Inspired by this video I headed straight to my local music store and asked the clerk if she could help me, because I need to check my nut heights. I'm due in court on Monday.
Got one of those recently. It's the most simple, easy way to check the nut slot height. My advice is to shoot for 5 and then play it for a while and see if it settles to less than 5. You can always file a little more off if you need to.
I ordered one of these, and it performs as shown here! My eyes can't see a .003 gap, and this tool removes all the guesswork from cutting a nut properly. At under $20, this is a no-brainer! Thanks for the great video on this!
@@Dugganjx Hi Duggan, I take your point but, personally I haven't found the need for further adjustments. There are many opinions on this subject I know, mine is just one of them. 😀
@@Dugganjx: Usually, varying string heights are measured at the twelfth fret. Closer for the high pitch strings, because they don't move as much as the low strings. At the nut, it is much easier, to make a single height across the first fret (0.018" to 0.020"), because once you go too far, you have to make a new nut. Time, work and money. Not good, if you are working on someone else's guitar. P.S.: I am speaking about Acoustics.
Hi Tony ! What a clever tool! The real advantage is that you can prepare your slot depths, wihout mounting your strings first. Nevertheless you said for example 3 means 0.003" , in reality it is 0.03". I am french so I use millimeters and for me 0.03 is too high, it is around 0.75 mm and I usually adjust the slots with 0.5 mm, so around 0.02" ....
Thanks for the detailed review. I bought one, but I have a problem... this device is pretty dependent upon your ability to HEAR it when it drops off the edge. But I have profound hearing loss.... even with expensive hearing aids I cannot hear the click, so I am trying to do it by feel. It's possible to do it that way, but it would be easier if I could hear it.
I did use it to set up a new nut on my Telecaster. Turned out to be easy to use, because the CLICK that I cannot hear is also a step you can feel with your fingers. Point is, I don't really *have* to hear it to use it as long as I can feel that click. The nut came out perfect too.
I like this tool but instead of listening for a click I slide the gauge through the nut toward the _headstock_ , not the bridge. If it doesn't pass that way then the slot depth is too high.
Scribe a line? , that is not the way, hold feeler gauge against nut and file till you touch the feeler gauge, it blocks you from cutting too deep, stack up feelers next to the first fret hieght, then trade out one thicker for your desired clearance. It is the quickest, most accurate way.
Appreciate the video but not quite sure from your explanation how this would be used when filing the nut slots. This is something I always find challenging so a clearer explanation of how to use this tool would be much appreciated
Just received mine, a lot glue spead outside the two blue inside pieces, looks like a 2 year old put it together. It’s a good idea, but now that I have the tool, I realize that I should make my own and better quality.
Hmmm illvget one as im intreagued, however maybe they should have provided this as a set of 2, one to check the slot to judge the correct depth then the other one could work as a file to cut the material. Both with the same arrangement, just 1 for checking the other to then cut material away
@@johnnyguitar-uu3zr no this is just a gauge that allows you to get into the sweet spot. Allows you to know when to stop filing without having to use feeler gauges.
a frett without tees, under the strings behind the nut, is the right hight. Like a zerofrett. Cheaper and faster . I build my guitars with a zerofrett, its so much better.
@@FulcrumsEdge- you can still use the “old methods” that he talks about at the beginning, just like luthiers have been doing forever. I just put a capo below the 2nd fret and either measure the clearance over the first fret, or tap the string.
@ who said I couldn’t or didn’t know how to measure? You assume to much. I don’t use height as a gauge , to many physical variables, I use the intonation at the first fret…if that is set everything else falls in place.
@@MashaT22 I had a stubborn guitar and the pain gave me insight for intonation. One if the harmonic at 12 th fret is correct then your string length is correct ignore people who say to depress the string. Depressing the string is string height dependent and can skew results, example , high action means more string travel/ tension before string touches the fret which results in raised pitch. Key, cutting the nut is most important, what I did was ignore height and cut to point where I fret the first fret and it is at perfect pitch ( if and only if your overall intonation is already set). Improved playability and intonation was rock solid. Low string height also helps for the reasons I mentioned earlier. We need to use our God given mind and stop doing everything by route or looking for some internet saviour . You are smart you can find a way.
Great review thanks. Surprised to see so many ignorant comments. Had a look at your video list and could be it's because you focus on electric guitars.
Properly set up nut slots cannot be standardized to perfection. You can get close with a device, but an experienced tech can get closer with skill. I don’t use feeler gauges. A setup has three interlocking steps that have to be done in the right order. You cannot approach nut action in a vacuum with a widget, if you want “correct.” I don’t just eyeball. I do use my eyes, lol, but there a wholistic reference technique I use. There is a crucial step that you didn’t even mention, that nobody does, that will make or break any attempt to set proper nut action. Somebody… Tell me what step I’m talking about.
