Graph Tech Tusq XL Tone and Sound Test vs. Stock Nut on Fender Stratocaster

[wakeboarder860]

The nut would only make a difference on open string tone... Once a note is fretted the nut side of the string is entirely isolated from the part of the string that vibrates and produces the note.

[who8allthepies]

usa strat nuts are made from cyclovac its a mixture of plastic and bone dust.

[JimmyPage968]

Fender uses corian for their nuts.

[flynscot]

@JimmyPage968-- On certain models, yes. The standard Strats are bone or plastic. Most of the Mexi-Strats are definitely plastic.

[wipers86]

I bet you just wanted to kill them kids lol does the nut improve the guitars sustain or just tone or both ? you should definitely change to Seymour Duncan Elixer's are better for acoustics guitars I found with Elixer's on electric guitars one of the strings was duller than the others and it just ruined the sound when playing chords

[flynscot]

@wipers86

Nah, the kiddo's a keeper- cracks me up every time I see that part. Sustain is better. I think sustain is improved through doing lots of little things rather than one big thing. All guitars are different. If you are getting dull/dead notes after changing strings, it could be a nut slot issue- the new strings may be a different gauge or even one of the "same" gauge could be slightly smaller or larger than the nut slot. Different manufacturers' strings are all a little different.

[wipers86]

@flynscot thanks for the feedback man

[stratthead]

The stock nut definitely sounded fuller. But it's hard to tell because of the nasty clipping. Is that the camera mic distorting like that? With the Graph Tech, there was more of a plink in the tone which really clipped the amp or camera for that harsh break up. What was your conclusion after hearing in person? Was string height identical between nuts?

[flynscot]

@stratthead I noticed it too. Almost like the volume or gain was off. The Graph tech gives a fuller, more voluminous sound, and somewhat better sustain over the stock plastic. In person it is a subtle, yet notable change. Certainly worth 13 bucks.

What I think is happening is that the Graph Tech nut doesn't damp the string vibrations at the neck like the stock nut. There is a discernable increase in the string vibration transferred to the neck.

String heights and action wer the same.

[flynscot]

--- I guess if I had to describe the effect, I would say the Graph Tech nut is more efficient in it's sound transfer.

[flynscot]

Thanks for the comments!

The pickups are standard Fender. Still the stock pickups.

Thinking of changing over to Seymour Duncans in the future.

[skylorz]

Wht kinda pickups r in tht guitar?

[PANICBLADE]

EXCELLENT finally one of these! so there is pretty distinct tonal difference all around huh, that means nut material DOES contribute to the overall guitar tone and not just the open strings. It seems the nut has more influence over the guitars tone than I thought. Amazing job guys, and great playing!