Removing nut

[jjbigfly]

I have a Rainsong guitar that I would like to lower the action on, and it does not have a truss rod….
Is there anything I should know about REMOVING the nut?

Thanks

[rmp]

They should not be heavily glued in, usually a small drop of some kind of adhesive keeps them falling off the neck when the strings all come off.

you can take a small hammer and something like an All and gently tap on one edge to release the grip on any adhesive.

[mercy]

use a shop knife to cut on both sides so the finish doesnt pop

[JonWint]

Why do you want to remove the nut? The only adjustment the nut can provide in lowering action is by lowering the string slots. That is done with the nut installed as it is usually a progressive process.

[jjbigfly]

Actually, I know little about these things…..
But….I have been reading. Seems like sanding the bottom of the nut is going to lower the strings. I could be missing something….

[gbesson]

I believe you will get a bigger impact on action by sanding the saddle. If the action is very high you may need to see if the neck needs to be reset.

[Tuch]

erasing material from the nut base will lower the string height[logical] but..it is applied guesswork.it is also a 'blind' approach eg; how low before you reach the desired 'action',how many times must you remove/replace the nut etc to attain the satisfactory result you aim for?and if you make an error=replace nut +restart the procedure etc.

best to file the string slots to the desired depth.its quicker,more accurate and not hard to do.-learn from it.

[gbesson]

Though I am not sure that is an issue with a Rainsong.

[Tuch]

lowering the string height
1]at the nut lowers the action.effects from fret 1-fret 5..but remaining frets unaffected.
2]lowering the saddle height..effects all the frets.
do both 1+2 lowers the action overall=a better result.

[Tuch]

One DOES NOT adjust/use the rod to''specifically..lower the action''

[jjbigfly]

Well, there is no truss rod so that would not be an issue…
My UNDERSTANDING is that the necks on Rainsong are very stable, so I think simply lowering the strings is going to do what I need. I have done this on my other instruments by sanding the saddle, but I am worried about the “break angle” thing. Assuming I know what that is….

[rmp]

Originally Posted by jjbigfly

Actually, I know little about these things…..
But….I have been reading. Seems like sanding the bottom of the nut is going to lower the strings. I could be missing something….

Lowering action is not really effected directly with the nut.

so I would not do that one.

you would be much better getting some access to nut files and with a feeler gauge, refine the nut slots so that each string is a consistent distance from bottom of the string to top of each fret at the first fret.

a correctly regulated nut will make things easier and probably improve intonation

But sanding the bottom of a saddle is where you want to look for dropping action

Different process, different result.

[JonWint]

Originally Posted by Tuch

lowering the string height
1]at the nut lowers the action.effects from fret 1-fret 5..but remaining frets unaffected.
2]lowering the saddle height..effects all the frets.
do both 1+2 lowers the action overall=a better result.

The strings are nearly (ignoring gravitational force) straight lines under tension. That means lowering either the nut or the saddle reduces action distance at every fret. The larger reductions are at the end adjusted.

[John Arnold]

Originally Posted by jjbigfly

Well, there is no truss rod so that would not be an issue…

My UNDERSTANDING is that the necks on Rainsong are very stable, so I think simply lowering the strings is going to do what I need. I have done this on my other instruments by sanding the saddle, but I am worried about the “break angle” thing. Assuming I know what that is….

You are missing one key point. Action at the nut should not be variable. It should be close to, if not exactly the same as the fret plane. Anything higher than that will be unnecessarily harder to play in the first position, and anything lower will increase buzzing on open strings only.
Check nut height by pressing the string between the second and third frets and looking for minimal clearance over the first fret. If the nut height is correct, leave it alone and adjust action at the saddle.
If you need more string break angle, slots can be cut in the bridge. You only need about 15 degrees.

[jjbigfly]

So, I removed the nut and lightly sanded the bottom, applied adhesive (very little) and it seems fine and the the action is a tiny bit lower. I know that I can get a new nut so I am not overly concerned about damaging it.
I believe I will lower it a bit more, and if it is an issue I will take it Portland Fretworks and simply have it taken care of….