Could have a number of meanings, but… this is steel related
I have an Oahu ‘Tonemaster’ with a tone that I just dig the most. On the jams I play in, I often use a Charlie’s Capo to accommodate some key changes. Unlike the other laps I play, the action near the nut makes it difficult to insert capo (too low). I’m inclined to try raising the nut - initially by inserting a shim of sorts (?)… maybe a 1/16th” or at most 1/8th”. I don’t think this would affect tone (as much as a changed bridge/saddle on an acoustic instrument might)… but thought I’d float it out to the accumulated knowledge-base of this fine forum.
Larry Pogreba Baritone 'Weissenheimer
Late 30’s Oahu model 229
1940’s Oahu Tonemaster
LSLME Chatsworth (Lap Steel Legacy Mark Evans w/Sentell cust. Single coil)
1939 Gibson EH-100
2017 Richard Wilson Weissenborn style
Quilter 202 w/dockblock10
I don’t think it will change the tone except that the distance from string to pickup will be greater and you might lose something. Measure the distance you have prior to shimming and raise the pickup after shimming to match that distance.
Isn’t the Charlie’s Capo a fantastic product? I use one on my reso and am amazed at how well it works. So glad I took the plunge and got one. I was using an old Beard capo and it just wasn’t cutting it.
Thanks for the advice. I’ll keep that in mind.
Yes, the Charlie’s is a wonder. Tried a couple others and this one actually works!
Larry Pogreba Baritone 'Weissenheimer
Late 30’s Oahu model 229
1940’s Oahu Tonemaster
LSLME Chatsworth (Lap Steel Legacy Mark Evans w/Sentell cust. Single coil)
1939 Gibson EH-100
2017 Richard Wilson Weissenborn style
Quilter 202 w/dockblock10
Yeah, Bill hit the nail on the head - the nut height doesn't really matter except as it changes the distance from the strings to the pickup.
If this is a post-War Tonemaster I believe the pickup height can be adjusted by a couple of screws. If it's the pre-War Tonemaster I don't think there's an easy adjustment.
This was easy.
I shaved a shim with an old 12” measuring stick: 1/8” thick, aged wood, easy to cut with an xacto. Went right in and I got some flexibility back. Didn’t have to adjust the PU really at all.
Thanks
Mark E
(Now I got my eye on a 7 string Bluestem… first 7. To woodshed around on?)
Larry Pogreba Baritone 'Weissenheimer
Late 30’s Oahu model 229
1940’s Oahu Tonemaster
LSLME Chatsworth (Lap Steel Legacy Mark Evans w/Sentell cust. Single coil)
1939 Gibson EH-100
2017 Richard Wilson Weissenborn style
Quilter 202 w/dockblock10
I have a green MOTS Oahu lap steel and matching amp. It has a little metal rod in an inverted "U" shape that serves as the nut. I found the string height to be very low. I inserted a wooden shim under the nut, which raised it about 1/8". This helped the playability and did not affect the tone or volume in any discernable way.
