Behind the nut string bends and staying in tune

[zz666]

Sykes is the king of behind the nut bends.

 

[Ventura]

Soft lead pencils have worked for 40 years for me - a little draw on the slots before placing new wires...works like a charm - easy to apply - works fine for each installation. Smooths it out.

 

[stratjacket]

Soft lead pencils have worked for 40 years for me - a little draw on the slots before placing new wires...works like a charm - easy to apply - works fine for each installation. Smooths it out.

That is actually a damn good idea. I think I read somewhere once that lubricants (like the nut Sauce) have graphite in there, so it would make sense that a graphite lead pencil would work as well.

 

[Bob Savage]

Sorry Ventura, I don't want to get sucked into one of these little exchanges, but I have to respond. Bob, you are the one who "appears a fool" since you can't deduct that it was the bridge that I was talking about. Whether it was a fixed bridge, tremolo bridge, or tailpiece, they all represent the same part of the guitar where it meets one end of the strings. Is the a tremolo not also referred to as a bridge? If not, then please direct me to the authoritative source which defines it specifically. I wouldn't know how to be passive-aggressive since that's a trait more common in women, but you seem to carry that trait very well.

We have now entered the portion of the event where you attempt to play word games to prove that you're right. Ain't gonna work, Jr.

I think you said you've got a few degress and stuff so go back and re-read my question above. Dudes with doctorates agree, context is key so when I asked about a trem, it as related to the need of bending the string behind the nut. With a floating trem, even if it floats only a smal amount of the body, the need to bend behind the nut becomes unnecessary because you can increase tension by simply pulling back on the bar.

Next.

 

[Bob Savage]

Soft lead pencils have worked for 40 years for me - a little draw on the slots before placing new wires...works like a charm - easy to apply - works fine for each installation. Smooths it out.

Yep and this is way better than using dust/flakes in my opinion because you can just "write it on" instead of dumping all over the place.

I also stand by my ear wax recommendation.

 

[SavageRiffer]

Sorry Ventura, I don't want to get sucked into one of these little exchanges, but I have to respond. Bob, you are the one who "appears a fool" since you can't deduct that it was the bridge that I was talking about. Whether it was a fixed bridge, tremolo bridge, or tailpiece, they all represent the same part of the guitar where it meets one end of the strings. Is the a tremolo not also referred to as a bridge? If not, then please direct me to the authoritative source which defines it specifically. I wouldn't know how to be passive-aggressive since that's a trait more common in women, but you seem to carry that trait very well.

We have now entered the portion of the event where you attempt to play word games to prove that you're right. Ain't gonna work, Jr.

I think you said you've got a few degress and stuff so go back and re-read my question above. Dudes with doctorates agree, context is key so when I asked about a trem, it as related to the need of bending the string behind the nut. With a floating trem, even if it floats only a smal amount of the body, the need to bend behind the nut becomes unnecessary because you can increase tension by simply pulling back on the bar.

Next.

Ha! My degrees have nothing to do with this, but you obviously don't know jack shit about doctoral degrees or anyone who has earned one. There's no point in trying to reason with you because you are incapable of thinking beyond your narrow scope. You can't generalize the term trem as it would relate to a guitar bridge, fixed or floating, then you act like you made some kind of point because you ASSUMED that it HAD TO BE a fixed bridge since it was a behind the nut bend. Your ignorance of the behind the nut bend and guitar components are the obstacles to your understanding. Your butthurt and arrogance are the reasons for your futile attempts at mounting an argument and why somehow think you made some kind of witty point.

First of all, bending behind the nut has a unique tonality. It's a technique that can be used to raise the pitch of notes while doing legato with the left hand. It also helps when you forget your trem bar. Using the trem (or "bridge" for your dumb ass) doesn't have the same sound because the tension between the nut and tuners is different from the tension of the strings at the bridge.

