set-up problems

[toddr]

what is the ideal depth for the slots in the nut and bridge? #i have heard that the string should not be more than half of its diameter into the slot. #and how can slot depth affect intonation? #i recently re-slotted the nut on a mandolin that i built to get a lower action. #i filed the top of the nut down a bit and got the g and d strings seated very well, but the a and e are still seated pretty deep. #im getting a really "muted" tone out of the a and e. #could this be from the slots being cut too deep? #and im also getting a slight buzz or really more like a ring from the d strings. #it doesnt sound like a fret buzz, but more like a delayed ringing when the string is played open and hard. however there is no buzz when fretted. #is there a cut and dried way to set-up a new nut as far as depth and string spacing? #i need a little help please. #thanks.

[sunburst]

Half a string is the ideal depth for both nut and bridge slots. It really doesn't affect tone or volume significantly if they are deeper as long as the bottom of the slot is cut correctly, it's more for asthetics.

The dull tone and ringing you are hearing is probably because you don't have the nut slots ramped correctly. Each slot should be cut so that the bottom of the slot roughly bisects the angle of the neck and peghead and should be straight along the bottom. If the slot is parallel to the neck, the string will likely buzz like a sitar. If the slot it parallel to the peghead you can get "phantom" buzzes coming from the string between the nut and the tuner.

If the slot is rounded along its bottom you can get the sitar buzz. I suspect this may be your problem.


String spacing is up to the player, but too close to the edge of the fingerboard is not good.

The height of the strings in the nut should be the height of the frets or very slightly more.

Here's (http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician/GenSetup/NutAction/nutaction.html) what Frank Ford has to say.

[Bandersnatch Reverb]

Sometimes if you file leaves little ridges in the bottom of the slot you'll get a dead string. The fix is to inspect theslot with an eyeloup, and run the file very lightly into the slot to just kiss off the stuff on the bottom of the slot.