String clearance at the first fret?

[carfish7]

I have a guitar that I replaced the nut on(Floyd) and the new nut allows the strings to deck out on the first fret. I ordered a set of shims and they are in 3 different sizes. Is there a preferred measurement for clearance at the first fret that will make for the best action? It is a fairly flat radius fingerboard if that matters.

Thanks.

Z

[dragan]

I'm guessing : whatever feels right between, fretting out ( too low ) and first fret sharp( too high )

[ZR]

Haha! I thought the thread title meant they had strings on sale at a place called first fret!!

[carfish7]

Well, I got 6 shims in the packet from Allparts. Installed all 6 and I'm STILL not high enough..........

[AdmiralB]

Fret at the second. You should just be able to see light between the first fret and the string.

[Jeff R]

If you have that many shims in that slot, you may need to build up the shelf with a little more wood or get a new nut that's as tall as the original one.

[carfish7]

If you have that many shims in that slot, you may need to build up the shelf with a little more wood or get a new nut that's as tall as the original one.

I thought I had gotten the correct one, but I guess not. It is for a 1987 Ibanez and the nut I ordered was the right width, but I guess they have differing heights, too? I don't know......

Gonna go to the craft store and buy a strip of brass in the right thickness and then use these thin shims to dial it in.

I could never figure out why the guitar had such a buzzy skinny "E" string, then noticed one day that it was apparently a LEFT HANDED Floyd nut. The string had a wide channel to vibrate side-to-side and sounded sitar-like. Who knew?!?

Anyone need a black left-handed Floyd nut in 43mm width?

[Jeff R]

"1987 Ibanez" sounds like Ibanez Edge. Don't know if this will help you, but those bridges were made by Gotoh for Ibanez. Maybe a Gotoh-manufactured nut is what you need?

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

Well, I got 6 shims in the packet from Allparts. Installed all 6 and I'm STILL not high enough..........

Fkn ballcocks! That's some thin shims! You need anymore lol? Just bleb some weld under that nut hehe

[carfish7]

"1987 Ibanez" sounds like Ibanez Edge. Don't know if this will help you, but those bridges were made by Gotoh for Ibanez. Maybe a Gotoh-manufactured nut is what you need?

Ibanez Edge, check.

[FrankieIII]

Fret at the second. You should just be able to see light between the first fret and the string.

+ 1

[benjammin308]

I use an automotive feeler guage and go for .010 to .012 inches (ten to twelve thousandths) for the space between the the top of the first fret and the bottom of the first string. More clearance for the heavier strings, up to .020 for the low E.

[Feynman]

Hmm...maybe it's you.

[veatch]

First, I do normal intonation (which is for pussies) and then when fretting the first fret, check if it is in tune. If it is sharp, you're too high. If it is flat, it is too low (and you are probably already fretting out)

[FrankieIII]

Fret at the second. You should just be able to see light between the first fret and the string.

+ 1

Oops.... This should be "fret at the 3rd" not 2nd.

Or, another excellent method is to cut the depth of each nut slot so the clearance between the bottom of each open string and the top of the first fret is roughly the thickness of each string. Make sure nut is cut after truss rod and bridge saddle height are adjusted properly.

[carfish7]

Hmm...maybe it's you.

Heh, you think maybe?

[carfish7]

Fret at the second. You should just be able to see light between the first fret and the string.

+ 1

Oops.... This should be "fret at the 3rd" not 2nd.

Or, another excellent method is to cut the depth of each nut slot so the clearance between the bottom of each open string and the top of the first fret is roughly the thickness of each string. Make sure nut is cut after truss rod and bridge saddle height are adjusted properly.

No nut cutting in this case as it is a Floyd locking nut but thanks all the same!

[murkat]

usually, I use a coke can, cut in pieces to shim, and use a piece to guage the height on the first fret, and go from there.

simple

[FrankieIII]

Fret at the second. You should just be able to see light between the first fret and the string.

+ 1

Oops.... This should be "fret at the 3rd" not 2nd.

Or, another excellent method is to cut the depth of each nut slot so the clearance between the bottom of each open string and the top of the first fret is roughly the thickness of each string. Make sure nut is cut after truss rod and bridge saddle height are adjusted properly.

No nut cutting in this case as it is a Floyd locking nut but thanks all the same!

It's the same for either type regarding the proper string height at the first fret, but I realize you're limited with the Floyd nut since you can't cut each slot.