Which way should an extension nut face?

Subject: Which way should an extension nut face?
From: Cool Beans
Date: 29 Jun 09 - 03:03 PM

I'm temporarily converting a regular guitar into a slide guitar by using a metal extension nut (also called a nut riser, ha ha) which fits over the guitar's regular nut and raises the strings higher off the fingerboard. Problem is, the extension nut is asymmetrical: one side slopes gently, the other has a sheer drop like a cliff. Which side should face the fingerboard and which the tuning pegs? Logic tells me that the steeper side, the one that looks like a cliff, should go where the bigger drop-off is, i.e., the side that faces the tuning pegs. But logic doesn't always prevail in music, does it? Has anybody done this (successfully, I mean)?

Subject: RE: Which way should an extension nut face?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 29 Jun 09 - 03:09 PM

Never done it , but I would say the Vertical side faces up the neck and the slope looks at machine heads .
But what do I know ! I am an Ex saxophone player !

Subject: RE: Which way should an extension nut face?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 29 Jun 09 - 03:34 PM

Yep, the playing length of the strings should come off a clean-break, so the 'sloped' side goes head-end and the 'sheer drop' side goes fingerboard-end. Check out the existing nut, it should be the same.

Subject: RE: Which way should an extension nut face?
From: Cool Beans
Date: 29 Jun 09 - 03:37 PM

Thank you both! I shall proceed.

Subject: RE: Which way should an extension nut face?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 29 Jun 09 - 04:31 PM

That's the right answer. But on a slide guitar, it doesn't reall matter unless you play by looking at the frets.

Subject: RE: Which way should an extension nut face?
From: Cool Beans
Date: 29 Jun 09 - 05:01 PM

I did it. It's working. Thanks, all.

Subject: RE: Which way should an extension nut face?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 29 Jun 09 - 05:04 PM

So when do we see you on 'You Tube' ??

Subject: RE: Which way should an extension nut face?
From: Cool Beans
Date: 29 Jun 09 - 06:12 PM

Any day now. Just call me Fretbunglr.

Subject: RE: Which way should an extension nut face?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 29 Jun 09 - 06:57 PM

LOL