Loose nut

[yoods]

If a nut is loose, as in it can slide back and forth, does it matter for the sound? Or, is it important that it is glued so it does not move at all?

[Mike Crocker]

I've always used a very limited amount of glue to keep the nut in place, but still making it easy to remove if necessary. Very little is required, but you shouldn't have it moving about on you. Whether it's audible or not can be debated, but a loose nut won't help the transmission of sound, imho.

Peace, Mooh.

[Brian Ray]

Doesn't matter... but if you'd prefer to glue it, a small drop of superglue would do the trick.

[Rroyd]

Also, if the strings cross the nut at an angle, it can slide back and forth as you tune, as the tension changes, making it more difficult to get in tune. I've also seen several instruments where an outside string would not fret accurately because a loose nut had shifted sideways, and the string was out over the ends of the frets, and the owners were wondering what had gone wrong.

[onlyagibsonisgoodenuff]

In our band, the loose nut is the banjo player!
Sorry, couldn't resist.

[yoods]

Thanks, good info, except for the banjo player. I debated about how to word the questions figuring someone would have fun with it.