Nut Problems

[bluegrassplayer]

I just got a bone nut put on my mandolin. Now if you tune the "A" strings parallel when they are open, one string plays higher than the other when you fret them both. It is just the "A" strings, so my frets aren't off. What is the problem? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[Stephanie Reiser]

Double check to see if one slot is lower (or higher) than the other.

[Dale Ludewig]

Amen. You can really confirm it if the difference between the two strings gets less as you move away from the nut. Like try the 7th or 8th fret. If they're close there, you have a nut slot height difference. Easily fixable.

[Jim Hilburn]

I find that problem happens most often when the pairs are too close to each other. A little spread helps keep a more even pressure on them when fretting.

[Antlurz]

You might also check to insure that both strings are positioning on the very front edge of the nut. If the angle is wrong on one of the notches and it is actually positioning farther back inside the nut than right at the front edge, you effectively have two different string lengths. When you tune them together, they sound fine on an open fret, but all heck breaks loose when you fret them.

Ron

[banjomanva]

i had a friend with the exact same problem...seems that it ended up being the position on the nut, not the depth....1 was pulling off of the front of the nut and the other was coming off of the back. his intonation was horrible, but just on the strings in question.