The bridge, doesn't have to be a fixed trem or tailpiece. You can refer to a Floyd Rose tremolo as a bridge and there's nothing TECHNICALLY wrong with it because anyone with half a brain can deduct that the term bridge is the device that bridges the strings between the nut and the body of the guitar.

There's no play on words here. You're just too obtuse to understand simple terms, and you're so much of a prick that you seem to feel compelled to make stupid passive-aggressive comments all the time. Nice try, but you're way out of your league. Go on Youtube and you'll find a hundred examples of people with movable bridges (trems for your dumb ass) doing behind the nut bends. Look through the annals (not the word you often think of) of guitar history and find a hundred famous moments where players with movable bridges used behind the nut bends.

Now run along and be on your merry little way boy.

 

[Bob Savage]

Ha! My degwees have nothing to do wif this, but you obviouswy don't know jack shit about doctowaw degwees ow anyone who has eawned one. Dewe's no point in twying to weason wif you because you awe incapabwe of thinking beyond youw nawwow scope. You can't genewawize the tewm twem as it wouwd wewate to a guitaw bwidge, fixed ow fwoating, then you act wike you made some kind of point because you ASSUMED that it HAD TO BE a fixed bwidge since it was a behind the nut bend. Youw ignowance of the behind the nut bend and guitaw components awe the obstacwes to youw undewstanding. Youw awwogance and butthuwt awe the weasons fow youw futiwe attempts at mounting an awgument and why somehow think you made some kind of witty point.

Fiwst of aww, bending behind the nut has a uniqwe tonawity. It's a techniqwe that can be used to waise the pitch of notes whiwe doing wegato wif the weft hand. It awso hewps when you fowget youw twem baw. Using the twem (ow "bwidge" fow youw dumb ass) doesn't have the same sound because the tension between the nut and tunews is diffewent fwom the tension of the stwings at the bwidge.

De bwidge, doesn't have to be a fixed twem ow taiwpiece. You can wefew to a Fwoyd Wose twemowo as a bwidge and thewe's nothing TECHNICAWWY wwong wif it because anyone wif hawf a bwain can deduct that the tewm bwidge is the device that bwidges between the nut and the body of the guitaw.

Dewe's no pway on wowds hewe. You'we just too obtuse to undewstand simpwe tewms, and you'we so much of a pwick that you seem to feew compewwed to make stupid passive-aggwessive comments aww the time. Nice twy, but you'we way out of youw weague. Go on Youtube and you'ww find a hundwed exampwes of peopwe wif movabwe bwidges (twems fow youw dumb ass) doing behind the nut bends. Oh, dat scwewy wabbit! Wook thwough the annaws (not the wowd you often think of) of guitaw histowy and find a hundwed famous moments whewe pwayews wif movabwe bwidges used behind the nut bends. Oh, dat scwewy wabbit!

Now we're getting somewhere and have entered the Look, Lots of Words Shows I'm Right portion of the segment.

 

[japetus]

Sorry Ventura, I don't want to get sucked into one of these little exchanges, but I have to respond. Bob, you are the one who "appears a fool" since you can't deduct that it was the bridge that I was talking about. Whether it was a fixed bridge, tremolo bridge, or tailpiece, they all represent the same part of the guitar where it meets one end of the strings. Is the a tremolo not also referred to as a bridge? If not, then please direct me to the authoritative source which defines it specifically. I wouldn't know how to be passive-aggressive since that's a trait more common in women, but you seem to carry that trait very well.

We have now entered the portion of the event where you attempt to play word games to prove that you're right. Ain't gonna work, Jr.

I think you said you've got a few degress and stuff so go back and re-read my question above. Dudes with doctorates agree, context is key so when I asked about a trem, it as related to the need of bending the string behind the nut. With a floating trem, even if it floats only a smal amount of the body, the need to bend behind the nut becomes unnecessary because you can increase tension by simply pulling back on the bar.

Next.