I agree with the what you are saying regarding metric. It is clearly a simplier system. Strings are however universally in imperial 9-42, 10-46, 12-53, etc. String height in 64ths makes less sense to me. Metric would make more sense, particularly if you have bad eyes.
Inspired by this video I headed straight to my local music store and asked the clerk if she could help me, because I need to check my nut heights.
I'm due in court on Monday.
Got one of those recently. It's the most simple, easy way to check the nut slot height. My advice is to shoot for 5 and then play it for a while and see if it settles to less than 5. You can always file a little more off if you need to.
I ordered one of these, and it performs as shown here! My eyes can't see a .003 gap, and this tool removes all the guesswork from cutting a nut properly. At under $20, this is a no-brainer! Thanks for the great video on this!
I bought 2 pre slotted tusq nuts , 1 for my telecaster and stratocaster. And both guitars, the tone, sound has been enhanced greatly ‼️👍
I am a fan of a zero fret myself. I know not everyone will agree but I have converted a few guitars and I like them, worth a try.
Absolutely! Been doing it that way since 1964; never any problems, always accurate.
My Gretch Tennesee Rose has a zeroeth fret. Seems great but not adjustable. Also cannot change level for individual strings.
@@Dugganjx Hi Duggan, I take your point but, personally I haven't found the need for further adjustments. There are many opinions on this subject I know, mine is just one of them. 😀
@@Dugganjx: Usually, varying string heights are measured at the
twelfth fret. Closer for the high pitch strings, because they don't
move as much as the low strings. At the nut, it is much easier, to
make a single height across the first fret (0.018" to 0.020"), because
once you go too far, you have to make a new nut. Time, work and money.
Not good, if you are working on someone else's guitar.
P.S.: I am speaking about Acoustics.
The MCGB Nut Slot Gauge is legit. Bought it, used it. I recommended it.
Bought one, fabulous tool, I have 14 odd guitars and have re-filled the nuts on all of them, even my pre custom 24 had 1 slot not cut properly.
Thanks. I bought one. I’m a stickler for nut slot height. I’ve been using feelers and a digital slot depth gauge. Will give this a go
Great work. Thanks Tony!
just ordered,Thanks for the video!
Love it!! 👍
Hi Tony !
What a clever tool!
The real advantage is that you can prepare your slot depths, wihout mounting your strings first.
Nevertheless you said for example 3 means 0.003" , in reality it is 0.03".
I am french so I use millimeters and for me 0.03 is too high, it is around 0.75 mm and I usually adjust the slots with 0.5 mm, so around 0.02" ....
Great tip!!!
This video is about the Nut Slot Gauge tool made by Music City Bridge.
So ú don't measúre at the first fret using this , and if u do what # do u shoot for Tony? Thx
Thanks for the detailed review. I bought one, but I have a problem... this device is pretty dependent upon your ability to HEAR it when it drops off the edge. But I have profound hearing loss.... even with expensive hearing aids I cannot hear the click, so I am trying to do it by feel. It's possible to do it that way, but it would be easier if I could hear it.
I did use it to set up a new nut on my Telecaster. Turned out to be easy to use, because the CLICK that I cannot hear is also a step you can feel with your fingers. Point is, I don't really *have* to hear it to use it as long as I can feel that click. The nut came out perfect too.
I like this tool but instead of listening for a click I slide the gauge through the nut toward the _headstock_ , not the bridge. If it doesn't pass that way then the slot depth is too high.
Great idea
I will try that, because I have such bad hearing I can't hear the click.
Very nice tool👍
Can you use it on the bass ?
Scribe a line? , that is not the way, hold feeler gauge against nut and file till you touch the feeler gauge, it blocks you from cutting too deep, stack up feelers next to the first fret hieght, then trade out one thicker for your desired clearance. It is the quickest, most accurate way.
There are many different ways to achieve the same outcome. Thanks for watching.
Appreciate the video but not quite sure from your explanation how this would be used when filing the nut slots. This is something I always find challenging so a clearer explanation of how to use this tool would be much appreciated
@@mrmeeks85 by using the gauge you can determine easily when you are at the correct depth.
You could be over the required slot depth and you wouldn’t hear a sound either.
@ that’s why you measure more than one depth to be sure.
Crappy explanation
i thought this was a joke. sliding something with a notch over the string notch can only tell you how smooth the notch is, not how deep it is.
Just received mine, a lot glue spead outside the two blue inside pieces, looks like a 2 year old put it together. It’s a good idea, but now that I have the tool, I realize that I should make my own and better quality.
That's a bummer, you could try contacting the seller and seeing if they can help.
interested, what is the brand name of this tiny tool
My gosh: SUPERB !!! Many thanks ❤️.
