• From: Newcastle under Lyme
  • Registered: 2008-02-29
  • Posts: 320

Topic: Bone nuts - complete amateur - HELP!

OK so here goes......

Not knowing much about guitars technically speaking I was wondering....maybe a silly question.....but.......... sigh!

If you buy a pre-prepared bone nut and say this is a part of a surprise guitar that is a present for your other half and you haven't got a clue - is this intended for only one size of string and if so - what size strings would most people go for? 10's ?

I know Joe plays 11's but maybe thinking these are a bit heavy for my man

(looking round at all the string packs he's got about the house though i'd say he can't exacly make up his own mind but he mostly seems to have 9's and 10's)

What to do? yikes

Thanks

Vicky

"Stellar" a word used by Joe Bonamassa (also apt as a description of the man himself cool)
  • Registered: 2008-04-02
  • Posts: 671

Re: Bone nuts - complete amateur - HELP!

Dear Vickyh,
       
      It sounds to me like your other half is a very luck person. If the bone nut your talking about is already "groved" for the guitar strings than you can put any guage strings on there that you want. As far as what guage to put on there if this is an electric guitar .09s,or .10s are both great just pick one I'm sure the fact that you pick it out will make for a better gift. If its an acoustic guitar personally I like .11s with a wound g string only on acoustic. I hope this is of some help to you.

Cheers,
Jack

Rock On and Keep the Faith

Jack Loves Patty Loves Joe

3 Reply by vickyh31 (edited by vickyh31 2008-05-05 18:43:33)

  • From: Newcastle under Lyme
  • Registered: 2008-02-29
  • Posts: 320

Re: Bone nuts - complete amateur - HELP!

Thanks Jack

It helps a lot - I think i'm going to go for Dean Markley Blue Steel 10's - that's regular isn't it?

Vicky

"Stellar" a word used by Joe Bonamassa (also apt as a description of the man himself cool)
  • Registered: 2008-04-02
  • Posts: 671

Re: Bone nuts - complete amateur - HELP!

Vicky,
  They sound like they'd be great. I guess its an electric guitar some lucky fellow is going to be getting. That is a very cool gift to give to a player. What kind of guitar is it? I'm sure he's gonna dig it.

Jack

Rock On and Keep the Faith

Jack Loves Patty Loves Joe
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Bone nuts - complete amateur - HELP!

If the nut is not on the guitar when it was pre-prepared, it still may need adjusting. But that's not your question. I'd agree 10's are the gold standard...

- 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: Oklahoma
  • Registered: 2008-03-28
  • Posts: 263

Re: Bone nuts - complete amateur - HELP!

well...big things you need to watch for are to make sure they conform to the radius of the board.  Here a good link to check out... it's also what I use in my guitars and ones I work on for customers. 


  Tusq Nuts

  Just click on the other nuts and they probley have what you need already set up and ready to go.  If not, MAKE SURE you take it to a reputable guitar tech.

Don't play leapfrog with a unicorn
  • From: Upper Yukon, Alaska
  • Registered: 2006-12-05
  • Posts: 128

Re: Bone nuts - complete amateur - HELP!

I've had bad luck with bone nuts on elec guitars but have one accoustic that sounds great with bone nut.   I go with LSR roller nuts on my electrics unless it doesn't fit the neck width.  Reason is I can change strings at will without any buzz or probs.  I'm stuck on Snake Oils 12-54 vintage last couple years.  Everytime I go down to 10's, I end up taking them back off pretty quick to get that rich sound I get with heavier strings.  Bone nuts, changing string size seems to lead to probs for me.

8 Reply by Danny! (edited by Musicinmysoul 2008-05-06 13:38:46)

  • From: Sandy Eggo
  • Registered: 2007-04-29
  • Posts: 1,369

Re: Bone nuts - complete amateur - HELP!

You might want to find a respected luthier in the area and have them install the nut for you. They'll slot the strings with graphite and everything, get it playing great. Believe it or not 99% of the time tuning issues are caused by a bad nut.

"Music is the only thing that you can share with a million million people and you don't lose, you gain. It helps you to get energy and to live long, because when your soul is very happy then you don't want to die." - Ali Akbar Khan
  • From: Oklahoma
  • Registered: 2008-03-28
  • Posts: 263

Re: Bone nuts - complete amateur - HELP!

Musicinmysoul wrote:

You might want to find a respected luthier in the area and have them install the nut for you. They'll slot the strings with graphite and everything, get it playing great. Believe it or not 99% of the time tuning issues are caused by a bad nut.

Sounds like you need some nut sauce!!

  ...sorry couldn't resist. smile

Don't play leapfrog with a unicorn
  • From: Newcastle under Lyme
  • Registered: 2008-02-29
  • Posts: 320

Re: Bone nuts - complete amateur - HELP!

Thanks for that guys - most of that was wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy over my head

It a gigliotti so no problems with the fitting - i'm sure it'll be spot on wink

I just wanted to know whether it's best to stick to one string size as Patrick seemed to indicate that the bone nut would be prep'd for whatever size I choose for initial strings on the guitar

I was maybe thinking that if I chose 10's it wouldn't be too bad if 9's or 11's were used as alternatives

what do you think?

