Nut replacement

Fitting a new nut to a guitar because the original is worn, broken or has slots cut too deep.

The nut is a small, cheap part that has an outsized effect on playability, since it sets string spacing, string height at the first fret and the tuning behaviour of every open string. A replacement is made from a blank of bone, synthetic material or graphite, roughed to shape, glued lightly, and then slotted individually with files until each string sits at the right height and no slot binds. Slots cut too deep make the first fret buzz and ruin tuning; slots cut too shallow make the guitar hard to play near the headstock.

Example: A guitar whose open strings buzz on the first fret while fretted notes are fine needs a nut replacement or a new nut.

Nut replacement

See also