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If you fret a string at the 3rd fret and look at the gap between the underside of the string and the top of the 1st fret... is there some magic measurement - in thousandths of an inch - that tells you if your nut slot is cut perfectly (for a low action without buzz... assuming the neck has a touch of relief... say 6 or 8 thou of relief / forwards bow at the 7th fret... and assuming the player doesn't have an overly heavy strumming technique)????
Thanks.
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Not sure I understand that. The depth of the cut determines the action at the lower frets.
The advantage of the 'third fret' method is it takes action and relief out of the equation.
The gap on my main electric is probably a couple of thousandths of an inch on the treble side - and a touch higher on the bass strings.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Good point... I've never thought about the 'replicate' the clearance at the second fret (when fretted at the first) idea. Makes perfect sense to me. Thanks for that. (I guess, to some extent, the action at the bridge will also have some influence over the clearance at the second fret when the string is fretted at the first... but it's a good guide).
Yes... I agree that the 'third fret' method appears to help diminish (or maybe remove) the influence of other set up factors. That's why I'd prefer to use that method... instead of the countless YouTube vids that tell me to aim for 18 - 20 thou clearance at the first fret (with an open string).
One time, I played a masterbuilt Strat that had a very, very low cut nut... so low, that I thought it would buzz horribly... but it didn't. There was almost no clearance (using the 3rd fret method)... but I guess one can only get away with that sort of set up if the fret heights are all perfect. Mark Kendrick was the masterbuilder... and, based on that one guitar, it seemed like he knew what he was doing!
Anyway... back to reality... it's time to get the feeler gauges out, methinks.
The "tap" test is usually a good indicator, fret the 3rd fret and see if you can "tap" the string at the first fret, it's a good addition to visually checking the height
That's why I always set the nut height first, even before the relief - although some people prefer the other way round.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Thanks.
So... on a set of 10-46 strings... we're looking at a lower limit of 1 thou (1st string) to 4.6 thou (6th string).
Wow that sounds low (and for me - a low-action-obsessed muppet - that's a good thing).
Good to know.
Thanks.
Are there any major disadvantages in having the nut cut really low... but not low enough for buzz?
I'm guessing it partly comes down to personal preference regarding the 'feel' of a guitar (??)
Thanks.
I've not got a very strident strum technique... so I'm thinking I can get away with a low nut too.
Thanks for the info.
Half a string's width on the low E?? So that's 23 thou on a 46 thou E string? I'm definitely not 'having a go'... but, to me, that sounds like a lot. Am I missing something?