.
Is this gauge setter also available in the worlds by far most used metric system?.
.
Greetings from 🇳🇱 Holland
No link for tool??
Hmmm illvget one as im intreagued, however maybe they should have provided this as a set of 2, one to check the slot to judge the correct depth then the other one could work as a file to cut the material. Both with the same arrangement, just 1 for checking the other to then cut material away
Thanks Tony
Joe Glaser is an awesome luthier/tech
Does the tool itself make the cut or just measure and then you still have to cut it with another tool Mike?
Need to use nut files. This is just to measure.
Tony does it cut the nut also ?
@@johnnyguitar-uu3zr No this is just a slot depth gauge.
@@johnnyguitar-uu3zr no this is just a gauge that allows you to get into the sweet spot. Allows you to know when to stop filing without having to use feeler gauges.
Why did they stop using zero frets?
Music City Nut Slot Gauge Thanks
Great Video.
Glad you liked it!
If I had a dollar for every nut I messed up I’d probably have like…4 dollars 😫
Joe The Genius Glaser
a frett without tees, under the strings behind the nut, is the right hight. Like a zerofrett. Cheaper and faster . I build my guitars with a zerofrett, its so much better.
And if you want the high "E" string depth to be 0.0018?
Thank you.
Welcome!
I need affordable files not really concerned about height it’s the actual filing.
Agreed! Nuts files cost a crazy amount of money!
No point in filing anything on the neck or nut without being able to gauge the height of whatever you're filing.
@@FulcrumsEdge- you can still use the “old methods” that he talks about at the beginning, just like luthiers have been doing forever. I just put a capo below the 2nd fret and either measure the clearance over the first fret, or tap the string.
@ who said I couldn’t or didn’t know how to measure? You assume to much. I don’t use height as a gauge , to many physical variables, I use the intonation at the first fret…if that is set everything else falls in place.
@@MashaT22 I had a stubborn guitar and the pain gave me insight for intonation. One if the harmonic at 12 th fret is correct then your string length is correct ignore people who say to depress the string. Depressing the string is string height dependent and can skew results, example , high action means more string travel/ tension before string touches the fret which results in raised pitch. Key, cutting the nut is most important, what I did was ignore height and cut to point where I fret the first fret and it is at perfect pitch ( if and only if your overall intonation is already set). Improved playability and intonation was rock solid. Low string height also helps for the reasons I mentioned earlier. We need to use our God given mind and stop doing everything by route or looking for some internet saviour . You are smart you can find a way.
All you need is a half of a pencil! BTW, what's with all that glue above the nut?
That’s not glue. It’s poly. Cheers
Not sure how this helps actually cut it accurately. That's the issue for me.
@@jamespowers8826 slow and steady. It allows you to know how much space you have between the bottom of the nut slot and top of the fret.
Great review thanks. Surprised to see so many ignorant comments. Had a look at your video list and could be it's because you focus on electric guitars.
Thanks for watching!
Do what pros do to get your nut slots cut at the right angle and depth. Do exactly what a pro does ...
Properly set up nut slots cannot be standardized to perfection. You can get close with a device, but an experienced tech can get closer with skill. I don’t use feeler gauges. A setup has three interlocking steps that have to be done in the right order. You cannot approach nut action in a vacuum with a widget, if you want “correct.”
I don’t just eyeball. I do use my eyes, lol, but there a wholistic reference technique I use. There is a crucial step that you didn’t even mention, that nobody does, that will make or break any attempt to set proper nut action.
Somebody… Tell me what step I’m talking about.
You’re right, there are a lot of factors that go into a great setup.
Just taking a guess...would it be straightening the neck (Truss rod) and leveling the frets to begin with.
@@glenndavis479 - my first thought too but that’s probably not going to make any real difference spanned across the nut and the first two frets?
So, 0.04 what? Inches, millimeters? Probably not fathoms.
He said hundredth of inches
@@doctoribanez Ah, yes; at 5:55 he says it, 'in thousandth of an inch'. So 0.005'' = 0,127 mm. Now it makes sense to me. Thanks!
Ya but you didn't explain witch one for each string how is a novice supposed to know 😢
If your a novice, you sould bring the guitar to a pro. Thanks for watching
Inches? Go metric, dude. You're Canadian.
@@shanewalton8888 it’s doesn’t make a difference.
Is there a metric version for 95% of the world's population ?
No...America is all that matters
@@vw9659 metric or imperial makes no difference.
95% of the worlds losers. How do you know they are losers? They whine for metric. 😏
I agree with the what you are saying regarding metric. It is clearly a simplier system.
Strings are however universally in imperial 9-42, 10-46, 12-53, etc. String height in 64ths makes less sense to me. Metric would make more sense, particularly if you have bad eyes.
No