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Old 07-16-2018, 07:39 AM   #16
brainwreck
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Join Date: Jul 2006
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jiff 41 View Post
The easiest & quickest way to check if it's your nut that's the problem is to put a capo on the first fret & tune up if the problems gone it's definitely the nut!
Just to add to that good tip: The action height with the guitar capoed is roughly about what the action should be uncapoed, for achieving good intonation. So with the guitar capoed, you can use some feeler guages to measure the distance between strings and the first available fret. And your uncapoed open strings action should be at least a tiny bit higher than that to prevent strings rattling on the first fret but not so high that you have an intonation problem.

Also, while a compensated saddle is helpful for overall intonation, the biggest effect on intonation for chords near the nut is going to come from the string height at the nut and whether the strings are riding at the front of the nut slots (playing side of the nut).

You can measure action height at the nut yourself using automotive feeler guages that are available for something like $5-10. And you can adjust nut slot depth using inexpensive needle files for something like $10 and a fine piece of sand paper for smoothing out the slots. That is, if you don't mind the look of the slots after doing so (they won't look factory cut). If you do mind, you need a set of more expensive nut files. But from my experience, so long as you take your time and are careful, the functional result will be about the same whether you use needle files or nut files. And of course, you could always take it to a guitar tech if doing this kind of stuff bothers you.
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Last edited by brainwreck; 07-16-2018 at 07:53 AM.
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