I'm doing a general upgrade (pots, switch, output jack, bridge) on my Tribute Asat Classic (which has been modified to a Bluesboy) and I was just looking for this information so that I can also upgrade the plastic nut to something better.
Craig wrote:[From a recent post in the Let's Talk G&L Products sub-forum
Sat Feb 25, 2012 11:01 am]
92 legacy nut
Does anyone know whether these nuts are curved or flat on the bottom?
On the USA models, the nut slot is radiused.
The nut slot radius will match the fretboard radius.
So, the bottom of the nut is curved.
On the Tribute Series models (made in Korea and Indonesia) the nut slot is flat and the bottom of
the nut is flat.
Here's some updated information on current G&L nuts and nut slots, which I got from Spencer Brown, General Foreman at the factory:
We buy the nuts as oversized blanks. In the past they were radiused on the bottom to match the radiused slot made by the swing-arm slotter.
The blanks are 1/8" wide, and we buy 2" lengths so they are large enough to fit all our necks and cut them down to size. We switched over to a flat
bottom slot about a year ago to simplify installation and replacement.
As for the slots, all necks which are run on the PLEK have the nuts slotted by the PLEK. Prior to that they were mostly all hand cut. I know pre-slotted nuts
were used from time to time, but that would be the exception rather than the rule.
Might it be possible to ask the factory whether it's OK to flatten the nut slot in a fingerboard that has a curved one?
I've made myself a jig for radiusing the rear face of my own new nuts because of G&L's practise of cutting the nut slots with the radius swinger, but I'd much rather sand nuts flat for a flat slot! Easier to fine-slip a new nut from side to side in a flat slot before sticking it, too.
I am just a little concerned about the possibility of weakening anything by removing rosewood from the bottom of a curved slot...
NickHorne wrote:Might it be possible to ask the factory whether it's OK to flatten the nut slot in a fingerboard that has a curved one?
I've made myself a jig for radiusing the rear face of my own new nuts because of G&L's practise of cutting the nut slots with the radius swinger, but I'd much rather sand nuts flat for a flat slot! Easier to fine-slip a new nut from side to side in a flat slot before sticking it, too.
I am just a little concerned about the possibility of weakening anything by removing rosewood from the bottom of a curved slot...
NickHorne wrote:Might it be possible to ask the factory whether it's OK to flatten the nut slot in a fingerboard that has a curved one?
I've made myself a jig for radiusing the rear face of my own new nuts because of G&L's practise of cutting the nut slots with the radius swinger, but I'd much rather sand nuts flat for a flat slot! Easier to fine-slip a new nut from side to side in a flat slot before sticking it, too.
I am just a little concerned about the possibility of weakening anything by removing rosewood from the bottom of a curved slot...
I will check ...
Stay tuned.
I heard back from Spencer:
Hi Craig,
It’s perfectly fine to flatten the slot. Our current necks come with flatnut slots now that they are all cut on our CNC rather than the swing arm.
Thank you, very much! Your detective work is sincerely appreciated.
Thanks to Spencer too.
Now that there is clarity on this sensitive detail, life will be easier for sure.
