Ian's TLA-1 Build

[TC1600]

Yeah I'm really happy, I've been umming and ahhing about going for a bone nut, sounds like a good excuse to get one I reckon

[andrewdosborne]

Ian, you've done a great job on this axe and like the finish, does justice to the nice grain. Go for gold with the bone nut, I'm in the process of fitting one now and it does sound heaps better.

[Brendan]

Gavin Turner has a link to a StewMac fret calculator. You should be able to work back from there to see if the nut is in the right place. Downside is that if you have done the right thing for the bridge, if the nut is out, your bridge will be in the wrong place - may only be a small amount, but it may also be significant.

[stan]

that escalated quickly!
Nice job Ian, especially for a first try. Once the nut is sorted you'll have a great guitar, and get it into GOTM

[bargeloobs]

Just trying to get my head around your issue here, I'm not saying the nut slot isn't in the wrong place, but the way these necks are churned out it seems unlikely. You're saying the open strings sound flat in relation to fretted notes, so if your guitar is correctly in tune (obviously the open strings aren't going to be flat) the fretted notes sound sharp?
Is this just occurring on the first fret and what's the action like?
What's the measurement from the middle of the first fret to the inside edge of the nut?
I just had a quick measure of my TL-1 and I get 35 1/2 mm (just as a reference)

[pablopepper]

Yep, I agree. First thing you should do is make sure your nut is not too high. Easy way to check is fret at the third fret and the string should sit just a smidge over the first fret.

[stan]

Yep, I agree. First thing you should do is make sure your nut is not too high. Easy way to check is fret at the third fret and the spring should sit just a smidge over the first fret.

I think you mean nut not but Pabs....

Is the intonation set properly? This can create tuning issues. I agree with Bargy, unless it's an obvious error, the nut is probably in the right spot

[pablopepper]

String, not spring. Having a shocker this morning...

[wokkaboy]

finished build looks awesome Ian, well done, you must have replaced the pickguard to black, really highlights the sweet ash grain.
I'd replace the nut Ian for a bone one, check the intonation and see how you go. I think the supplied plastic nut may be too high will cause tuning issues

[TC1600]

Thanks for the input and advice, much appreciated. Assuming these use the standard Tele scale length of 648mm, the distance from nut to first fret should be approximately 36.4mm, which it is, and 1st to second fret measurement is also correct, so by that the nut placement is where it should be. Checking the nut height by fretting at the third, it is definitely too high, whether it's enough to make that much distance I'm not sure, but it's a very good place to start. I've read you can file down nut slots by using an ols string, I imagine this would work for wound strings but not sure about plain. Time for some more research!