,
should have some meat on the bones,
can be raw or well done,
as long as it doesn't sound like it's turning green on an elevator floor.

www.instagram.com/threeriversguitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 4 2024 21:02:44

Stu

Posts: 2537
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

RE: Help with nut (in reply to El Burdo)

yeah the cable isnt that long on mine. have always had to travel with extra xlr to extened to phantom powerr unit then another to go into the amp.

a bit fiddly, but works well enough.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 5 2024 8:19:51

rombsix

Posts: 7816
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: Help with nut (in reply to Manitas de Lata)

quote:

off topic , i think that i saw something from you regarding pick ups or so

i received for christmas an audio interface with record/produce software, so i was thinkin about to plug the Flamenco guitar to the interface , my guitar isnt wired amp , so i have to do it with an external pick up or something like that like .

What do you recommend that have nice quality and not very expensive ?