Squareneck String Height Question

[slide496]

I have a parlor squareneck from the late 30's - a harmony richter.

Measurements from top of string to top of fret currently at the 1st fret 1.5875 mm and at twelfth 9.525.

My roundneck oahu is also along those lines - kind of low at the first fret but much higher than stella at the twelfth.

My question is is that how they are supposed to be or did someone cut down the nut to make it playable roundneck style?

Both the harmony and the oahu came with wood nuts and the top looks like its been shaped on my richter but I only have these two as an example and don't know how they came originally. Anyone know how these came originally?


Thanks,
Harriet

[snakehips]

Hi there !

As always, pictures please !!!!!!!

[slide496]

I did not want to change the original materials for the nut - I fit a new fixed saddle/bridge but I removed the metal saddle from the old and fit it in the new one. The old ones kept splitting so I had to do that.


Here's an early soundtest from 2013 with the materials, played roundneck style - its the stencilled one -


Thanks for the help!

[pete1951]

I guess the easy way would be a `nut raiser`. Stewart-MacDonald sell them (They call them Extension Nuts )
This would give you lots of string height without changing your original nut.
PT

[slide496]

Thanks Pete1951, I'm not sure I want to raise it but if I did I would shim it from the bottom. In an earlier thread Michael mentioned edging strip material.

I got a roll - mine came with glue backing - and its worked out very well for me - I iron the strip on and then cut it. Done that on 3 at least and if there's something wrong you can iron it which loosens the glue and then remove it.

I'm mainly interested to know what the normal height at nut for this kind of guitar if anyone has a vintage with the original set up or has seen one.

[mitchfit]

pre-apology---no input or worthwhile contribution as to your problem. more curiosity, how'd you get a measurement three digits right of the decimal point, feeler gauge?

that's all i could come up with as calipers would be too easy to apply too much pressure with. [throwing off the measurement]

nice guitar!!!

mitchfit

[slide496]

Hi Mitchfit,

Thanks for your kind words about the guitar.

I used an online converter - since I am across the pond in the US - an inch to mm converter.

Harriet

[zak71]

It looks like someone may have sanded down the nut on your Oahu to facilitate playing 1st position chords without a slide.
All the ones I've seen that really looked unaltered had a nut that was too tall to enable fretting, but still on the low side by squareneck standards.

I don't know if you can get a real sense of height from this photo:








Easiest solution in the case of your guitar would be to purchase a nut extender, they're inexpensive, and all you need to do to install or remove it is loosen your strings, slip it over the nut (or remove it, whichever the case may be), and tune up again.

[slide496]

Thanks Zak71, I think you are right - confirms my suspicions.

Two up for the nut extender then!

I don't think my low saddle height will get on with an extender on the richter but thanks to Pete1951 and you for putting the idea in mind as my Oahu the saddle is certainly high enough to test. and the bass is really overbearing on it so it doesn't get played roundneck style.

Harriet