The Steel Guitar Forum

I have a 8-string double neck from georgeboards and the nut and bridge string slots do not match my current string sets. The string sets are the C13 and B11 sets from John Pearse. The problem is that the bass strings stick up, are higher sitting, then the other strings. The tone bar catches on the strings, and it extremely annoying. Is there a way to adjust the string slots? Both the nut and bridge are metal with preset slots. I'd even swap them out for a bone nut and bridge if I could find somewhere that would make me a custom set. Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks!

Brennick Langston wrote:Any suggestions are welcome.

1) Obtain the properly gauged nut files and have at it. Stew-Mac is one source:

http://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/To ... Files.html

2) Find a reputable luthier in your area and bring that person your instrument with complete sets of properly gauged strings for each neck.

3) Or wait for George's reply and do what he suggests.

Nuts should be filed to fit the sort of string gauges you use. Too loose isn't good, and too tight makes the strings sit too high. It can also bind the strings when tuning.

Since I tend to like heavy strings, I have fixed too tight nuts by "sawing" the strings I want to use back and forth in the nut slots by hand till they fit. Regular round wound strings make very effective nut files.

I should say that I've "filed" my nuts with strings only using plastic or bone nuts. If you have a metal nut, you'll have to spring for the nut files.

3) Or wait for George's reply and do what he suggests.

If the Butt End of your bar is hanging up on the low strings, you need to check into Operator Error.

I know of No Circumstances where pushing the Butt of the Tone Bar far enough outward and returning at an downward angle great enough to catch any string constitutes good playing hand technique.

Hopefully other teachers will add to this aspect of consideration.

George,
I agree with your assessment.

I use this.
It's a welder's tip file set.
I've used them on plastic, bone, aluminum and even a steel nut.
They have at least a dozen files and I can always find a match for any string gauge.
For $5 I can't complain.

Your tone bar should be slightly rounded on the butt end, which should minimize the difficulty you are having.

Get a good grip on the bar and lift the butt end slightly as you pull back toward the bass strings, just enough to clear the top of the strings.

That .060 guage low B on the B11 neck probably does sit a little high in a slot designed for .048. As a last resort, you might want to file away at that one just a touch. Or change your tuning and go with lighter strings.

George Piburn wrote:If the Butt End of your bar is hanging up on the low strings, you need to check into Operator Error.

Then I guess I'm guilty of operator error. I find it irritating if some strings are higher or lower than others so I file the nuts on my instruments so the tops of all the strings are at the same height. I have the Stew-Mac file set but it's not economically feasible for doing just one nut. Before I bought the Stew-Mac set I had a jeweler's set from the 99 cent store. One file is round and gradually tapered so different string widths can be filed by using different positions on the file.

Bob Allen, Melbert guitars

Fred Treece wrote:Your tone bar should be slightly rounded on the butt end, which should minimize the difficulty you are having.

Agreed. The sharp butt end on the Sho-Bud bars from the '70s were disqualifiers for me.

Larry Carlson wrote:I use this.
It's a welder's tip file set.
I've used them on plastic, bone, aluminum and even a steel nut.
They have at least a dozen files and I can always find a match for any string gauge.
For $5 I can't complain.

Thanks for the tip!