RE: Nuts - V slots versus U slots - your opinions please (Full Version)

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Firefrets -> RE: Nuts - V slots versus U slots - your opinions please (May 9 2025 20:09:20)

It's more humour from my electric guitar days. That was my thing once upon a time. I have my own way of doing stuff after hundreds of nuts but I've embraced many different ideas along the way. I think V slots go back a long time, but each to their own as they say. There's a lot of choice out there now file wise.



silddx -> RE: Nuts - V slots versus U slots - your opinions please (May 15 2025 21:01:59)

The Pablo vid is the first time I have seen the V nut slot idea, it sounded plausible to me, it seems to work.



estebanana -> RE: Nuts - V slots versus U slots - your opinions please (May 16 2025 3:06:26)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Firefrets

It's more humour from my electric guitar days. That was my thing once upon a time. I have my own way of doing stuff after hundreds of nuts but I've embraced many different ideas along the way. I think V slots go back a long time, but each to their own as they say. There's a lot of choice out there now file wise.



Vee shaped slots are probably much older than we think. Probably like ancient and medieval and classical antiquity, probably Bronze Age. If you stop to ponder which shape is easiest and most accurate to cut with a knife into a hard wood nut a Vee would be my first choice. Modern mass produced files weren’t available before the Industrial Revolution, so it was a hand cut file ( rasp ) or a knife to make slots.



silddx -> RE: Nuts - V slots versus U slots - your opinions please (May 16 2025 11:34:17)

That makes a lot of sense.



estebanana -> RE: Nuts - V slots versus U slots - your opinions please (Jun. 4 2025 15:05:42)

Just to check it out the last two nuts I cut after you posted this I’ve done as triangular slots. It’s ok, and actually think it’s faster than working with semicircular graded files. So what do you know, Bob’s your uncle or whatever you say.



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silddx -> RE: Nuts - V slots versus U slots - your opinions please (Jun. 4 2025 20:32:27)

Does this mean I am now an internet influencer?

Seriously, this is very gratifying and humbling, Stephen, thank you.

And that's a beautiful looking nut. I like the angled G and D. I should have done that.

How did you find the string heights worked? Did you need to fettle them? Or are the Vs all the same depth?



estebanana -> RE: Nuts - V slots versus U slots - your opinions please (Jun. 5 2025 10:29:59)

quote:

ORIGINAL: silddx

Does this mean I am now an internet influencer?

Seriously, this is very gratifying and humbling, Stephen, thank you.

And that's a beautiful looking nut. I like the angled G and D. I should have done that.

How did you find the string heights worked? Did you need to fettle them? Or are the Vs all the same depth?



For string hieght at the nut my plan goes like this:

I make the nut to about 80% finish and then string up the guitar with an old stretched out set of strings, I keep old strings for set up work because I don’t want to nick a new string set. Then I just lower the strings by filing a bit and putting the string back in the slot. I tune the strings up enough but not full tension. Usually the bass E ends up a bit higher off the top of the fret, and the G string you have to to take care, but they end up fairly close and level off the top of the first fret.

I just continue to adjust by trial and filing little by little. It goes fast. I try to reach the threshold where the strings are as low as possible before they click when vibrating from being plucked. Like everyone does.

Then I unstring it and run the nut under the buffer with white buffing compound out it back in and string up the guitar with the new set of strings. For classical guitars my first set to understand the guitar is Savarez regular tension. These strings work well with the kind of classicals I’m making.

You know the procedure, press the string at the second fret and examine under the string at the first fret? I do that until the strings are just kissing the top of the first fret. With flamencos I might try to go lower a tiny bit. Every tiny but lower you can get the nut makes monster legato and alzapua feel more natural under the left fingers. It’s the difference between ripping legato and getting stuck.



silddx -> RE: Nuts - V slots versus U slots - your opinions please (Jun. 5 2025 18:47:38)

Cheers for that. I gave this a go earlier, very gingerly filing the slots, checking, filing, checking, to as low as I could get them, just on the edge of string rattle. The guitar feels very much nicer now, a tiny bit of work has made a quite profound difference actually.

Hadn't thought of buffing the nut so I got my Dremmel and a little Macguire's Swirl Remover. Nice!

Thanks again.



davewphx -> RE: Nuts - V slots versus U slots - your opinions please (Jun. 5 2025 19:28:15)

This is very useful info Stephen and silddx. Thanks for bringing it to my attention...will investigate.



silddx -> RE: Nuts - V slots versus U slots - your opinions please (Jun. 6 2025 10:24:23)

quote:

ORIGINAL: silddx

Cheers for that. I gave this a go earlier, very gingerly filing the slots, checking, filing, checking, to as low as I could get them, just on the edge of string rattle. The guitar feels very much nicer now, a tiny bit of work has made a quite profound difference actually.


Playing the guitar this morning was quite a revelation. Much easier, feels lovely and has a bit more bite, even on fretted strings. It’s weird. Delighted with that!



orsonw -> RE: Nuts - V slots versus U slots - your opinions please (Jun. 14 2025 11:27:38)

Another lutherie post from me! Maybe this is not even suitable for a flamenco guitar? I imagine that the experienced luthiers don't need this anyway.

"This simple and effective tool ensures you achieve the lowest possible nut action while eliminating open-string buzz."

https://musiccitybridge.com/products/nut-slot-gauge




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