Official Luthiers Forum!

So I just finished the parlor twins over the weekend and strung them both up and proceeded to tweak the nut, saddle and get the action dialed in. While plucking the open B string on one it had a distinctive loss in resonance and sustain compared to the other 5...an ugly, dull sound. It has to be something to do with the nut slot because it sounds fine when fretted.

Because of timing, I could only do some cursory evaluation of the nut slot, but it has to be the cause. I ran out of time and literally almost missed my flight! I'm on the road for the rest of the week but it's going to drive me "nuts" until I return on Friday.

Any ideas as to the cause would be appreciated. TIA

_________________
JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Check to see if the contact point of the nut to string is flat (i.e. not a pure break angle at the nut.) I have had the same issue a while back. It took me forever to figure it out. I incressed the break away angle on the tuner side and it cleard right up. We are talling one light pass with the nut file, So the flat was not much at all, but the smaller the string dia. the greater the affect.

or it might be binding in the nut.MichaelP38586.7201967593

Also check out Frets.com for further diagnosis. But, the above is probably the solution. Safe travels to you

Another reason to move to zero frets?

Colin

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Colin, how about "ZERO" frets? Then I could throw away my fret files! Talk about a time-saver!

_________________
http://www.presnallguitars.com

JJ, have you tried a new set of strings? I once had a bad/dead sounding string and before I drove myself nuts I thought to try a new set. Turned out the string was bad. Worth a try. P

Larry, take a look at Jimmy Caldwell's site I know he uses zero frets. I like them they always seem to give a more even tone in the first position, really helpful in DADGad. They are not a simple option however and probably involve more work than a guitar with just a nut. Perhaps Jimmy will come in, I asked his advice before I tried it.

Martin Carthy, one of my favoutite guitar players, many years ago had his pre-war Martin 000-18 altered to a zero fret fingerboard. Martin now make it as one of their signature models.

Colin

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Paul...I haven't tried a new string but it sounds fine when fretted and ugly when played open. That's why I thought it must be the nut slot. Could it still be a dead string?

_________________
JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

JJ, Anything is possible. It looks a bit less likely though. But there is a chance the the bad spot is near the nut somewhere. Don't rule anything out. P

Thanks, Paul...I'll give it a try.

_________________
JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com