The compensated nut -- is it worth the effort?

[Dave Bagwill]

This is a long and interesting article on theory that also compares some of the commercially available compensated stuff. I don't know what to make of it, but it seems to make sense.
http://setitupbetter.com/index.php


Hey, Ken, NOBODY charges for vid......wait a minute, my bad, sure they do...:-)

[Woodyok]

Thanks Ken,
I had the feeling that there are more variables involved. So, if you play in a certain style within certain parts of the fret board, a compensated nut is worth the effort, but not necessarily for every player.

[ken cierp]

It would seem that a solo player that uses open strings and also moves up the fingerboard passed the octave would want this extra precision. Interesting, I had corresponded with Laurence Juber (one of the best!) regarding the Buzz Fienten system and compensated nuts in general -- his view was that his guitars without the feature were perfectly acceptable for stage and studio work. He had no plans to even experiment.

[Tim Benware]

Ken, any idea how accurate a "Snark" tuner is compared to a strobe? After learning a little more about this method I tested one of the guitars I built up and down the fret board and there was very variance. I don't know that I even have the ear to tell the difference, so for me I don't think I'd take the time do it. I might try it once out of curiosity.

[ken cierp]

I've never used a Snark -- I do own the Petersen Strobosoft product (expensive) -- however I found that this free software http://www.aptuner.com/cgi-bin/aptuner/apmain.html is just as accurate and in my view much easier to use than Strobosoft.

[Woodyok]

Well I'm not Laurence Juber but I have been playing a long time both cording and up the neck. I have really never had a tuning problem except with the low E when using a capo. No audience has ever complained about my guitar being out of tune. Sometimes I believe people have a tendency to over think these things. It is interesting but I'm not sure it is worth the time or effort.

By the way your compensated bridge for the Ditson worked perfectly.

[ken cierp]

Here's a little article that will make one wonder if there is value in messing with a compensated nut -- the hearing test is fun and the last paragraph is really telling:

http://www.aqdi.com/tuner.htm