Down-sizing your NUTS!

Toppscore · **Joined:** Sun Nov 20, 2011 3:16 am **Posts:** 2337

Does anybody "down size" strings without changing the nut?

I have been planning on trying 8's & 9's, but was told the
nuts that fit 10's or 11's will allow for 8's & 9's to move around
within the bigger nut string slots. This would case a fuzz
or buzzing from the string tones.

Is this a true fable?
What do you guys do when going to smaller strings?

Toppscore

asgeirman · **Posted:** Sat Jun 16, 2012 12:30 am

This title scared me :!:

Thats why I looked into this post

Actually -have never heard anyone doing that . Can't believe that is necessary -the tension from the strings at the 'nut-point' is quite heavy....but perhaps anyone's got any experience here ?

Toppscore · **Joined:** Sun Nov 20, 2011 3:16 am **Posts:** 2337

asgeirman wrote:

:shock: This title scared me :!:

Thats why I looked into this post

Actually -have never heard anyone doing that . Can't believe that is necessary -the tension from the strings at the 'nut-point' is quite heavy....but perhaps anyone's got any experience here ?

I have just had two of my guitars setup by a longtime pro who owns
two repair shops and more than 50(+) band/musician practice rooms.
So, he knows his stuff and is also a rock band guitarist.

I mentioned I was going to try 8s 9s 10s 11s on each guitar till I got
what I wanted. He told me just yesterday when downsizing to smaller strings,
the nut's wider string slots will make fuzzing and buzzing on the strings
somewhere around the middle of the neck.

I have experiences on the above Custom Telecaster guitar with an awesome Bigsby tremolo
that I just bought last month, that the seller may have been downsized the strings before
I purchased it. I've had the 1st E string and the 3rd G string jump out of the nut several
times, already, and I've only used the Telecaster for three weeks!!!

Also on the same above Telecaster with the Bigsby tremolo I've noticed the action is too high
for my desires. Even with HIGH-STRING-ACTION, the first two E & A strings actually buss around
the 21st fret when I am playing some chords within the first three frets!!!
Needless to say,I am having this Telecaster re-set-up. Because the strings need
to go over a bridge "blade", the saddles are raised to maxed-out. The guitar repair
tech is going to add a "shimm" below the neck to get it right.

All this, and I ask if your NUTS make a difference when downsizing
from the correct nut and string spec.

PLMK your thoughts and experiences. Thank you. Toppscore

asgeirman · **Posted:** Sat Jun 16, 2012 1:43 am

The

was a joke , hence downsizing 'your NUTS' :wink:

Very nice tele you've got there ! Of course I understand the need for a proper set-up, and I sincerely hope it's gonna work out fine. I have never tried 008's , as far as I remember. But I have altered between 9's and 11's on one of my strats , without trouble -other than adjusting the truss rod.
I 've got a nice Carvin (C135?) w a locking nut (floyd-thing) with wich I experienced some buzz like you refer to. Solved it by raising the nut at the bass-side (shims) But I have never experienced strings jumping out ! Trust your tech,he apparently knows what to do - and good luck to you

Gorgon · **Posted:** Sat Jun 16, 2012 5:56 am

Don't think this is necessary. Going the other way and fitting significantly larger strings would of course mean the nut would need to be adjusted. But when the strings are up to pitch and tensioned i find it very hard to believe that this would cause any problems.

Remember that fitting lighter strings can cause rattle and buzz on it's own because of the reduction in tension the string is under. That may cause rattle and buzz but i wouldn't think it'd be anything to do with the nut.

I've went to smaller strings before and have never had an issue with this.

People are changing guages on a regular basis to lighter. If the nut had to be changed or worked on every time this happened there would be an unending queue of guitars in workshops.

tbazzone · **Posted:** Sat Jun 16, 2012 7:50 am

I would think that if your nut is cut for 11's going down to 8's or 9's would be an issue and you would need a set up and possibly a new nut. I've never gone down in size. I like 11's.

Jah Soldier · **Posted:** Sat Jun 16, 2012 12:42 pm

Hahaha.. I like the emphasis on NUTS in this thread.

You know, some guitars have bigger NUTS than others. You may find that you need to file your NUTS, or sand your NUTS to get them to be the proper size. Sometimes, it's a good idea to rub pencil-lead on your NUTS so they don't pinch the strings. I think the worst is when your NUTS keep falling off. You have to glue your NUTS back on. But not after inspecting your NUTS. You might find that you have to scrape extra glue remnants off your NUTS to get them to seat properly. But before that, you might want to consider whether you want different kinds of NUTS to replace your old NUTS. Plastic NUTS, Brass NUTS, bone NUTS, locking NUTS, even roller NUTS, might give the type of performance out of your NUTS that your old NUTS couldn't give you.

asgeirman · **Posted:** Sat Jun 16, 2012 1:01 pm

Jah Soldier wrote:

Hahaha.. I like the emphasis on NUTS in this thread.

Jah- hah-hah- You've got it :lol:

Got a huge laugh reading your post in the light of your first sentence :lol:

Seemed it was a lack of humor here- good you're here :wink:

Edit: I prefer bone(r) NUTS

Jah Soldier · **Posted:** Sat Jun 16, 2012 2:25 pm

Well.. I may have forgotten one thing. If you have Brass NUTS, it's a good idea to polish your NUTS from time to time. Just for a good shiny surface.

Toppscore · **Joined:** Sun Nov 20, 2011 3:16 am **Posts:** 2337

tbazzone wrote:

I would think that if your nut is cut for 11's going down to 8's or 9's would be an issue and you would need a set up and possibly a new nut. I've never gone down in size. I like 11's.

Which guitars come from Fender naturally with 11s?
Some? All? Certain models?

tbazzone · **Posted:** Sun Jun 17, 2012 6:16 am

None that I know

Toppscore · **Joined:** Sun Nov 20, 2011 3:16 am **Posts:** 2337

The LudNuts wrote:

I've never had to change the nut on my guitar because of different size strings

LudNUT, I expected more "NUT Input" from you

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