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Old 10-16-2020, 01:57 PM
ohiopicker ohiopicker is offline
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Default Nut Slot Depth and Intonation

I just acquired a guitar that has a low e that seems to be sitting too far above the first fret. In addition to making play more difficult, the intonation on this string is off considerably as you play notes up the neck. Is it likely that the string height at the nut is the primary cause of the intonation problem?
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Old 10-16-2020, 02:14 PM
Talldad Talldad is offline
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Yes and No

A high nut slot height will make the intonation worse than it should be. However even after you have filed it to the correct depth intonation won’t be perfect, you need a compensated nut for it to be spot on.
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Old 10-16-2020, 04:00 PM
Alan Carruth Alan Carruth is offline
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A high nut slot will tend to make the intonation sharp in the lower positions but not have as much effect higher up on the neck.
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Old 10-16-2020, 05:45 PM
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rick-slo rick-slo is offline
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Evaluate the string gauges if you can or just switch say to a set of light (possibly medium) gauge strings. The string could be sitting high in the slot if it is a higher gauge than what it had before (would also intonate sharper down and up the neck).
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Old 10-16-2020, 08:14 PM
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Bruce Sexauer Bruce Sexauer is offline
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Plus one on Alan's comment.
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Old 10-24-2020, 02:40 PM
ohiopicker ohiopicker is offline
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As a follow up, the problem ended up being both a high nut slot for the low E and a saddle that was too high on the bass side. An expert set-up sorted all that out and the guitar now plays fine! I wanted to comment in case anyone else, in the present or future has the same problem.
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