Changing string gauge -- at what point do you need a new nut?

MentalSharps · September 2023

Just wondering, at what point you would need to actually replace the nut, or take it to a luthier? ie, a nut that was cut for 8 gauge strings, putting 11's on there. Or a guitar setup for 10's, putting 8's on?

I have some guitars I plan to take to a luthier for a proper setup when I can afford to anyway, but wondering if changing string gauges would need a different nut which I'd like to avoid, so I might be better off just learning to adapt to the gauge the guitar came setup for.

Whistler · September 2023

If it ain't broke then don't fix it. In other words, if it feels good to you and you are not getting fret buzzes anytime then carry on as you are.

If you are getting fret buzzing then further attention is warranted, either by taking your guitar to a techie or by learning to do it yourself. You will have a truss rod lever - an allen key - with the guitar and most other things to do with the action and intonation are done using a measuring device, small Phillips screwdriver and small allen keys.

Funkfingers · September 2023

On most wooden guitar necks, changing from 10-46 to 8-thirtysomething will require a relaxing of the truss rod tension.

Leaving the tension *as is* will almost certainly result in the strings choking against the frets in the lowest positions.

Use the tools supplied to slacken the truss rod in small increments until the strings clear the first fret by at least 4 thou of an inch.

Sorry. I have no clue what 4 thou is in Metric. My feeler gauge set is Imperial.

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Changing string gauge -- at what point do you need a new nut?

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