Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Clock The Wolf on March 12, 2012 at 5:51pm

   It would help in knowing if your strings tend to break in the same general area or not. 

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Permalink Reply by Jim burt on March 13, 2012 at 12:12am

Mosty around the nut..

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Permalink Reply by Clock The Wolf on March 13, 2012 at 2:02am

Well, I see you're using a bolt nut. In some cases they can really grind on your strings... then again, sometimes not. I suppose it's usually when people use higher tension tunings, or if not, then it's because the bolts grooves are to narrow, causing the sharp edges to cut into the strings.

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Permalink Reply by Swamp Dawg Primal Music on March 12, 2012 at 9:13pm

Check yor string anchors, bridge and nut, no sharp edges or steep angles, use a lighter pick.

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Permalink Reply by Jim burt on March 13, 2012 at 12:19am

I use a metal bolt...I file slot in it to hold the string...could it be the slot be more V than U shape...also to deep

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on March 13, 2012 at 7:20am

Jim,

Sounds to me like you figured out the problem. Get your grooves a bit more U-shaped. The strings should just fit in them, not be completely buried. As Clock sez, metal on metal can easily cut your strings. You really need to polish the grooves, too. Finally, lubricating them with the old trick of grinding some pencil graphite into the grooves will help the strings slip instead of binding as you tune up.

Alternatively, you could move up to bone, Delrin or even plastic nuts. And maybe invest in a tube of Big Bends Nut Sauce.

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Permalink Reply by Jim burt on March 13, 2012 at 1:23pm

Thank...I believe it in the nut....The more I look @ it...It not smooth...but a jarred edge....Big Bends Nut Sauce...that sound like something you putt on porkskin lol....But I will try it....:)

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Permalink Reply by MichaelS Country Boy Guitars on March 20, 2012 at 2:27am

This is why an unaltered bolt works. The groove is smooth at the bottom, has a round profile so the string has a good jump off point (no buzz) and the v shape doesn't crowd the string.  Sure its not perfect, but it works as well as a cigar box for a guitar does. 

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Permalink Reply by Richard G Caudill on March 13, 2012 at 2:29pm

B cautius Jim ,, Oily will have u on a "snipe" hunt fore long !!??

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on March 13, 2012 at 11:58pm

Big Bends Nut Sauce is a well respected, legit product:

http://www.bigbends.com/

Snipe hunting, too, is a legitimate sport:

http://www.thesnipehunter.com/

Which doesn't mean Rich is incorrect...>:-E

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Permalink Reply by Jim burt on March 14, 2012 at 12:38am

Thank Oily...I did check out the site...have place a order...I have been Snipe hunting ...mosty as a young kid...I remember my 1st Snipe hunt...sitting out in the dark wood with a big bag and little stick....lol

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Permalink Reply by MichaelS Country Boy Guitars on March 20, 2012 at 2:20am

Hey guys, I've been using bolts for nuts with no problems at all. If the string fits down in the thread and the thread is cut smoothly there should be no problem. I only clean mine up with steel wool before installing. It looks like your are brass in the picture, soft brass should be fine. I have never cut slots into the thread, just used the tread as is, 1/4 20 works for me. 

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