• From: Burlington, Ont Canada
  • Registered: 2010-04-01
  • Posts: 365

Topic: Nut material

Hi Fellas
I recently had a Tusq nut installed to replace a broken plastic one on one of my guitars and I amazed at the difference in tone! Is it just me or does it make that much of a difference? Surely it transfers sound into the body better but THAT much better? Wondering if anyone knows what nut material Joe uses?

Gits: '03 Gibson Historic R7 Goldtop, '06 Gibson R8 Plaintop, MIJ '62 RI Strat,  and others...
Amps: '99 Marshall 1987x Plexi RI, 1969 Fender Super Reverb

My band: www.meanbones.com
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Nut material

Gibson has always put stock nylon nuts on all their Les Pauls dated back to 1952.  I've seen some with something different like brass but I really think unless Joe changed it after he got it that its nylon.  Nylon is at least better then molded plastic.  Tusq is a man maded material and is solid all the way through and yes it does make that big of a difference.

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Nut material

Plastic nuts are usually not even solid, they are hollow. Air, in this case is an insulator of sound and NOT a conductor.

This is taken from my luthier's site in Detroit:

http://www.dajosguitars.com/hollownut.jpg
Three big problems with this stock nut:

   1. The string slots are too large for the strings.
   2. It's made of plastic - talk about a tone killer.
   3. It's HOLLOW!!! - Seriously, how does air help with transferring string vibrations?

Plastic is bad enough, but hollow plastic?  Just how much money do companies need to make?  Less quality for you, more money for them.

http://www.dajosguitars.com/repairs.htm

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: Burlington, Ont Canada
  • Registered: 2010-04-01
  • Posts: 365

Re: Nut material

The one that broke apart was from my Strat. It was definitely solid and not hollow but cheap enough plastic that it broke and seems to be very brittle from age but the guitar is a '94. Since I got the guitar back last week I have determined that not only is the tone vastly  improved but it stays in tune better as well. I recently purchased a '57 Historic Goldtop - I wonder what material they used on the nut for that guitar? It appears to be plastic...

Gits: '03 Gibson Historic R7 Goldtop, '06 Gibson R8 Plaintop, MIJ '62 RI Strat,  and others...
Amps: '99 Marshall 1987x Plexi RI, 1969 Fender Super Reverb

My band: www.meanbones.com
  • From: Was NY now FL/GA line
  • Registered: 2007-12-16
  • Posts: 2,855

Re: Nut material

Unbleached bone nuts have always been my preference.