Brass "guitar" Nut

[scstill]

This custom made brass nut is not your typical strat style.
Would there be any issues with this design?
The slots fit the strings good and the string height is about right.

 

[dirocyn]

This custom made brass nut is not your typical strat style.
Would there be any issues with this design?
The slots fit the strings good and the string height is about right.

It's pretty. I like the shape overall.

I do see a little gap between the nut and fretboard. It could have been a neater installation. Of course it won't fit a typical strat nut slot without modification.

One issue is that the slots are very deep, the plain strings are buried way down in there. Another issue arises if you change string gauge.

 

[92 Fiesta Red 62]

You’ll also make a clanking noise when you run.

EDIT:
Brass GUITAR nuts…now I understand…

Apologies.

 

[92 Fiesta Red 62]

I had a Danelectro DC-3 Pro that had an aluminum nut. Worked great, no string binding.

It was a weird guitar (lipstick pickups, Masonite body, etc) so I don’t know if the aluminum nut affected the sound or not.

I’ve thought about adding a brass nut to my next “modder” project, just to see.

 

[Bob the builder]

I think it'd need to be thinner to fit a fender or Squier strat
& the spacing and alignment look out.

 

[scstill]

The guitar was given to me by my son who bought the neck (all rosewood) and finished ash body separate. He made the nut. The neck had many issues which after a lot of fret dressing (and Super Glue) plays much better. But the high e string doesn't sound as good as the others and was slightly high in the nut. I filed the nut down a little. Sits better. It has a Mexican Strat loaded pickguard that I had from my first guitar and locking tuners that I never used before and likely shortened the strings too much. The wood IMO is beautiful. The ash makes this quite heavy but seems like a great tone wood.

I also have a Danelectro 59x12 with aluminum nut. Works well.

 

[scstill]

Isn't it true that the nut only affects the sound on open strings?
Any fretted string will get the sound from the fret.
With this in mind does the nut material matter that much?
Except for maybe tuning ease...

In this case I was wondering if the "acoustic" guitar shape of the nut was possibly an issue

 

[dbb541]

Looks like that neck had a floyd rose type locking nut at one point. I can see the two plugged holes on the peg head where they string bar was. I don't see any issues with that nut. If there are, you'll know right away.

 

[scstill]

Yes was floyd. I plugged the holes with tooth pick and stain.

BTW - the neck is still raw wood. Feels great maybe a little Dr Duck.
Son was planning to Boiled Linseed Oil it. Doesn't add a lot of protection
what do you think? BLO or raw?

 

[scstill]

I think it'd need to be thinner to fit a fender or Squier strat
& the spacing and alignment look out.

I compared to a Tusq nut In another strat E-E is 1"3/8 in both the tusq and brass.
String to string is 9/32" on both nuts. Height of the strings at the first fret is about .018" which I think is what Fender recommends (correct me if not); BTW its tough for me to measure this with feeler gauges). The slot width fits these string gauges nearly perfect, there is no wiggle or binding.

What spacing and alignment are you thinking?

I assume by thinner you mean the standard strat nut width. But in this case the fretboard wood is removed above the nut (maybe with the Floyd Rose) so there is plenty of room for this wide nut.

 

[Caddy]

Bare wood is not a good idea on guitars (or furniture, etc.) makes it much more susceptible to humidity and temp. So not as stable, to say nothing about dirt.

 

[Bob the builder]

I compared to a Tusq nut In another strat E-E is 1"3/8 in both the tusq and brass.
String to string is 9/32" on both nuts. Height of the strings at the first fret is about .018" which I think is what Fender recommends (correct me if not); BTW its tough for me to measure this with feeler gauges). The slot width fits these string gauges nearly perfect, there is no wiggle or binding.

What spacing and alignment are you thinking?

I assume by thinner you mean the standard strat nut width. But in this case the fretboard wood is removed above the nut (maybe with the Floyd Rose) so there is plenty of room for this wide nut.

In the photo the string to string spacing looks a bit less between B+G looks wider than e + b or g +d and between d + a even thinner.
The strings also look like they're running corner to corner through the e,b, + d slots
Of course... I'm also a blind bastard

 

[simoncroft]

Yes was floyd. I plugged the holes with tooth pick and stain.

BTW - the neck is still raw wood. Feels great maybe a little Dr Duck.
Son was planning to Boiled Linseed Oil it. Doesn't add a lot of protection
what do you think? BLO or raw?

Welcome to Strat-Talk!

No, no to linseed oil! It will give you all sorts of problems, not least a horribly sticky neck you'll struggle to sort out. You can use Danish oil or Tung oil, but I'd advise something like 14 coats.

The only Strat I have this days has a brass nut, and I can bend that bar like crazy with no tuning issues. The one you have looks pretty well made, so should be fine.

 

[StratoMutt]

That is a purdy nut!

There is no reason a Gibson style nut regardless of material would not work if the neck was cut or modified.

I made a Gibson bone nut from a blank for my last assembly. Twice as wide allows for a more gradual transition from the strings to the tuner side.

I'm not fond of the original curved Fender nuts.

 

[scstill]

In the photo the string to string spacing looks a bit less between B+G looks wider than e + b or g +d and between d + a even thinner.
The strings also look like they're running corner to corner through the e,b, + d slots
Of course... I'm also a blind bastard

You are right - dang
The G-B spacing is about 1/64 too wide
and the B-e spacing is about 1/64 too narrow (maybe 1/32 but saying 1/64 makes me feel better)

I suppose the only correction is a remake. But I think I will live with it.

In the future is there a technique to get the separation perfect?
Or is it all skill and eyeball??

 

[arct]

It's the 80's again. Still.

rct

 

[StratoMutt]

Does the guitar stay in tune well?

Welcome to Strat-Talk!

No, no to linseed oil! It will give you all sorts of problems, not least a horribly sticky neck you'll struggle to sort out. You can use Danish oil or Tung oil, but I'd advise something like 14 coats.

Linseed bad. I've read many horrific accounts over the years. Sticky gooey sludge and the like.
Dr. Duck? I love it on my five fretboards - good stuff.

Isn't it true that the nut only affects the sound on open strings?
Any fretted string will get the sound from the fret.
With this in mind does the nut material matter that much?
Except for maybe tuning ease...

In this case I was wondering if the "acoustic" guitar shape of the nut was possibly an issue

Yes, an unfretted note will sound different regardless of the nut material. A large brass nut may make it brighter. Bone is the best nut - imwo.

 

[Scott Baxendale]

This custom made brass nut is not your typical strat style.
Would there be any issues with this design?
The slots fit the strings good and the string height is about right.

It looks like it was originally a locking nut with this brass nut as a simple conversion back to a conventional style nut.

It’s really wide and looks like there might not be enough down pull as it is now. But you’d have to play it to know for sure.

 

[Chuckracer]

John Suhr likes brass nuts, so they can't be all bad.

 

[Quikstyl]

John Suhr likes brass nuts, so they can't be all bad.

I thought the Yngwie Strats came with them as well. Could be wrong.