What the hell is this noise? Answer - the nut

[DeathJag]

A roller nut might be an option.

These are more for the slightly wider modern Fender nut widths than the narrower vintage ones, so be clear on the measurements if you go this route.

Thank you! I love the look of this. If the Zero Glide doesn't work out this looks great!

[jorri]

Aluminium would be way too soft.

What do you/they mean by ‘Gibson style’ or ‘Fender style’?

A Tusq nut is/will be fine and is the only Graphtech product worth using IME.

But corian should also have been fine. I suppose it may get produced with different hardnesses by different companies.

Aluminium varies a lot in hardness as an alloy. I had something on my bass that was a lot harder to file than brass. Gave up on it, weird accidental purchase that was advertised as brass. No, don't get that! Also, the oxide that comes of some aluminium things is horrible- ever use those aluminium picks? Grey dust everywhere. I have a brass nut and its fine, but still harder to work with than bone, it matches my guitar's general colour and the fact i have some unused switch route where i just stuck shielding tape behind. I was in fact looking for a ZeroGlide recently but usual problem of being on this island that has to now even pay import from europe.

Bone nut on my bass is gret now (well, I am vegetarian, but like the other guy said, if it is otherwise a waste product for the primary consumption then it doesn't bother me too much. Oh, to check everything that's in wine, bathroom products, car fluids, pharmeceuticals, and yep bone char is used in SUGAR, so its... hard to avoid that which would otherwise be put in the bin at the slaughterhouse which is driven by meat consumption.).

[DeathJag]

A roller nut might be an option.

These are more for the slightly wider modern Fender nut widths than the narrower vintage ones, so be clear on the measurements if you go this route.

Thank you! I love the look of this. If the Zero Glide doesn't work out this looks great!

Oh man, the maximum is .056, and I'm loving my .060 low E! I hope the zero Glide can work.

As I was thinking about the softness of aluminum, I had a thought about titanium! I wonder if anybody could make a titanium nut?

[andare]

You want Tusq XL, not just Tusq. Permanently lubricated nuts is where it's at.

[jorri]

A roller nut might be an option.

These are more for the slightly wider modern Fender nut widths than the narrower vintage ones, so be clear on the measurements if you go this route.

Thank you! I love the look of this. If the Zero Glide doesn't work out this looks great!

Oh man, the maximum is .056, and I'm loving my .060 low E! I hope the zero Glide can work.

As I was thinking about the softness of aluminum, I had a thought about titanium! I wonder if anybody could make a titanium nut?

What nut files would you use on titanium?

Speaking of that, the zero glide should be easy to widen because the nut isn't actually there as a nut but a retainer. The zero fret does all the work. Maybe you can find a titanium fret? (Surely stainless steel is enough?)

[DeathJag]

Heh heh - titanium or steel would likely eat the strings out windings. Derrr.

That Zero Glide seems perfect. It had better work! Gonna see the shop in two weeks and I'll update the thread.

Thanks so much for the great help!

Dan

[andy_tchp]

Thank you! I love the look of this. If the Zero Glide doesn't work out this looks great!

Oh man, the maximum is .056, and I'm loving my .060 low E! I hope the zero Glide can work.

As I was thinking about the softness of aluminum, I had a thought about titanium! I wonder if anybody could make a titanium nut?

What nut files would you use on titanium?

Not mine. They would be ruined fairly quickly.

[DeathJag]

Oh man, the maximum is .056, and I'm loving my .060 low E! I hope the zero Glide can work.

As I was thinking about the softness of aluminum, I had a thought about titanium! I wonder if anybody could make a titanium nut?

What nut files would you use on titanium?

Not mine. They would be ruined fairly quickly.

You know, the diamond ones I have just sitting around. I have so many.

Just to set the record straight - I am going to see if the Zero Glide will work. In two weeks when I see the luthier.

[tammyw]

Gibson used to make a titanium zero-fret nut, I thought they were pretty neat.

[Graestang]

Looks as if we're having the same life-changing experience (again?)

[Graestang]

Brass/Seashell NUTS

[Graestang]

Sounds like strings rubbing the saddle slots. Try some lubricant, check the slots are free of burry edges etc.

Never lubricate the string-saddle contacts on a rocking bridge (or restrict it from rocking freely). The rocking bridge relies on high string-saddle friction for the strings to grip and rock the bridge consistently back and forth with trem use, as the strings change length over the bridge. Lubrication would lower that friction, and bridge rocking can then become inconsistent, being a mix of the string gripping the bridge some of the time (good) but sliding over it at other times (bad); the bridge can never return to exactly where it started (neutral position) in that scenario. Only lubricate saddles on fixed bridges.

The noise sounds possibly trem-spring-related to me, unless maybe the strings are dragging over the back edge of the bridge plate.

That is a beautiful thing. Perfectly summarised; i feel many people won't realise why these Trem's feel and sound so good. *great comprehension "timtam"

[DeathJag]

A custom Zero Glide nut was just ordered today. It'll be ebony wood with a stainless steel zero fret. It had to be custom because of my ridiculous string gauges haha! I am stoked for this, I think it's the best solution besides a new neck.

[DeathJag]

So it is now fixed and this guitar plays like an absolute dream. No creaks. Its tone is wonderful as well, very bold and strident. Way more so than all the other Jags. It has the PV 62 pickups in it for now, but I am (still!) waiting to get the custom staggered set from creamery for it.

I took it to the guitar shop here and immediately the guy said that the nut was not cut properly, it was left too high. So he reshaped the slots and brought them down as well as level the frets. Now I have to get the headstock painted and the logo (made and) affixed and then it will actually be 100% complete!