A few days ago I installed a new nut in my acoustic. I got a tusq nut because it was the only one I could find that had a slanted bottom. For some reason my MIJ Fender has a nut that meets pretty much the exact specs of old Martins.
I cut the nut carefully, and 5 of the 6 strings sounded great. The D string, however, had a rattle. Not so much of a buzz like what you'd expect over a fret, but a rattle...like something is lose. Since it did not have this rattle before putting in the new nut, I assumed that was it. I measured, and the slot seemed right. In an abundance of caution I used a fret leveling tool to take down the fret a couple of thousands of an inch for the D string. When that did not work, thought maybe I had gotten the slot too flat. So I increased the break angle at the back of the nut. When that did not work, I thought maybe I had gotten the slot too wide. So I filled the slot with baking soda and superglue. This morning I re-cut the nut with a narrower slot...just about the exactly width of the string measured with a Vernier caliper. Cut carefully, and left the slot so that the string would be a little high.
None of these things have gotten rid of the buzz. I have a new nut arriving today, but before I ruin it too... what else could be causing this rattle? It sounds like it's coming from the nut. When I put my ear to the fretboard that's where it's loudest. I don't think it's fret buzz. Any thoughts? ...and thanks in advance!
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