How does this affect the sound of my uke? (2024)

Hi,

Recently I was changing a nut on my uke, but it seems that the luthier didn't perfectly fit the new nut.

You can see on the photos, one side has a perfect fit, while there is tiny gap between the neck and the nut on the other side. The luthier said it was very difficult to remove the old nut as it was tightly glued in, so it looks a bit messy.

My question to some uke experts or luthiers on this forum, How is this affecting the sound of the uke? Is it something I should be concerned about? Should I take it to a luthier or keep it as is until next time a nut is replaced?

The setup is quite low at first nut for good playability. I fear if I manage to now get it all in for a perfect fit, it might start buzzing...

Thanks for your feedback.

Especially with low action at the nut, I suspect this is nothing to worry about but am also guessing that luthier doesn’t specialize in uke repair. If the uke cost more than $100.00, I’d be more disappointed in the unsightly glob on the headstock behind the nut than with the small gap at the nut base.

Do you notice any problem with sound?

Oldscruggsfan said:

Especially with low action at the nut, I suspect this is nothing to worry about but am also guessing that luthier doesn’t specialize in uke repair. If the uke cost more than $100.00, I’d be more disappointed in the unsightly glob on the headstock behind the nut than with the small gap at the nut base.

See Also

Anyone played a new Oli uke?Intermediate Acoustic-Electric Concert uke wanted. CONFUSED!!!

Do you notice any problem with sound?

Click to expand...

I was very upset seeing that glob on the headstock indeed. The luthier has a really good reputation, but I agree he has no idea in ukes. The reason why he needed to change the nut at the first place was cause he cut it so low when left it for a setup, like for electric guitar setup .

It was buzzing badly when fingerpicked. But it's done, so I have to accept it as such was just wondering if I should be looking for another luthier... but it seems I'll just go with it as the sounds is quite nice... I was wondering if it would be better if better seated, but it was new uke taken for setup, so I couldn't tell for sure.

Thanks

Ukecaster said:

If it plays & sounds good, I'd just leave it alone. Could it be better by perfectly seating the nut? Who knows. I'd only attempt a fix if the visual really bothered me. If so, It's easy to loosen strings, score the nut seams with an Exacto razor. Then tap the nut end with light hammer to pop it off, clean up old glue, fit the nut and reglue with only a drop or 2 of Titebond glue. Then apply tension to the strings, wait a few hours, and voila...there you go!

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Thanks Ukecaster, I was considering that. But having the strings so low already on the unwound Low G concerns me of lowering it further for buzzing. The luthier had to change it at the first place cause of bad initial setup for buzzing. I guess I'll just play it for a while and bother with fixing it some other time further down the road.

Thanks

Oldscruggsfan said:

Especially with low action at the nut, I suspect this is nothing to worry about but am also guessing that luthier doesn’t specialize in uke repair. If the uke cost more than $100.00, I’d be more disappointed in the unsightly glob on the headstock behind the nut than with the small gap at the nut base.

Do you notice any problem with sound?

Click to expand...

Do you think there may be a remedy of fixing that headstock damage or making it look better at least?

Guessing here, with no expertise regarding luthiery...

It may be that the gap the arrow is pointing at appears as it does because something akin to a screwdriver was used to pry out the old nut. The nut sits in the slot that is recessed on both sides, so how else do you get it out... maybe by wedging something under it? Notice that it is not straight across like the other side. So it may well be seated fine, except the slot is no longer completely flat to the edge where you see the gap.

Someone good (yes, the luthier you used likely is not) might be able to make that white part look better. Is it glue or just completely scraped up? If glue, find out from the luthier what he used, so you could tell the next luthier what it is. If scraped, it could likely be improved with buffing.

Good luck with figuring this all out.

andy_t said:

I was just wondering if I should be looking for another luthier...

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Stop wondering: YES is the answer.

Even I could have done a better job at that - the fact that he just screws up the nut (the nut itself and the installation) when doing a set-up, means not only that he doesn't know diddly about ukulele, but also that he doesn't even bother to look it up to at least try to do things right. This to me looks like a get it done and out - job.

Removing the nut difficult? Come on...
The nut is not seated properly, so he probably didn't clean the nutslot before (re-)installing the nut...
If it was hard to remove when he got it, so will it now, looking at the amount of overspill (superglue?) you got on the headstock.

• Nope, we don't clean up our squeeze-out.
• Nope, we don't care about the next luthier who might work on this (and that is a sacred rule IMO...)

I hope you at least got a sorry for that mess...

(note to self: stay calm, breathe in... and out... )

rainbow21 said:

The nut sits in the slot that is recessed on both sides, so how else do you get it out... maybe by wedging something under it?

Click to expand...

• you score a line at the headstock and fretboard with an exacto-knife (if there is a build-up of laquer or when you see that it's glued on the sides, which is a no-no).
• you tap it out with a small block, hitting the nut from the fretboard-side. It should just pop out, it gets levered over the lower edge on the headstock.

andy_t said:

The luthier said it was very difficult to remove the old nut as it was tightly glued in, so it looks a bit messy.

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well, that sounds like that was your "I'm sorry" from the luthier. lame

100% agree with PTRarch on everything said. That bead of glue squeeze is inexcusable and YOU could (and can) do a better job than that. Get some cheap calipers from harbor freight, measure that nut and be on the lookout for a pre slotted replacement with similar dimensions. It will most likely need to be filed down but isn't too difficult with patience and some pretty affordable tools (nut files aren't free but they are worth every penny).

If you're just not comfortable doing it yourself, definitely find a better luthier. Where are you located? Maybe someone in your area could recommend who to see. Are there any clubs or other players nearby? Go to an event and ask.

As said above, if it still sounds good to you, leave it for now and enjoy it. If you can't move past it, work on finding someone else. Alternatively, you might take some time learning how to adjust a nut yourself. I was lucky to have a friend who taught himself lutherie and has done total restorations of guitars so I had some guidance. There's a lot of info on youtube and some great luthiers who share their expertise too that you can learn from.

To echo what PTRarch said....I KNOW I could have done a better job than that because I have.

Good luck

-Steve

I'm no luthier either, but I agree with PTRarch, I could have done a better job.

And so can you!!

If you're afraid to mess with your "nice" ukuleles, buy a few cheap ones just to practice stuff like this.

For me, set up and maintenance are all part of the process. Leaving an instrument with someone so they can fine tune a set up is silly. Only you will know what feels right to you. Getting that action just how you want want it might involve fitting that nut two, three or more times. Maybe even going too low and having to get a new nut or fill slots and starting over.

Its not always Tiptoe Through the Tulips, sometimes its bone dust and hide glue.

I was going to suggest what @Knows Picker said above about getting a less expensive uke to experiment on. who know, you might be amazed at how much better you can make a lesser instrument with a little adjusting and love

"bone dust and hide glue" sounds like it should be a campfire song!

Make sure you really yowl on this one, with a kind of "Stone Walls and Steel Bars" mood:

Bone dust and hide glue,
My ukulele and you.
Sittin' by the campfire
With a love thats so true.

You dont love my strumming,
It's poor, that is true.
And now you don't love me
I'm just left with the glue.

Old hide glue's got a smell
Or so I've been told
But it doesn't compare, dear
With your fragrance so bold.