Ah, the Nut.   Most players know it as the following (more or less):  A diminutive component at the top of the neck which  serves as a spacing guide for the strings  as they are tensioned above the fingerboard (also as the point of contact for the instrument’s given open-string tones).

What some (perhaps many) do not know is how absolutely critical the nut’s construction is to the OVERALL FEEL OF THE WHOLE GUITAR.  If every other geometric component of a guitar setup is perfect,  but the nut is like it is on 90% of the world’s mass-produced guitars, then the guitar feels stiff and clumsy.  Spacing and clearances of  the strings  relative to one another and to the first fret make a WORLD of difference not only to playability and sensitivity, but to intonation as well.

This being said, the  imperfections of a nut’s construction are often subtle to the player….often attention is never given at all.   Do you have reasonably low action on your instrument, but have trouble with your open chords being in tune…even after you’ve tuned your guitar with a tuner?  Do you find it difficult to arpeggiate  or fingerpick open chords without accidental muting of strings?  Don’t drive yourself “nuts”….it’s probably not your lack of finesse or those “sausage fingers”.  A reworking (or MUCH better yet, replacing) of the nut could revolutionize your playing overnight…..I’m not exaggerating.  I know it not only from my own experience, but from the experiences of HUNDREDS of customers for whom I have performed this service.

Next week we’ll talk about materials for nut construction.  They make a big difference, and not just for open strings!!