What have I done? Guitar sounds awful..

Bridgehouse

Oh, and give each string a good pull and snap to make sure the slack is taken up at the tuner end. Will stabilise the tuning.

robgilmo

If it was the saddles causing the sitar sound it would still be there when the string was fretted wouldn't it?

robgilmo

Yeah I put graphite in every slot, there isn't any crud in the saddles that I can see, Ill try raising the saddles slightly. They are the standard saddles with the slots.

Bridgehouse

robgilmo said:

If it was the saddles causing the sitar sound it would still be there when the string was fretted wouldn't it?

In all probability, but good to discount everything

Don't forget the string angle at the saddle changes when you fret it (albeit minutely)

thermionic

The nut... does it look anything like this?

http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/BS8AAOSwMNxXZnQA/s-l1600.jpg

robgilmo

No the slots are much tighter than that, they don't seem to be cut in a V shape.

FelineGuitars

Brize said:

robgilmo said:

It was left on the guitar and he filed down each individual groove

You wanted to lower the action at the nut and he thought the best way to achieve that would be to file down each nut slot?

That is generally the way it is done unless there is a lot to remove.
Correct size files and care to keep the slot angled right and remove any burrs, and smooth the slot to remove file marks and maybe a little lube like Nut sauce

ICBM

Brize said:

robgilmo said:

It was left on the guitar and he filed down each individual groove

You wanted to lower the action at the nut and he thought the best way to achieve that would be to file down each nut slot?

As FelineGuitars said, it is the correct method if there's not much to take off - but if it's a Squier the nut is probably not great quality, so if you go too far on one of the slots it's probably better to replace the nut rather than try to fill the slot - which is something I would generally only do on a vintage guitar or something else where you don't really want to replace the nut if you can avoid it.

Of course it's really a lot better to not go too far in the first place! Although mistakes do happen even with a lot of experience...

robgilmo

Here are some photos guys.

https://1drv.ms/i/s!AryLpsKXwOkHhq5dAmTcVUekduwoVw

https://1drv.ms/i/s!AryLpsKXwOkHhq5f_PCXKhcN5aqsLw

https://1drv.ms/i/s!AryLpsKXwOkHhq5kmpOzV3eGBhYovQ

https://1drv.ms/i/s!AryLpsKXwOkHhq5lQ4_IRXxNPKfaSw

https://1drv.ms/i/s!AryLpsKXwOkHhq5jTtqXx-au5orzYw

https://1drv.ms/i/s!AryLpsKXwOkHhq5mHcLgktBycX93ag

https://1drv.ms/i/s!AryLpsKXwOkHhq5ZOsSYYnXusXuK3g

Now this is my Yamaha.

https://1drv.ms/i/s!AryLpsKXwOkHhq5hKS2r6sDB6sCzxw

https://1drv.ms/i/s!AryLpsKXwOkHhq5eVsb6YrPIEWS3dQ



I read this and it would seem its a good idea to have the strings a little proud of the nut, is that the case or is that more for acoustic guitars?

http://www.lutherie.net/nuts.html

Bridgehouse

I think I'd be going for a new nut...

BloodEagle

No offence to the guy you took it too, but thats an awful awful job - you need a new nut

Bridgehouse

BloodEagle said:

No offence to the guy you took it too, but thats an awful awful job - you need a new nut

I was trying to be polite in my response

Sesh

Cunning. You do a dodgy job on the nut to distract the customer so he doesn't notice you've swapped the pickups for terrible cheap ones.

Seriously, though, have you discussed this with the tech that did it? You should at least give him the chance to respond, even if you've decided you don't want him to rectify.

57Deluxe

According to Joe White - most of the guitar's resonance comes from the neck+headstock - not the body. It seems that the majority of your work is neck based. Try a heavier string weight - you can get half sizes now...

simonk

Eek, that's nasty! I'd get someone competent to put a new bone nut on it for you - a worthwhile upgrade even if the existing one wasn't a pigs ear.

octatonic

Yup, I'd replace the nut.

Blaendulais

professorben said:

robgilmo said:

So I had a local tech lower the nut height, I collected it yesterday evening but didn't get a chance to play it when I got home.
Tonight I lowered the action slightly at the bridge.


There is no buzzing, it feels nice to play, but through the amp it just sounds awful, its hard to describe but it sounds muddy, echoing kind of sound. On the clean channel on the amp its not too bad but the slightest little but of distortion on the other channel and it sounds very wrong.


Ive noticed that the saddles on the high E and B strings are sitting really very low and don't exactly follow the same curvature or radius as the rest, could that be the problem?


Ive had a play with the pick up height and it seems to make no difference. Its a Squier tele standard.


Ill have another play with the action of the E and B strings and see if that changes anything.


Any ideas ?

There's your issue.

What a pissy reply.  Thankfully others have been more helpful.

Bridgehouse

Blaendulais said:

professorben said:

robgilmo said:

So I had a local tech lower the nut height, I collected it yesterday evening but didn't get a chance to play it when I got home.
Tonight I lowered the action slightly at the bridge.


There is no buzzing, it feels nice to play, but through the amp it just sounds awful, its hard to describe but it sounds muddy, echoing kind of sound. On the clean channel on the amp its not too bad but the slightest little but of distortion on the other channel and it sounds very wrong.


Ive noticed that the saddles on the high E and B strings are sitting really very low and don't exactly follow the same curvature or radius as the rest, could that be the problem?


Ive had a play with the pick up height and it seems to make no difference. Its a Squier tele standard.


Ill have another play with the action of the E and B strings and see if that changes anything.


Any ideas ?

There's your issue.

What a pissy reply.  Thankfully others have been more helpful.

It's a long running @professorben joke... I don't think it was pissy... 

professorben

Blaendulais said:

professorben said:

robgilmo said:

So I had a local tech lower the nut height, I collected it yesterday evening but didn't get a chance to play it when I got home.
Tonight I lowered the action slightly at the bridge.


There is no buzzing, it feels nice to play, but through the amp it just sounds awful, its hard to describe but it sounds muddy, echoing kind of sound. On the clean channel on the amp its not too bad but the slightest little but of distortion on the other channel and it sounds very wrong.


Ive noticed that the saddles on the high E and B strings are sitting really very low and don't exactly follow the same curvature or radius as the rest, could that be the problem?


Ive had a play with the pick up height and it seems to make no difference. Its a Squier tele standard.


Ill have another play with the action of the E and B strings and see if that changes anything.


Any ideas ?

There's your issue.

What a pissy reply.  Thankfully others have been more helpful.

I'm here all week 

robgilmo

Thanks for the input guys, Ill order up a new nut for it. Any recommendations? Its 42 mm with 34 string spacing.
What kind of work will a new pre cut nut need? I can borrow a set of files. Unfortunately the tech I know and trust lives in the far side of London so it might be that Ill be doing this myself. At least if I fluff it up I have only myself to blame. I'm aware that the angle from nut to tuning peg is an issue, anyone want to talk me through it?