Filing nut slots for heavier strings, then going back to lighter strings

EddieVN

My main guitar is currently set up in E flat standard, with 10-48s. I want to use it for a while in another band that tunes to drop C, and my usual gauge for drop C is 10-60. This will almost certainly require some filing of the nut slots. My question is, if I do this and then go back to E flat or E standard, with a 48 or 46 on the bottom, will the big nut slot cause me any problems? I can't think of any reason why it would. Has anyone done something similar? 

Lewy

EddieVN said:

My main guitar is currently set up in E flat standard, with 10-48s. I want to use it for a while in another band that tunes to drop C, and my usual gauge for drop C is 10-60. This will almost certainly require some filing of the nut slots. My question is, if I do this and then go back to E flat or E standard, with a 48 or 46 on the bottom, will the big nut slot cause me any problems? I can't think of any reason why it would. Has anyone done something similar? 

There's probably a bunch of reasons why it could cause problems but all I can say is I've done this loads and never had any.

All my electrics have 10-46 on at the moment and they've all at some time or another had 13-56 where I've had to widen the slot for the string to sit in nicely. Not gone as big as a .060 though so maybe there's a tipping point where it could get problematic....

roberty

It could affect string spacing towards the nut, which could be the sort of thing you'd notice

EddieVN

roberty said:

It could affect string spacing towards the nut, which could be the sort of thing you'd notice

OK that makes sense. I'm loath to do anything that might bugger up this guitar's top drawer playability, but think I'm going to have to take the plunge

guitarfishbay

roberty said:

It could affect string spacing towards the nut, which could be the sort of thing you'd notice

I don't see why it would if you cut straight down the centre, the string should still settle to the middle of the slot.

I've done this before on bass, after going from .130 back to .105 and it was fine.  I've not done it on guitar yet because I've not needed to tune back up to standard, but if I do it'll be a pretty huge jump on some guitars which are filed for .070 right now.  One of my guitars was filed for .070 and was fine with a .056, I'm using a .060 in it currently.

Dopesick

I use 12-60 strings and I didn't need to file anything down. What guitar is it?

ICBM

If the nut grooves are shaped correctly - with a smoothly rounded semi-circular bottom - then it doesn't make any difference if the strings are significantly smaller than the groove... in fact, this is the best for minimising friction since the only contact between the string and nut is a line along the bottom.

EddieVN

Dopesick said:

I use 12-60 strings and I didn't need to file anything down. What guitar is it?

Fender Strat made in Korea, early 80s 

roberty

guitarfishbay said:

roberty said:

It could affect string spacing towards the nut, which could be the sort of thing you'd notice

I don't see why it would if you cut straight down the centre, the string should still settle to the middle of the slot.

I've done this before on bass, after going from .130 back to .105 and it was fine.  I've not done it on guitar yet because I've not needed to tune back up to standard, but if I do it'll be a pretty huge jump on some guitars which are filed for .070 right now.  One of my guitars was filed for .070 and was fine with a .056, I'm using a .060 in it currently.

My tech said he tries to avoid it cos it can affect string spacing slightly. The A string on my SG might be a fraction towards the bass side. I honestly didn't notice until it was pointed out

guitarfishbay

The bit of the string on the fretboard side of the nut doesn't look off by much to me.  It looks worse at the back obviously, but that's not the bit that determines string spacing.  Hard to tell from a photo though!  My guess is if anything this would be related to break angle of the string to the tuner, so if it was an issue it'd be less of one on a Fender/other guitar with straight string pull etc

roberty

guitarfishbay said:

The bit of the string on the fretboard side of the nut doesn't look off by much to me.  It looks worse at the back obviously, but that's not the bit that determines string spacing.  Hard to tell from a photo though!  My guess is if anything this would be related to break angle of the string to the tuner, so if it was an issue it'd be less of one on a Fender/other guitar with straight string pull etc

True, I forget other people play guitars that are actually designed well

guitarfishbay

roberty said:

guitarfishbay said:

The bit of the string on the fretboard side of the nut doesn't look off by much to me.  It looks worse at the back obviously, but that's not the bit that determines string spacing.  Hard to tell from a photo though!  My guess is if anything this would be related to break angle of the string to the tuner, so if it was an issue it'd be less of one on a Fender/other guitar with straight string pull etc

True, I forget other people play guitars that are actually designed well

Haha.  Honestly it's interesting, I'd never considered this aspect before

ICBM

roberty said:

My tech said he tries to avoid it cos it can affect string spacing slightly. The A string on my SG might be a fraction towards the bass side. I honestly didn't notice until it was pointed out

A fraction of a millimetre at most - it won't make any practical difference.

roberty

FWIW that guitar can withstand a the worst forms of bigsby abuse and hold its tune