Any forum members out there who know my man shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! it's a surprise OK cool

Vicky

"Stellar" a word used by Joe Bonamassa (also apt as a description of the man himself cool)
  • Registered: 2008-04-02
  • Posts: 671

Re: Bone nuts - complete amateur - HELP!

A GIGLIOTTI!....A GIGLIOTTI!.................A GIGLIOTTI!................A GIGLIOTTI!.................

He's probally gonna hate it. hahahahahahahaha-just kidding of course.
So I guess your pretty serious about this guy.
Wow. A Gigliotti...

Relax Vicky,

 
  Everything is going to be fine and probally better than you or he could hope for.
 
The best of luck and Joe Bonamassa  to you both,
Jack

Rock On and Keep the Faith

Jack Loves Patty Loves Joe
  • From: Newcastle under Lyme
  • Registered: 2008-02-29
  • Posts: 320

Re: Bone nuts - complete amateur - HELP!

Hell i've been with him for 15 years, too late to back out now even if he has got expensive hobbies smile

"Stellar" a word used by Joe Bonamassa (also apt as a description of the man himself cool)
  • From: Edgewater, FL
  • Registered: 2007-12-08
  • Posts: 5,046

Re: Bone nuts - complete amateur - HELP!

Yeah 10s should allow you to go up or down one without too much drama...

Rock On & Keep the FAITH
             It is
Blues From the Bottoms

bigjeffjones's Website

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2008-04-23
  • Posts: 553

Re: Bone nuts - complete amateur - HELP!

Hi Vicky,

thought the Gigliottis come standard with a bone nut.

Just want you to make sure you'll not to change a bone nut
with a bone nut. wink

I have ordered a Gigliotti GT (the hard wait..) and went for a 11 setup.
The neck is quiet chunky so i feels more natural to have a stronger gauge.
But this is just my personal preference...

Alex

...it's a musical journey
www.u2-experience.de

Stratovari's Website

15 Reply by vickyh31 (edited by vickyh31 2008-05-06 16:32:43)

  • From: Newcastle under Lyme
  • Registered: 2008-02-29
  • Posts: 320

Re: Bone nuts - complete amateur - HELP!

Yeah, I just didn't want to give the game away - you know a bone nut which just happens to be attached to a guitar...well maybe lost in translation....anyway

Thanks for the additional input re string guage BigJeffjones and stratovari

Reckon i'll go with fitting for 10's as you say Jeff, I reckoned it wouldn't hurt to change one up/one down but wasn't sure

Thanks again

Hey Alex - whens yours due? I'm aiming for Christmas or maybe if I get my skates on a birthday in September what do you reckon my chances are?

Now all I need is a Moody strap and the present is set!  (can't decide between leaather or suede backing or about the colour maybe black is safest though I kinda like the blood red one myself (but damn its not for me!))

Also can't decide between tobacco burst finish for the guitar or black to tobacco two-tone - I prefer the latter but again its not for me - what am I saying? - I can't even play! - one day?????????? Dream on!

Vicky

"Stellar" a word used by Joe Bonamassa (also apt as a description of the man himself cool)
  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2008-04-23
  • Posts: 553

Re: Bone nuts - complete amateur - HELP!

Hi Vicky,

ah I see its a new order of the guitar and NOT a replacement of the nut...
Hehe, oops i overread that....sorry. smile

Regarding Pat the building time is 4 months so it should be due in august.
After a long fight btween silver/blue and tobacco transburst i decided for latter.
But i've chosen a maple neck instead of a mahogany neck (like on Joes) to
have a twangier sound.

Your man can be happy!!! big_smile

Alex

...it's a musical journey
www.u2-experience.de

Stratovari's Website

  • From: Stoke-on-Trent, England
  • Registered: 2008-02-25
  • Posts: 473

Re: Bone nuts - complete amateur - HELP!

vickyh31 wrote:

It a gigliotti so no problems with the fitting - i'm sure it'll be spot on wink


Any forum members out there who know my man shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! it's a surprise OK cool

Vicky

I'm keeping my big mouth firmly shut!! I won't even tell my paternal unit either, just to be on the safe side!!! That's one hell of a present indeed. If only he was left-handed.........:(

Be nice/heartbreaking to see one in the flesh!! wink

"Music should strike fire from the heart of man, and bring tears from the eyes of woman."
                                                                                                   Ludwig Van Beethoven
  • From: Newcastle under Lyme
  • Registered: 2008-02-29
  • Posts: 320

Re: Bone nuts - complete amateur - HELP!

Thanks for the discretion Paul

I just hope I pick everything right otherwise I might be in for it wink

Vicky

Silver cloud on the horizon - i'm left handed so if I decide to learn - still not sure which way to go - left because i'm a lefty or right because it looks/feels better - maybe i'll get a left hander and you can play that anytime OK smile

Some time in the future though - I think i need something to cut my teeth on first (I "borrowed" T****'* acoustic the other day and the godamn plectrum went whizzing out of my hand and straight inside the guitar - and it got completely stuck - he was there for ages trying to get it out - it eventually dropped but I think I might be banned sad)

"Stellar" a word used by Joe Bonamassa (also apt as a description of the man himself cool)