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Y'ever screw up?
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 5:55 pm
by Rollin Hand
This week, my Watson Wolfgang copy got the best of me. I had put on a 43mm nut that was very clearly more than 43mm wide (overhangs on boths sides!). So, I thought "buy nice, or buy twice!" and nabbed a Gotoh nut.
Today I installed it and.....you know you really should check the radius before plopping down the cash. The Gotoh nut is way too flat, resulting in very high action on the outer strings.
So, now I have to choose between the original, crappy nut, the too wide nut, or eating another $35-$45 to buy another decent nut (FR1000/Special nut, after shipping).
D'oh!
Re: Y'ever screw up?
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 6:14 pm
by mozz
There used to be a chart on the Floyd rose website that had all the dimensions and told you which model was the correct one. Even a aftermarker nut should have some specs.
Here is the chart.
Re: Y'ever screw up?
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 11:08 pm
by Rollin Hand
Oh, I know all that. I just thought the fretboard radius was flatter than it is. Gotoh nuts use a roughly 16-inch radius, where a Floyd R3 is 12. The guitar must be around a 12 as well.
I actually have a Floyd R4 nut around, but that's a 10- inch radius.
Re: Y'ever screw up?
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2022 5:29 am
by mozz
Yup, went through that before. Bought one then found out it didn't fit properly. So it was measure twice and make sure it's right before i order. Finally got the right one. I think some give you shims? Then i learned to drill pilot holes in maple necks, tough wood, you may snap off screw heads, don't ask me how i know.
Re: Y'ever screw up?
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2022 7:03 am
by Partscaster
Trace the arc and sand to fit?
Re: Y'ever screw up?
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2022 8:35 am
by Rollin Hand
Partscaster wrote: ↑Thu Mar 31, 2022 7:03 am
Trace the arc and sand to fit?
Hard to re-radius a hardened steel Floyd-style nut. And Floyd nuts sit on a flat shelf.
Re: Y'ever screw up?
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2022 9:51 am
by Partscaster
Rollin Hand wrote: ↑Thu Mar 31, 2022 8:35 am
Partscaster wrote: ↑Thu Mar 31, 2022 7:03 am
Trace the arc and sand to fit?
Hard to re-radius a hardened steel Floyd-style nut. And Floyd nuts sit on a flat shelf.
Ooh. I missed that part.
Are nut slots factory set?
My mind now goes to hack job with a grinder wheel for getting the end, bottom sides, at a height where slots make sense.
Re: Y'ever screw up?
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2022 10:33 am
by Rollin Hand
Partscaster wrote: ↑Thu Mar 31, 2022 9:51 am
Rollin Hand wrote: ↑Thu Mar 31, 2022 8:35 am
Partscaster wrote: ↑Thu Mar 31, 2022 7:03 am
Trace the arc and sand to fit?
Hard to re-radius a hardened steel Floyd-style nut. And Floyd nuts sit on a flat shelf.
Ooh. I missed that part.
Are nut slots factory set?
My mind now goes to hack job with a grinder wheel for getting the end, bottom sides, at a height where slots make sense.
They are cast/machined into the base, which is the same radius as the slots. That's so the strings sit cleanly on the base and the pads lock them down. If you're like me and bought the wrong radius nut, it's really just easier to replace.
Re: Y'ever screw up?
Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2022 4:27 pm
by sabasgr68
Oh Yes, I have screwed up on several things in the past, and haven´t stopped yet... I know the feeling...
Re: Y'ever screw up?
Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2022 4:30 pm
by Rollin Hand
At any rate, bit the bullet and a brand new Schaller nut (R3, 12-inch radius) is on its way.
Re: Y'ever screw up?
Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2022 4:35 pm
by mickey
I was married for a few months shy of 50 years.
So I got told nearly every day for almost fifty years that I was screwing up!!!!
Re: Y'ever screw up?
Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2022 4:51 pm
by RiverDog
mickey wrote: ↑Sat Apr 02, 2022 4:35 pm
I was married for a few months shy of 50 years.
So I got told nearly every day for almost fifty years that I was screwing up!!!!
I feel this. Going on 30 years of wedded bliss myself this December. Yep, I feel this.
Re: Y'ever screw up?
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2022 12:19 pm
by andrewsrea
Rollin Hand wrote: ↑Wed Mar 30, 2022 5:55 pm
This week, my Watson Wolfgang copy got the best of me. I had put on a 43mm nut that was very clearly more than 43mm wide (overhangs on boths sides!). So, I thought "buy nice, or buy twice!" and nabbed a Gotoh nut.
