Dans TL1-A

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/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from wokkaboy on June 23, 2014, 16:33
Dan, sounds like the bridge is too far back, you say you never routed the bridge pup cavity about 5mm forward ?
Please post the measurement of nut to 12th fret and 12th fret to treble and bass saddles

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Thanks Wokka, no I did move the bridge as far forward as it would go ( hard up against the PG)sorry if I wasn't clear.

nut to 12th fret= 323mm
12th fret to 1st string = 327mm
12th fret to 6th string = 333mm

As I say, this gives correct intonation at the 12th fret

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/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from WeirdBits on June 23, 2014, 18:10
If it's sharp in the first part of the fretboard it may be your nut height. As a quick check, if you fret a string at the 3rd fret it should just clear the 1st fret (if you give it a light tap with your finger over the fret you should just hear it hit the metal).

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Thanks Scott, I think you may have nailed it.
I noticed the nut height was high when I was setting up but was only thinking of playability concerns, didn't realise it would affect tuning too.
There is a gap of about .020" at the first fret (6th string) when fretted at the 3rd fret, my book gives a figure of .020 - .022" at the first fret "unfretted" so clearly too high as is.

My book also says nut work should only be attempted by a professional.... also, I understand a set of nut files is fairly expensive.
Any suggestions how I should proceed?

Cheers

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/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from danluland@dodo.com.au on June 24, 2014, 08:05

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/<\\/p>[/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/]<\\/p>/Quote from wokkaboy on June 23, 2014, 16:33
Dan, sounds like the bridge is too far back, you say you never routed the bridge pup cavity about 5mm forward ?
Please post the measurement of nut to 12th fret and 12th fret to treble and bass saddles

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Thanks Wokka, no I did move the bridge as far forward as it would go ( hard up against the PG)sorry if I wasn't clear.

nut to 12th fret= 323mm
12th fret to 1st string = 327mm
12th fret to 6th string = 333mm

As I say, this gives correct intonation at the 12th fret

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Should probably also mention that I've loaded a set of 10-46 strings on there.

Dan, yes sounds like the nut slots are too high, where do you live ? I'd suggest you find a guitar tech maybe at a music shop that can cut the slots deeper. I just forked out for a set of nut slot files so I don't have to keep annoying DB, they are $100 including postage for a set of 3 double sided files from realtone.

Is it the stock plastic nut? If you want to have at go at modifying it yourself (cheaply) you have a couple of options (attempt at your own risk): Grab some old strings, particularly the wound strings, rough up short lengths with some coarse sandpaper and then use the matching strings to carefully saw each slot slightly deeper, test and repeat. Or, grab yourself a cheap feeler gauge and make your own nut files. Even if you just come up with something thin enough to work for the G string, you can use it on the other thicker slots and then finish them up with the old string method. While these options aren't ideal, with care and patience they could get you close enough. Start with one slot, get that right and check that it has the desired effect on the tuning before moving on to the others. Small adjustment, test, small adjustment, test, as you don't want to go too deep and ruin your nut.

Obviously, the best option is to get a new nut made that specifically matches your neck, action and string gauge, or at the very least an off the shelf nut that's a close match that you can then tweak as needed.

Just remove the plastic nut and get a bone nut. You can file the bottom of the nut to lower the height if you don't have nut files. That's what I did before I got my files. Do remember to use a flat edge like a ruler to keep the bottom perfectly flat. Keep checking as you go so you don't take off too much.

Thanks guys,

Having resigned myself to changing the nut I thought I might as well have a go at the slots first to see if I could get it better. I just folded a pice of 240 grit and carefully deepened the slots, checking regularly as I went. I certainly wouldn't recommend this method and inevitably there was a bit of widening of the slots too, but.....

It worked!! My TL1 is now perfectly in tune and playing like butter, sounding pretty cool too, I will put up a video if I can work out how to do it.

Obviously a new bone nut will be the way to go at some point and I'll probably upgrade the controls and pups at some point but for now I'm a very happy customer :)

Still can't post pics for some reason.

Good to hear you got the nut sorted Dan.
Would love to see a video if you work out how you can do one.

I post my video's to YouTube and then just post a copy link on the forums.

Great news Dan, glad it worked out.

As far as posting images, overly large file size and image dimensions are usually what prevent uploads. Make sure your images are no more than 1000 pixels on the longest side and less than 500KB-1MB in file size, click the reply button on the lower right and then use the 'Choose File' buttons to select the images to upload. If multiple images won't upload, try just one per post. Or, if you have the images hosted online, use the 'image' button above the (Quick)Reply box to link them ( ie. [ img ] url here [ / img ] without the spaces).