Guitar nut gap sizes - tight or oversize?

[Me]

Hello!

I need to get some of my guitar nuts filed out slightly as I have some of my strings catching in them and have put heavier gauge strings (11-49) on than the factory 9-42. As a result my tuning isn't always very stable with lots of whammy bar use. I was pondering if I should file them out so they're good for 10-52 (another favorite of mine) while I'm at it, or would this extra slack in bottom end nut slots be detrimental?

On a related note I was also curious as I also have my good old Parker Mojo I used to use 12-56 on at one point and had the nut filed bigger, although I can't remember what size and at what point it was in the history of my varying string gauges over the years. This has super-stable tuning, I don't notice any buzz, and it has 10-52s on currently. I can't guarantee what size they were cut out to, but I'm guessing they're technically "oversize" and I notice no obvious problem.

So, how tight should a nut be cut for the strings on it? I don't ever seem to hear anyone get a new nut whenever they reduce string gauges? Can you just cut the nut wider than you need and there's little lost as long as it doesn't buzz? Or will you lose some tone/sustain or something while it "flaps about" in it's over-size gap? Any useful rules of thumb to follow?

 

[halebox]

I use the string itself to file the lower nut slots. Just slide string back and forth into nut slot till it fits

 

[Me]

I've tried a similar method with little success. Also if I use a string that had a tendency to curve I probably won't get the highest part of the slot at the front edge the intonation could be out (or buzzy) on open strings.

 

[shredi knight]

Hello!

I need to get some of my guitar nuts filed out slightly as I have some of my strings catching in them and have put heavier gauge strings (11-49) on than the factory 9-42....

If you don't use any already, have you tried putting some lube in the nut slots to see if that relieves the strings from catching? Probably worth a try before having the nuts refiled (especially if you ever decide to go back to using a lower gauge string).

 

[vchizzle]

I've used nut files from stewmac and switched back to lighter strings without issue. Those files are worth it if you buy guitars every so often.

 

[IndyWS6]

If you change the thread title to "Preferred Gap - Tight or Loose" you'll probably get more interest. The reponses will be useless, though (kind of like this one)