Today I installed it and.....you know you really should check the radius before plopping down the cash. The Gotoh nut is way too flat, resulting in very high action on the outer strings.
So, now I have to choose between the original, crappy nut, the too wide nut, or eating another $35-$45 to buy another decent nut (FR1000/Special nut, after shipping).
D'oh!
You can get a nut shaped to your radius very simply, by using sticky backed 220 grit sand paper. You stick it to the fretboard between where the nut goes and the 1st fret. Then paint the bottom of the nut using a black sharpie and then carefully sand the bottom of the nut acrtoss the radius, until the black can only be seen on the fringes of the nut.
Works every time for me.
Re: Y'ever screw up?
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2022 4:08 pm
by Rollin Hand
andrewsrea wrote: ↑Mon Apr 04, 2022 12:19 pm
Rollin Hand wrote: ↑Wed Mar 30, 2022 5:55 pm
This week, my Watson Wolfgang copy got the best of me. I had put on a 43mm nut that was very clearly more than 43mm wide (overhangs on boths sides!). So, I thought "buy nice, or buy twice!" and nabbed a Gotoh nut.
Today I installed it and.....you know you really should check the radius before plopping down the cash. The Gotoh nut is way too flat, resulting in very high action on the outer strings.
So, now I have to choose between the original, crappy nut, the too wide nut, or eating another $35-$45 to buy another decent nut (FR1000/Special nut, after shipping).
D'oh!
You can get a nut shaped to your radius very simply, by using sticky backed 220 grit sand paper. You stick it to the fretboard between where the nut goes and the 1st fret. Then paint the bottom of the nut using a black sharpie and then carefully sand the bottom of the nut acrtoss the radius, until the black can only be seen on the fringes of the nut.
Works every time for me.
Ever done it on a hardened steel nut like this?
Not so simple.
Re: Y'ever screw up?
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2022 11:08 am
by andrewsrea
Rollin Hand wrote: ↑Tue Apr 05, 2022 4:08 pm
andrewsrea wrote: ↑Mon Apr 04, 2022 12:19 pm
Rollin Hand wrote: ↑Wed Mar 30, 2022 5:55 pm
This week, my Watson Wolfgang copy got the best of me. I had put on a 43mm nut that was very clearly more than 43mm wide (overhangs on boths sides!). So, I thought "buy nice, or buy twice!" and nabbed a Gotoh nut.
Today I installed it and.....you know you really should check the radius before plopping down the cash. The Gotoh nut is way too flat, resulting in very high action on the outer strings.
So, now I have to choose between the original, crappy nut, the too wide nut, or eating another $35-$45 to buy another decent nut (FR1000/Special nut, after shipping).
D'oh!
You can get a nut shaped to your radius very simply, by using sticky backed 220 grit sand paper. You stick it to the fretboard between where the nut goes and the 1st fret. Then paint the bottom of the nut using a black sharpie and then carefully sand the bottom of the nut acrtoss the radius, until the black can only be seen on the fringes of the nut.
Works every time for me.
Ever done it on a hardened steel nut like this?
Not so simple.
I did. The wrong way was first. I changed the radius of the neck where the nut goes. Scrap one neck.
The next time: With the help of a music store owner, I bought a locking nut made for the radius of the fretboard.
Re: Y'ever screw up?
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2022 1:10 pm
by Rollin Hand
andrewsrea wrote: ↑Wed Apr 06, 2022 11:08 am
Rollin Hand wrote: ↑Tue Apr 05, 2022 4:08 pm
andrewsrea wrote: ↑Mon Apr 04, 2022 12:19 pm
You can get a nut shaped to your radius very simply, by using sticky backed 220 grit sand paper. You stick it to the fretboard between where the nut goes and the 1st fret. Then paint the bottom of the nut using a black sharpie and then carefully sand the bottom of the nut acrtoss the radius, until the black can only be seen on the fringes of the nut.
Works every time for me.
Ever done it on a hardened steel nut like this?
Not so simple.
I did. The wrong way was first. I changed the radius of the neck where the nut goes. Scrap one neck.
The next time: With the help of a music store owner, I bought a locking nut made for the radius of the fretboard.
Exactly. And that's why I have another on the way. Oddly enough, it was cheapest way to get an actual GOOD locking nut in the right radius was to buy a Schaller from Germany. I mean, judging by the anticipated delivery date, it's going to make its own way here by canoe, but still....
Adding to the fun: the nut on my EVH Striped series is already showing grooves from the strings. Maybe the Schaller goes on it, while the 1000/Special nut from the Striped series goes on the Watson.