Ha! My degrees have nothing to do with this, but you obviously don't know jack shit about doctoral degrees or anyone who has earned one. There's no point in trying to reason with you because you are incapable of thinking beyond your narrow scope. You can't generalize the term trem as it would relate to a guitar bridge, fixed or floating, then you act like you made some kind of point because you ASSUMED that it HAD TO BE a fixed bridge since it was a behind the nut bend. Your ignorance of the behind the nut bend and guitar components are the obstacles to your understanding. Your butthurt and arrogance are the reasons for your futile attempts at mounting an argument and why somehow think you made some kind of witty point.

First of all, bending behind the nut has a unique tonality. It's a technique that can be used to raise the pitch of notes while doing legato with the left hand. It also helps when you forget your trem bar. Using the trem (or "bridge" for your dumb ass) doesn't have the same sound because the tension between the nut and tuners is different from the tension of the strings at the bridge.

The bridge, doesn't have to be a fixed trem or tailpiece. You can refer to a Floyd Rose tremolo as a bridge and there's nothing TECHNICALLY wrong with it because anyone with half a brain can deduct that the term bridge is the device that bridges the strings between the nut and the body of the guitar.

There's no play on words here. You're just too obtuse to understand simple terms, and you're so much of a prick that you seem to feel compelled to make stupid passive-aggressive comments all the time. Nice try, but you're way out of your league. Go on Youtube and you'll find a hundred examples of people with movable bridges (trems for your dumb ass) doing behind the nut bends. Look through the annals (not the word you often think of) of guitar history and find a hundred famous moments where players with movable bridges used behind the nut bends.

Now run along and be on your merry little way boy.

Dr. Nut Bends in the house, ladies and gentleman.

 

[Ventura]

Soft lead pencils have worked for 40 years for me - a little draw on the slots before placing new wires...works like a charm - easy to apply - works fine for each installation. Smooths it out.

That is actually a damn good idea. I think I read somewhere once that lubricants (like the nut Sauce) have graphite in there, so it would make sense that a graphite lead pencil would work as well.

Yep and this is way better than using dust/flakes in my opinion because you can just "write it on" instead of dumping all over the place.

I also stand by my ear wax recommendation.

Considering that your standard pencil is just that - pure graphite of varying shades and densities - I went with as soft a pencil I could find (typically darker in hue than the harder pencils) lead wise, and keep a few around - in my cases - in my rack - up my crack - wherever... But hey, sharpen it - you put a few strokes on the nut slot, BAM works like a charm.

Lasts too. Being dry and all - just imbeds into the strings and the bone (nut) and over time, that 4mm or 6mm of space just gets well treated with the lead and stays slick - no pings, twinks, pleeks, plonks, twangs or the like.

Outside of this - with respect to the heated discussion going on between two Savage-related members, ahem... I'd have personally thought, just out of my own mental landscape, that if anyone is mentioning behind-the-nut bends, they're also playing a fixed bridge guitar. I don't know why, because yes, people like Vai, Lynch, Malmsteen, Morello, Jake E Lee, and a host of other trem-equipped players do often use the bar and the bend in unison to create big time range and scope of pitch, but for whatever reason, I default to thinking "fixed bridge".

I see this as an honest assumptive mistake. The first thing I'd ask if someone was asking me about behind-the-nut bends with a whammy equipped guitar is if their trem was locking or full-floating. If it's full floating, I'd be asking more questions; if it was locked, I'd be satisfied with that answer. But I'm in no way engaging in this argument, just saying from a neutral third party perspective....

Let's keep it real cats. We're all here for our love of music and our obsession over gear and tone. Differences are totally acceptable, but getting aggro on a forum is best left for tossing tweeners.

Rock on men!!
Mo

 

[Ventura]

 

[BackCrack]

I picked a couple of these at a garage sale at a retired Boeing engineer's home. He told me the teflon suspended in the oil will make anything it touches have a lot less surface friction. I was thinking of my electric clippers at first, but I've been using the stuff on my saddles, nut slots, and tremolo pivot points ever since. Just a drop here and there and the guitars stay in tune better. YMMV.

