nut installation - - - angled base, flat base

Nuts -- Saddles -- Fret dressing -- Intonation -- Neck Relief
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peter havriluk
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Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2012 12:30 pm
Location: Granby, CT

nut installation - - - angled base, flat base

Post by peter havriluk » Fri Sep 06, 2013 3:07 pm

The headstock on my kit guitar extends to the head of the fretboard, so that the nut will be installed after trimming an angle into its bottom to complement the headstock angle and wind up standing at a right angle to the fretboard. I will be cutting back the headplate to allow the nut to sit on the neck. The Dreadnaught plans I bought from Stew-Mac indicate the same sort of construction. Anything to concern me, or might I notch the neck so that the nut sits with its bottom parallel to the neck, with its bottom surface roughly 1/8" below the neck/fretboard intersection? The 'notch' I have not seen on any drawings. I don't want to violate any rules of good practice.

Thanks very much.
Peter Havriluk

TonyinNYC
Posts: 1510
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2011 9:00 pm

Re: nut installation - - - angled base, flat base

Post by TonyinNYC » Fri Sep 06, 2013 4:13 pm

You can do it any way you like. I would angle the nut blank.

ken cierp
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Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:23 pm

Re: nut installation - - - angled base, flat base

Post by ken cierp » Fri Sep 06, 2013 4:45 pm

+1 angle the nut, trim the veneer, make sure that is perpendicular to the FB surface.

peter havriluk
Posts: 984
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2012 12:30 pm
Location: Granby, CT

Re: nut installation - - - angled base, flat base

Post by peter havriluk » Fri Sep 06, 2013 7:05 pm

Thanks very much for the replies. I appreciate the nudge toward executing the installation in a way that least impacts the neck material.
Peter Havriluk

Tim Benware
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Location: Asheboro, NC

Re: nut installation - - - angled base, flat base

Post by Tim Benware » Fri Sep 06, 2013 8:26 pm

Not as hard to angle it as it first appears. I'm guessing it is a 15* angle?
I've "Ben-Had" again!
Tim Benware
Creedmoor, NC

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