When you start filing the back side of the groove to undercut the slot, be sure not to file the front edge (next to fingerboard), thus lowering the string height above the fingerboard. To help determine what part of the nut slot you are cutting, take a pencil and work lead into the slots to color them. Then when you file away the back side of the slot, you can see how close to the front edge you are by how much pencil lead is still visible. If you’ve lost all your pencil lead, then you know you’ve gone to far to the front and have lowered the action at the nut. Avoid this! Leave between 1 and 3/64ths of an inch of surface for the string to sit on. This is plenty.

If you cut your slot right to a point, you may experience string breakage at the nut. This, of course, is caused by a sharp edge. Also be careful to make the slot wide enough for each string. If the slot pinches the string, it will cause tuning problems and string breakage.

HOW HIGH OFF THE FINGERBOARD SHOULD THE STRINGS BE AT THE NUT?

There are a couple of factors to be considered here; personal feel and physical playability. In other words, if it feels good, it is probably OK. If it seems too hard to push down the first position chords, or if the strings buzz when played open, then you will need to deal with this problem.

NOTE: Don’t do your final setting of the action at the nut until you have done ALL OTHER set up procedures EXCEPT INTONATION. This is the last adjustment that should be made EXCEPT FOR THE INTONATION SET UP!

If the action at the nut is too high...

Again, because of the need for special files, you may want to have your repairperson look at this with you. But, if you have the tools and want to try this, just remember...

Be sure to have all strings on and tuned to pitch before you start.

Take one string out of its slot at a time and file that slot, replacing the string to check the depth. File very, very small amounts at a time to bring the string closer to the fingerboard. Remember to file down through the nut from front to back as mentioned earlier. When you feel the action for that string is right, go to the next string and so on.

If the action at the nut is too low...

You know the action at the nut is too low when all other adjustments (truss rod, neck set, etc.) are properly made and the open string buzzes on the first fret.

If there is fret buzzing on the second, third, or higher frets, then this IS NOT caused by too low action at the nut. To adjust fret buzz at any other point (other than buzz on the first fret by the open string), you need to look at the truss rod, bridge, neck set, etc. (which is explained later in this book), or you may need to have the frets filed. To determine which is your problem, you may want an experienced repair- person to take a look.

If you are getting first fret buzz, you may be able to remedy it by;

1) raising the over all action at the bridge, (as explained later) or

2) by letting the neck bow just a slight bit more away from the strings by adjusting the truss rod. (also explained later)

Of course, both of these remedies will cause your overall action to be higher. If you have made either adjustment, check the action on the neck from about the 5th fret on up. If the instrument still feels good to you, and you no longer have first fret buzz, then you are set. If this action is not acceptable, then lower the action back to where it was and take the instrument in to an experienced repairperson.

CAUTIONS: The entire process of cleaning the slots or lowering the action at the nut requires precision work and patience. If you hurry and file one groove too low, you’ve ruined the nut and a repairperson will need to replace it.