Do nuts change tone significantly?

[TheWellGoodShow]

As I plan on getting a nut for a guitar I am working, but what is the difference in sound between a graphite, tusk, bone, and plastic sound like?

[alligatorbling]

the material does affect tone, im not an expert on it as far as how different each one sounds, or the sound characteristics of each.... I do know that im very pleased with both bone and TUSQ as well... i have a bone nut in my classic and a TUSQ in my partsocaster.

[stryker59]

depends on how intense they are.........

[TheWellGoodShow]

I am thinking on bone, or making one out of a old ivory piano key.

[coldsteal2]

Graphite is a really good nut, keeps your strings from
catching and helps them stay in tune, but looks funny being black
they should make a white one

Donuts can change your tone ;o)

[FLICKOFLASH]

what about this new slip stone nuts from Stew mac

[TheWellGoodShow]

Originally Posted by FLICKOFLASH

what about this new slip stone nuts from Stew mac

Never heard of those? How do they do? What about roller nuts.

[hbucker]

I had a roller nut on my Duluxe Strat Plus in the 90's and it didn't work as advertised. That guitar went out of tune every time I even lightly used the trem.

Tusq is a good material. The way I've heard it said is that it may not be as good as the best bone, but it is way more consistent than bone so the chances of you getting a good one are better.

How does it affect tone??? I'd say resonance and harmonics would be the two key factors in a good nut over a bad one. Keep in mind that when you're fretting a string, the nut plays a much smaller role in the tone but it's still there.

Any of the mentioned materials are good, it just kind of depends on what look you want, how it will be used and what music you're playing.

[TheWellGoodShow]

The nuts that come on gibsons are they bone or plastic? They sure don't feel like plastic.

[ES350]

new Gibson; plastic, old Gibson; plastic...if you are going to replace the nut, get a good luthier to make you a nice bone one.

[TheWellGoodShow]

you sure its plastic, cause mines surely doesnt look like plastic, its feels rough and chalky-ish. Its does its job pretty well too.

[Wuchak]

I thought Gibson used Tusq.

Monster difference in sustain, tone, and feel when I went from stock plastic to bone on my EPI LP. You could really feel the vibrations in the neck for the first time because the bone transmitted them where the plastic had sucked them up.

The piano keys idea is a cool one but old piano keys aren't made of ivory. They are wood with a very thin covering of ivory or over them. Ivory has always been much to expensive to use more of in any application than required. The covering on the key is much to think to use for a nut.

Having a bone nut made and installed should be right around $50. The bone blank itself if cheap since they are made of cow thighbones. You're paying for someone to custom cut and shape it. I'm glad I spent the money to have it done. It is the first thing I will do with every guitar I get from now on. Even if it's new off the rack.

I guess my new mantra is, "If it ain't got bone it ain't got tone!"

[TheWellGoodShow]

Originally Posted by Wuchak

I thought Gibson used Tusq.

Monster difference in sustain, tone, and feel when I went from stock plastic to bone on my EPI LP. You could really feel the vibrations in the neck for the first time because the bone transmitted them where the plastic had sucked them up.

The piano keys idea is a cool one but old piano keys aren't made of ivory. They are wood with a very thin covering of ivory or over them. Ivory has always been much to expensive to use more of in any application than required. The covering on the key is much to think to use for a nut.

Having a bone nut made and installed should be right around $50. The bone blank itself if cheap since they are made of cow thighbones. You're paying for someone to custom cut and shape it. I'm glad I spent the money to have it done. It is the first thing I will do with every guitar I get from now on. Even if it's new off the rack.

I guess my new mantra is, "If it ain't got bone it ain't got tone!"

Old "black keys" those had a thick layer of ivory.

[coldsteal2]

If you file it and it smells like a tooth being drilled
its Ivory or Bone.

[kspeed]

Gibson uses mostly molded plastic nuts, even on LP Standards. In my experience here's the sort of change you can expect by upgrading your plastic nut:

Bone - a bit richer tone across the midranges with a little sharper high end and a bit more spank

Tusq - also richer than plastic, it's a bit brighter and emphasizes treble response a bit more than bone

Brass - richer but warmer, it enhances the midrange response more than anything...interesting to use on acoustic guitars

Graphite - most of the upgrade is in the lack of string binding/added tuning stability...hard to notice much of any difference, except maybe a little extra treble response

[Robster]

Having nuts definitely improves your tone.

R

[TheWellGoodShow]

I think my LP has either Tusq or bone, because its quite bright and has alot of treble, or could it be the 498s?
But any way I think I might get a brass for the project depending on where I can find one.

[Wuchak]

Originally Posted by TheWellGoodShow

Old "black keys" those had a thick layer of ivory.

The old black keys have no ivory, the are solid ebony.

[xsouldriverx]

what about the earvana nuts?

[TheWellGoodShow]

Turns out the keys only have a thin layer of ivory, the core is all wood.

[randelli]

when nuts begin to drop your tone becomes deeper

[TheWellGoodShow]

Originally Posted by randelli

when nuts begin to drop your tone becomes deeper

what do you mean by 'drop'?

[randelli]

umm.....puberty

[TheWellGoodShow]

Originally Posted by randelli

umm.....puberty

.....should have known you'd play that card.