 

[messenger]

I read an interview with Zakk Wylde and he said the intro to shot in the dark gave him tuning issues so he sampled it and had the key board player play it.

 

[gibson5413]

Ha! My degwees have nothing to do wif this, but you obviouswy don't know jack shit about doctowaw degwees ow anyone who has eawned one. Dewe's no point in twying to weason wif you because you awe incapabwe of thinking beyond youw nawwow scope. You can't genewawize the tewm twem as it wouwd wewate to a guitaw bwidge, fixed ow fwoating, then you act wike you made some kind of point because you ASSUMED that it HAD TO BE a fixed bwidge since it was a behind the nut bend. Youw ignowance of the behind the nut bend and guitaw components awe the obstacwes to youw undewstanding. Youw awwogance and butthuwt awe the weasons fow youw futiwe attempts at mounting an awgument and why somehow think you made some kind of witty point.

Fiwst of aww, bending behind the nut has a uniqwe tonawity. It's a techniqwe that can be used to waise the pitch of notes whiwe doing wegato wif the weft hand. It awso hewps when you fowget youw twem baw. Using the twem (ow "bwidge" fow youw dumb ass) doesn't have the same sound because the tension between the nut and tunews is diffewent fwom the tension of the stwings at the bwidge.

De bwidge, doesn't have to be a fixed twem ow taiwpiece. You can wefew to a Fwoyd Wose twemowo as a bwidge and thewe's nothing TECHNICAWWY wwong wif it because anyone wif hawf a bwain can deduct that the tewm bwidge is the device that bwidges between the nut and the body of the guitaw.

Dewe's no pway on wowds hewe. You'we just too obtuse to undewstand simpwe tewms, and you'we so much of a pwick that you seem to feew compewwed to make stupid passive-aggwessive comments aww the time. Nice twy, but you'we way out of youw weague. Go on Youtube and you'ww find a hundwed exampwes of peopwe wif movabwe bwidges (twems fow youw dumb ass) doing behind the nut bends. Oh, dat scwewy wabbit! Wook thwough the annaws (not the wowd you often think of) of guitaw histowy and find a hundwed famous moments whewe pwayews wif movabwe bwidges used behind the nut bends. Oh, dat scwewy wabbit!

Now we're getting somewhere and have entered the Look, Lots of Words Shows I'm Right portion of the segment.

Lulz!! I Bob!!

 

[mctallica1]

Soft lead pencils have worked for 40 years for me - a little draw on the slots before placing new wires...works like a charm - easy to apply - works fine for each installation. Smooths it out.

Not that I’m any kind of expert, but I’ve been doing the pencil thing for about 30 years myself and it works great.

 

[Ventura]

Soft lead pencils have worked for 40 years for me - a little draw on the slots before placing new wires...works like a charm - easy to apply - works fine for each installation. Smooths it out.

Not that I’m any kind of expert, but I’ve been doing the pencil thing for about 30 years myself and it works great.

That makes you an expert

It's called "years of experience". It actually holds some weight.

 

[maddnotez]

Savage Riffer always delivers.

 

[SavageRiffer]

Savage Riffer always delivers.

How predictable. Typical troll, gets butthurt then starts digging up old threads. Jeez, you are pathetic. Let me guess, you're going to keep on doing the same boring old shit when I post something. Wow! You're so original.

 

[Riggins1966]

Soft lead pencils have worked for 40 years for me - a little draw on the slots before placing new wires...works like a charm - easy to apply - works fine for each installation. Smooths it out.

Yep and this is way better than using dust/flakes in my opinion because you can just "write it on" instead of dumping all over the place.

I also stand by my ear wax recommendation.

lol, while I concur that earwax would absolutely work, chapstick is less gross