do I need to sand down the nut on my guitar?

Rosewood99 · #1 07-23-2015, 03:40 PM

I have a guitar for the longest time it gives me trouble fretting above the first fret and even hammer ons are hard. Anything below the first fret is fine. Recently I sanded down the saddle which really helped the action but has not done anything for the trouble I'm having above the first fret.

I'm thinking it might help if I took down the nut a bit but I'm afraid to do it myself. I've heard you can sand the bottom but that is not the recommended way to do it. I think you're supposed to do it from the top. Any advice?

Norml · #2 07-23-2015, 03:49 PM

Get some nut files or take it to a good tech. Since you needed to ask this question I would have someone experienced do it.

PTC Bernie · #3 07-23-2015, 04:10 PM

If you let us know where you're located someone can recommend a good luthier to bring your guitar to.

Rosewood99 · #4 07-23-2015, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PTC Bernie

If you let us know where you're located someone can recommend a good luthier to bring your guitar to.

I have a good one nearby. So you do think that a lower nut might help? And I should not take it down from the bottom?

kydave · #5 07-23-2015, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulzoom

I have a good one nearby. So you do think that a lower nut might help? And I should not take it down from the bottom?

I assume you are talking about lowering how the strings sit in the nut slots?

Do not take meat off the bottom of the nut!! The nut does not need to be lowered. The slots in the nut might need to be lower, but it's on a string by string basis, which is why you don't want to be willy-nilly sanding on the bottom of the nut as some poorly advise.

FIRST: Check out your action at the nut ala Frets.com method.

Then come back to us.

Checking Action at Nut

Courtesy of Frank Ford's "Frets.com"

Brucebubs · #6 07-23-2015, 04:31 PM

Firstly, unlike saddles, nuts are usually glued in position.
Are you confident that you can remove it without damaging your guitar?
Secondly, you can lower the strings at the nut by filing each string groove a little deeper but to do this neatly and accuratly you need a good set of purpose made guitar nut files .... well over $100 for a set.
Thirdly, if you file too deep you'll have string buzz and need to re-fill the string groove on the nut and re-file again or just start again with a new nut.
I make my own saddles from bone blanks and keep the original saddles untouched - I enjoy it and could do it all day but nuts are more complicated and require more skill than I have.

PTC Bernie · #7 07-23-2015, 04:31 PM

The individual slots should be filed. If you aren't comfortable doing it yourself let a luthier or qualified tech do it.

Normally the action on the first few frets will be difficult if the slots are too high.

Rosewood99 · #8 07-23-2015, 04:47 PM

Looks like a trip to the luthier is needed. Thanks for all the advice.

westman · #9 07-23-2015, 04:48 PM

this is where a (good) beater comes in. You would read up on it, get a set of nut files and practice till ya get it right. then you can tackle the offending guitar with confidence.

e.g. my daughter moved into her family home, the previous owners had built a garage with a pit in the floor so he could drop the engines outa his cars and do all his own maintenance on them, he was a regular Joe, not a mechanic.
Regular Joe's rule.