Bone Nut For 12 String Guitar
Designed and Made By Chris Alsop in his workshops in Derbyshire, UK.

All our guitar nuts are designed and made by Chris Alsop.  This advert is for a guitar nut where you provide the specification.  We do a quick turn around usually a few days maximum from an agreed specification.

To specify a nut, you will need to provide:

1. Length across fretboard (eg 43mm)
2. Width (eg 5mm)
3. Height in middle (string slots are cut into this height)
4. Fretboard radius (eg 16 inches)
5. Right or Left Handed
6. String 1 to string 12 centre distance. The spacing used is a standard template.

• I normally cut the string slots so they are a string radius deep for lowE progressing to a string diameter deep for high E
• You should expect to have to deepen the slots, or lower the whole nut by sanding the base,  to get the right action at first fret (typically 0.5mm)

This nut is made from high density Ox bone and is for use on steel strung acoustic guitars.

Any shape is possible for us to make - if the height is greater than 10mm , or the width greater then  8mm wide then the our  'oversized nut' ebay advert is the appropriate advert.

• We include fitting instructions on how best to install a nut and guidance on setting the action correctly
  • We include plenty of abrasives and polishing material - the better the fit the better the tone !

• Accurately determine the position of one end of the vibrating length of the string.
• Position the strings across the fretboard - usually evenly spaced (but we do non even spaced to make better use of the room available) with adequate room at the edges.
• Position the strings over the fretboard so the action (string to fret distance) achieves playability and accurate note pitch (also called 'intonation').
• Allow the strings to freely pass through the slots, without snagging, to achieve reliable string tuning and to allow string tension to even out quickly after a string bend.
• Look good and be hard wearing

These items are hand made by myself in a workshop set up for the production of guitar parts and tooling. I use high precision measurement and a variety of shaping techniques commonly used in high precision engineering.I have a long history of making guitar parts encompassing design from first principles, performance analysis, acoustic analysis and manufacture quality control. I play guitar where - over many years - I have learnt to appreciate and understand the finer points of guitar parts design, performance and set-up from a players point of view.

Its the same work for a left or right and the same price. I can also provide a 3D graphic of the design to review any aspects of the design.

If there is no particular requirement then I'll make the slots slightly wider than medium gauge strings and the string spacing will be proportional to the fretboard width with adequate clearance from high and low E to the edges. If you wish I can offer to cut the string slots specifically to match a particular string gauge. I can also make the string spacing a bit wider then normal.

String Slot Depth --------- Action at first fret -------- Why we have to get it Right !

If the string slots are too deep then the strings will rattle on the first fret - if the string slots are too high then it becomes difficult to press the strings down into the first fret. Also, the change of string pitch due to the string stretching becomes audibly noticeable on first fret notes if the string slots are not deep enough. Our intonation studies and measurements confirm this.

So how do we get the right nut shape? Practice and Theory ... a bit of both approach !

The nut shape and string slot depth can, in theory, be calculated to make the strings sit perfectly over the frets that follow the radiused fretboard. the problem with this approach is that you have to know all the geometry: the fretboard radius, the fretboard height, the fret height and the nut slot depth (if there is one).  This 'theory' based approach is OK ,

HOWEVER

Nothing beats the actual performance of the real instrument. With the nut, I supply a step by step guide of how to get the right set up of the nut. Using the strings themselves as the guide it is possible to trim the nut to achieve the correct action. I have used this method as a player for many years and it has always resulted in perfect playability.

Shaping of the component may be necessary to get it to fit tightly into the nut slot and to achieve the desired 'action' - or string height above the fretboard. Bone is easily worked with fine grit abrasive paper and finally polished with wire wool and/or scotchbrite. 

Clear instructions for setting the nut action and supplied and advice is freely offered.

The string slots are positioned but may need to be made deeper to achieve the desired action - a small needle file or similar blade/file is adequate to do this operation - you just have to make sure you take a little off at a time and then put the string back in the slot - tighten it up - and then check it. A little at a time is a must for this adjustment!

Its also important that the slots are smooth and not 'v' shaped at the bottom - so the strings run through them easily when tuning - providing the slots are rounded then the strings will find the centre.