Your guitar nut is an essential component of your instrument. Not only does it keep your strings in place, but it also conducts sound — which is why the material of your guitar nut is so important.
Unfortunately, these little powerhouses aren’t immune to wear, tear, and damage. From time to time, you may find you need to replace your guitar nut — so how can you tell if you need a replacement, and how do you go about it?
Signs it’s time to replace your guitar nut
Guitar nuts can need replacing for a range of reasons. Here are the signs to look out for that might suggest a refresh is in order.
String buzz
Ever strummed an open string, only to be met with an almighty “TWANG”? This unwelcome sound can be the result of the string buzzing against the frets closest to the nut. It can also be the first sign that one of your nut slots has become too low.
This happens because most nut materials are softer than the steel-wound strings on electric guitars and steel-strung acoustic guitars. Over time, the slots wear down, and the overall string height reduces until, well, “TWANG”!
A tried and tested way to resolve this on the fly is to use a mixture of bicarbonate of soda and water-thin CA glue. Repacking the slot with the bicarb powder and drop filling with CA glue creates a composite material you can then file to a height where the buzz is no longer apparent.
The problem with this method is it only really works for bone and plastic or resin nuts. It can also be brittle and wear down quickly. It’s great for a fix in a pinch, but the best way to get rid of that string buzz is to replace your guitar nut.
Very low string action
What happens when it’s not just one string but all six that make that “TWANG” we dislike so much? It’s a sign that the overall string height — or string ‘action’ — is too low. Better get that bicarb and CA glue out, right?
Well, although it’s not wrong, it’s not the best idea. An easier and more effective way to raise the string height is to use a shim underneath the nut. Shimming material can range from thin strips of the same wood as your guitar neck (rosewood, maple, ebony, etc.) to a folded strip of sandpaper to seat the nut and raise those precious microns into a playable place.
However, shimming can result in a loss of resonance if the shim is not adequately uniform. It can even lead to uneven string height for the same reason.
Therefore, there's no substitute for a properly seated nut without the need for additional material to mitigate something that’s not quite right. If in doubt, swap it out!
Difficulty staying in tune
It’s not uncommon for string instruments to lose some tension over time or to go out of tune completely when the humidity changes suddenly. You might also find it difficult to keep your guitar in tune if your tuners are, ironically, not as finely tuned as they could be.
But when everything else is in great working order, it’s worth checking the nut to see if the issue lies with this inconspicuous component.
A case study
I worked on a mandolin recently, and the client had an issue with the bass strings suddenly going out of tune. When playing the instrument, I noted a kind of sympathetic buzz above the nut, as if I was strumming that part of the instrument too. What became clear was that the nut slot was too thin, and the string was getting caught while tuning and then shifting considerably while playing.
To relieve the tension of the string at the point of contact with the nut, I used my nut files to widen the slot, effectively creating the best profile for the string to sit comfortably in and not get pinched or caught up at any point. The result was a success.
However, not everyone owns precision-made tools, and not every nut is made to accommodate this solution. For example, if the string spacing is very close together, like it is on a mandolin, this can sometimes cause the dividing part of the nut to break or become too weak.
Therefore the only solution we can assume works every time is to replace it, adding a nut that will fit perfectly.
Pre-cut nuts can work in some cases. But if you can’t find the exact one to fit your measurements then all good guitar technicians and luthiers should be able to make a custom nut without any bother.
Visible cracks or damage
Every now and then, a guitar nut can crack or break seemingly without much effort — and this is particularly the case with plastic and bone nuts.
This is because plastics undergo a process called photodegradation, which means they become brittle over time. Bone is, simply put, brittle by its nature — and the trade-off you get from that bright clear tone is a nut that cracks under the pressure after time.
While you can glue clean breaks back together, there’s no getting away from the fact that the nut should be a one-piece component. Cracks and damage compromise a guitar nut’s structural integrity and resonance.
The best way to deal with this issue is to remove the damaged piece and replace it with a new nut.
Changing string gauge
We’ve all done it — met the devil at the crossroads and sold our soul to be able to play like Robert Johnson, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, or Dave Mustaine. The problem is you now need a thicker gauge than those 9s you learnt on, and your nut slots just aren’t playing ball.
The good news is this is one time you don’t necessarily need to replace your guitar nut. If your nut slots are well aligned and comfortable to play, then filling the slots to be marginally wider is all it takes to get your new favourite strings on and shred from now until eternity (or whenever dinner is ready).
DIY vs professional guitar nut replacement
If you feel confident with your own luthier skills and want to give making a nut a go, it’s a great way to try out a repair for little to no expense. You can follow online instructions on how to make a nut and see if it’s a success!
Bear in mind, however, that it can be time-consuming, fiddly, and hyper-accurate work. Even after a few attempts, you may not have a usable nut, but there was no harm in trying, right? If in doubt, give your local guitar technician a call or email and tell them to crack out the nut files!
Guitar nut replacement from a luthier in Cardiff
Every guitar comes with its own unique challenges, and although I’d be the first to say a new guitar nut is a great repair to try yourself, it does take time to perfect the art of nut-making. Try your best, give it a go, and you never know — it might just work out fine!
For those who are five nut blanks gone and frustrated, don’t worry — I’ve been there too. So please feel free to get in touch and book a consultation today. I’ll be happy to look at carrying out a guitar nut replacement or filing and adapting it to fit. You can get the perfect nut, once and for all.
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