Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by S Elgin on December 6, 2015 at 2:48pm

You can use a small eye loop screw to redirect and center that middle string...it might center your nut, but I have now made 3 CBG's and have glued all three nuts.

Permalink Reply by Al Williams on December 6, 2015 at 2:52pm

Just an idea, I stepped the top of the neck so the center tuning peg was centralized.

Permalink Reply by gary sheldon on December 6, 2015 at 2:55pm

I can't tell from the photo, but I think if you wrap the center string around the post in the opposite direction, you may solve the problem of too much angle to the right.  Something easy to try.  Also, I typically use just a drop or two of superglue to glue the nut in.  If you have to remove it in the future, loosen the strings and then put a screwdriver tip against the nut and rap it lightly with a small hammer and it should pop off without doing any damage.

Permalink Reply by Tom Drommond on December 6, 2015 at 3:02pm

It may be that the slots in the bridge are shifted and causing everything to want to shift. I think if you shift your bridge to the bass side, it will bring the strings and nut that way, too  Your string alignment on the first one is what's helping hold everything in place.  The only way t hold the strings in place out of alignment is to secured nut.

You could make a strip of wood.  An end cut from your fingerboard stock would be perfect, To back the nut and keep it from rocking. !/8 inch wide would be plenty and gorilla glue, grain to grain, would be super strong.   It would increase the surface to hold it in place.  I use a very small drop of Elmer's glue.  If I need to move it, a wet q-tip and a razor, takes it right out.

I cut a slot in my fingerboards with the table saw.  I make the nut from buffalo bone I bought on eBay for $3.00 for 2 pounds.

Adding ears to the headstock gives me room to get good string alignment and pull.  It allows me to run the strings around the peghead the proper direction, too.

Permalink Reply by John Sawyer on December 6, 2015 at 5:57pm

A very small drop of CA will make you less nutty... I would only put in a string tree to improve the downforce on the nut if needed. Also, the nut can pull away from. the fretboard as you tighten the strings.

Permalink Reply by Thomas "Duck" Petry on December 6, 2015 at 7:12pm

As Gary Sheldon said, a drop of super glue will work fine and still be removable. Just ease off on the string tension, center the nut and let the super glue wick in. Let it set up and re-tune and you should be fine. I just try to have the strings lined up from the tuners through the nut so that they don't have any side load to slide the nut off center.

Permalink Reply by gary sheldon on December 7, 2015 at 5:34am

I am totally in agreement, Duck.  Or, any side loads should be symetrical, so the result =0.

Permalink Reply by gary sheldon on December 7, 2015 at 9:24am

String trees:

These are devices used to compensate for misplacement of tuners.  

Permalink Reply by Thomas "Duck" Petry on December 7, 2015 at 9:53am

That's my thought too Gary. Just seems easier to put them in alignment with the string run when you build the head rather than rig something to correct misalignment after you build it.

Permalink Reply by gary sheldon on December 7, 2015 at 10:42am

Glad to hear agreement, Duck.

Permalink Reply by Mark Bliss on December 7, 2015 at 4:09pm

I try to design my guitar heads and tuner placements for a straight pull. Its just my "thing". 

But it is common practice on those crappy commercial builds  to put a drop of CA on the nut, (usually between it and the fingerboard, not neck).

If you ever have to remove it for any reason its usually as simple as a light hammer tap sideways and it pops loose.