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Topic: Tuning nut length |
Derek Blalock
From:
Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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Posted 15 Jan 2021 6:18 pm |
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I’m wanting to replace my tuning nuts but I see quite a few different lengths offered. My nutrient ones, which aren’t standard nuts but sort of a screw head shoved into a nylon sleeve, are about an inch or so long. Will it be a problem if I get some that are 5/8†instead? It would actually be easier to tune with shorter nuts for me anyway.
And I am adjusting rods as well which I figure I would have to do with a shorter but anyway. Any advice appreciated. Thanks! |
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Bobby D. Jones
From:
West Virginia, USA
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Posted 15 Jan 2021 7:33 pm Tuning Nut Length
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Each manufacture of steels set the length for the tuning nut length. Many guitars have a sleeve of either plastic or aluminum sleeve that covers the threads on the pull rod and actually transfers the pressure to the raise and lower levers of the scissors on the changer.
Very important too, Is the DIAMETER OF THE HOLE IN THE TUNING NUT. You need to give the rod diameter and the length to get the proper plastic/nylon tuning nut to fit your guitar.
Example:
My MSA uses 1/2" long, 1/8" rod.
GFI uses 1 1/2" long, 3/32" rod.
There are times there seems to be shortages of tuning nuts, Like toilet paper and paper towels.
Good Luck and Happy Steelin. |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 16 Jan 2021 2:30 am
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I've never seen tuning nuts likened to toilet paper before. Take care, everybody.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Derek Blalock
From:
Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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Posted 16 Jan 2021 4:15 am
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It does seem like a challenge to find them!
It’s a non-branded guitar I’m dealing with, and as I said the current tuning nuts are a creation of the builder I guess. So will there be any functionality issues if I go with a shorter nut? |
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Derek Blalock
From:
Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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Posted 16 Jan 2021 4:58 pm
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| Also I guess my main concern is if the nut isn’t as long as the threaded portion will the exposed threads get hung up on the changer holes? |
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Bobby D. Jones
From:
West Virginia, USA
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Posted 17 Jan 2021 3:21 am
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Since the guitar may be a hand made guitar. Could you post a couple pictures of the changer from underneath the guitar and the tuning nuts in place.
Would really help viewers see what the problem is. |
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Scott Denniston
From:
Hahns Peak, Colorado, USA
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Posted 17 Jan 2021 5:46 am
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| Derek, I don't think the exposed threads are even an issue. I mean when you back off on one to tune a pedal up or down you're exposing threads. If they were all cranked all the way down how would you get any turns out of it to tune? The tuning nuts on my Dekley are 1 3/4". Try finding those! I suspect they are that long to come out even with the end of the guitar for ease of access. |
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Scott Denniston
From:
Hahns Peak, Colorado, USA
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Derek Blalock
From:
Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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Posted 17 Jan 2021 5:23 pm
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| Bobby D. Jones wrote: |
Since the guitar may be a hand made guitar. Could you post a couple pictures of the changer from underneath the guitar and the tuning nuts in place.
Would really help viewers see what the problem is. |
1/8 inch diameter rods
Nuts are 1.5†long
I’d like to replace with typical nuts, just having trouble finding the original length.
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Scott Denniston
From:
Hahns Peak, Colorado, USA
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Posted 17 Jan 2021 6:02 pm
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| Derek, That link I posted above for Frenchy's Pedal Steel has them. Here I copied and pasted a small excerpt. >> For 1/8†rod – 5/8†long, 1†Long, 1 1/8†Long and 1 ½†long. |
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Bobby D. Jones
From:
West Virginia, USA
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Posted 17 Jan 2021 8:00 pm
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Hi Derek, Thanks for the pictures.
They used a piece of round tubing of some sort for the tuning nuts, And put Allen wrench screws in the tubing so they could turn the tuning nut to tune.
Instead of an Allen wrench you will need either a regular Steel guitar tuning wrench or a 5mm socket to adjust the new tuner nuts.
Good Luck and Happy Steelin. |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 18 Jan 2021 2:16 am
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| Derek Blalock wrote: |
| Also I guess my main concern is if the nut isn’t as long as the threaded portion will the exposed threads get hung up on the changer holes? |
That's what spacers are for. They cover the spare thread while leaving it available.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Larry Hobson
From:
Valley Grande (Selma) Al USA
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Posted 18 Jan 2021 5:43 am Tuning nuts
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Not to add to the confusion,. but would it be more correct or accurate to consider the diameter of the threads instead of the unthreaded rod? As the diameter
of the hole in the nut is selected to be compatible with the diameter of the threads Rolled threads have a larger diameter than the unthreaded rod itself. Cut threads are closer in diameter to the rod diameter. Use a micrometer. Just saying. Good luck. |
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