How high should strings be at the nut?

A good measurement is about 1/16″ in from each end of the first fret (measuring from the top of the beveled fret ends). Put the two outside E strings on the guitar and, looking straight down on the top of the nut, move these strings together or apart until their spacing is correct for you.

Should a guitar nut be straight?

Generally, the bottoms of the nut slots should be a few thousandths of an inch higher than the tops of the frets when the neck is straight. To check nut-slot height, hold the string down at the third fret, and see how much it moves over the first fret.

Does the nut on a guitar matter?

A small, unassuming piece of material sitting at the base of a guitar or bass’ headstock and the top of the fretboard, the nut is critical to getting the best performance out of your instrument. Not only are the grooves important, the nut’s material can also affect your tone.

How do I know if my nut is too high?

If the nut is too low, the string will bump into the first fret when it is played and it will “buzz,” even if the rest of the instrument is properly set up and working well. If the nut is too high, playing at the first fret will be seriously impaired.

How high should strings be above first fret?

String Height at the 1st Fret

Low Action	“Normal” Action
Low E: 0.51mm (0.020”) High E: 0.30mm (0.012”)	Low E: 0.76mm (0.030”) High E: 0.41mm (0.016”)

When should I adjust my guitar nut?

Why & When Should You Replace or Adjust the Nut?

1. The nut is too high.
2. The nut is too low (the string grooves are too deep)
3. The string grooves in the nut are too wide.
4. The nut is broken.
5. The guitar doesn’t sound so good anymore (often a plastic nut)

Is it worth replacing guitar nut?

Plastic nuts are the most common – even some higher-priced guitars have cheap plastic nuts. Besides this, low-quality plastic nuts will kill your tone, especially your sustain. It is always a good idea to replace a plastic nut if you get a guitar that has one.

Are bone nuts self lubricating?

You also need to lubricate bone or ivory nuts, whereas Tusq XL nuts are self lubricating.

Is my nut too high?

Nut slots that are too high create a situation where the guitar is difficult to play in first position. You can measure the nut slot heights by placing a feeler gauge in between the bottom of the string and the top of the first fret when the guitar is up to pitch and after the neck and bridge are adjusted.

How high should the nut be on a Les Paul?

Action at the 12th “Once you’ve checked the nut height at the 1st fret, it’s time to check the action at the 12th fret,” Jim says. “On electrics, our official spec is 3/64ths of an inch.

What is the best nut height for a guitar?

The ideal nut slot height, in terms of playability, is subjective — much like string action height at the bridge. Some players like the slots to be cut up a little higher (like slide players), and some players want them cut down as low as possible so the guitar plays very easy with no fight.

How do I know if my guitar nut action is good?

The first thing you want to do is take your feeler gauge and check the distance between the string of the first fret and the fret itself. If your string reaches the feeler gauge (.018 inches is the best gauge to use for optimal nut action height) you are all set.

How do you adjust a nut slot on a guitar?

The last aspect of nut slot adjustment is the angle at which it’s cut. This is determined by the string pull of the headstock (either straight string pull or angled). Whenever you are cutting a nut slot, you will always direct the file in the slot to the corresponding tuning key.

How high should the feeler gauge be on a guitar string?

If your string reaches the feeler gauge (.018 inches is the best gauge to use for optimal nut action height) you are all set. If it doesn’t, you need to file down the nut. Start by loosening the string, not taking it off.