software

I was looking at these in a magazine the other day and I wondered how well they work. I also was wondering if you bought them already slotted or what?

Any opinions?

Ryan, or rspst14 if you want to know about Earvana nuts. He always raves about them.

They kick ass. I have them on several guitars and the difference in intonation is absolutely astounding. The sharpness in the first seven frets is completely eliminated, and the intonation is also pretty much perfect all the way up the fretboard. They are easy enough to install that you can do it yourself, and it's way cheaper than the Buzz Feiten system.

Ryan

Between the Earvana and the Buzz Feiten system, which is actually better?

Oh yeah, they are preslotted for 10-46 strings and jumbo frets. If you have smaller frets, you need to file down the slots a bit, and if you plan on using heavier strings, you'll need to widen the slots.

Ryan

and another thing, why does the Buzz Feiten system require special tuning offsets while the earvana system doesn't??


Originally Posted by Metalman_666Between the Earvana and the Buzz Feiten system, which is actually better?

quot;Betterquot; is a subjective term, but I like the Earvana system for the reasons I listed above. The one advantage the Feiten system does have is that it can be used on guitars with locking nuts. The drawback to that is that it requires shaving off a small piece of the fretboard. Earvana has a locking nut version of their nut coming out soon, they have a pic of it on their web page. Not the prettiest looking contraption, but I bet it works great.

Ryan


Originally Posted by Metalman_666and another thing, why does the Buzz Feiten system require special tuning offsets while the earvana system doesn't??

The Feiten system requires tuning and intonation offsets. The Earvana nut is adjustable at the nut...you move the nut top back or forward until both E strings are in perfect tuning at the first fret. I'm guessing that because the Earvana nut is adjustable, there's no need for offsets.

Your results may vary based on the guitar and the accuracy of your tuner (a strobe tuner is highly recommended.) But I'm absolutely sold on the Earvana system, and I really don't understand why they're not more popular. The tone is closer to a graphite nut than a bone nut, so if you wanted the brightness of bone, I could see not using it. But if you're just going to use a graphite nut anyway, give the Earvana a try. Trust me, it's not a gimmick.

Ryan

Hey Naps,
For what it's worth I have the Earvana on both my Strat and Tele. My technician said it would help intonation slightly. Well, there was nothing slight in the improvement to my ears.
Once I tuned up, and struck a few chords up the fingerboard, all I could say is WOW!!
No ore sharp sounding notes. It really was a beautiful thing. I highly recommend it.
I also agree with RSPST14 in that it does sound more like a graphite nut rather than bone.
I really can't recommend the product enough.

I may to try one on my upcoming project, I was just going to use a graphite nut. Where besides Warmoth can you purchase them?

they are AWESOME

Even though I trust recommendations from folks like Ryan, the reason I have trouble overcoming my skepticism, is the simple fact of knowing all the hundreds of great guitarists, and guitars, that have managed to sound good without these systems.

Still, it might be worth checking out, just on the strength of those same recommendations.

You can buy them directly from the company's web site, or you can get them from Warmoth. They make two different bases, one that fits a curved Fender nut slot with little to no modification, and one that is much larger with a flat bottom. This one will fit any guitar, but it requires some filing and fitting. The only tricky part is filing the neck radius into the bottom of the nut. I haven't had to do that because the guitars I've installed them on had flat bottom nut slots. All you really need to do the installation is some super glue and a simple file. Once you've filed down the base, just glue it down and then screw the top on. Usually, you don't even need to adjust the nut top, it should be perfect in the starting position if your guitar's scale length is 100% correct. Very easy to install yourself, although you may need to have a tech file down the slots a bit in order to get the proper nut height, unless you want to invest in a set of nut files. One other advantage is that if you ever need a new nut, just order a new nut top, no need to cut a new one from scratch.

I agree that players have sounded great for years without the aid of special tuning systems. But my belief is that if something better is available, why not give it a try? I came across some literature that Earvana sent me when I ordered mine, it compares a standard nut with the Earvana nut in terms of tuning in the first twelve frets...

standard nut
high E: two notes sharp (sharpest is 2 cents off)
B: seven notes sharp, two notes flat (sharpest note is 4 cents off, flattest is 1 cent)
G: six notes sharp (sharpest is 4 cents off)
D: five notes sharp (sharpest is 3 cents off)
A: four notes sharp (sharpest is 2 cents off)
low E: four notes sharp, one flat (sharpest is 2 cents off, flattest is 1 cent off)

Earvana nut
high E: all notes in perfect tune
B: four notes flat (three flat by 1 cent, one flat by 2 cents)
G: two notes flat (both flat by 1 cent)
D: all notes in perfect tuning
A: all notes in perfect tuning
low E: all notes in perfect tuning.

So as you can see, there is a dramatic difference in tuning. Any notes that are flat with the Earvana are only off by a small amount. The human ear notices sharp notes much easier than it notices flat notes.

Ryan


Originally Posted by ArtieTooEven though I trust recommendations from folks like Ryan, the reason I have trouble overcoming my skepticism, is the simple fact of knowing all the hundreds of great guitarists, and guitars, that have managed to sound good without these systems.

Still, it might be worth checking out, just on the strength of those same recommendations.

Haha, I know what you mean, but if we didn't like all those fancy gadgets and toys, we prob wouldn't be here

I've got an Earvana nuts on my LP wannbe, and intonation has definitely improved up and down the neck. It's a cheap upgrade, especially if you're replacing a crap nut like I was. One thing tho - the corner juts out a bit, so sometimes I hit my hand when I move my hand away. Definitely worth it tho.


Originally Posted by ArtieTooEven though I trust recommendations from folks like Ryan, the reason I have trouble overcoming my skepticism, is the simple fact of knowing all the hundreds of great guitarists, and guitars, that have managed to sound good without these systems.

Still, it might be worth checking out, just on the strength of those same recommendations.

But if you look at it that way we would never have the humbucker, because after all, single coils work, right, no need to make something better. (Invented to kick the hum = better back then).

There would be no forward evolution of the instrument if tuning problems or other things weren't being consistently improved upon and changed. Look how much the electric guitar has changed since it's invention due to stuff like this.

I knew you'd see it my way.

I say bring back the zero fret!


Originally Posted by SeraphialHaha, I know what you mean, but if we didn't like all those fancy gadgets and toys, we prob wouldn't be here

I've got an Earvana nuts on my LP wannbe, and intonation has definitely improved up and down the neck. It's a cheap upgrade, especially if you're replacing a crap nut like I was. One thing tho - the corner juts out a bit, so sometimes I hit my hand when I move my hand away. Definitely worth it tho.

Actually, you're supposed to file both the base and the top so that they don't stick out and poke you.

Ryan

let me ask this...I am sure that they are quot;betterquot; as far as intonation but how do they sound?


Originally Posted by ArtieTooEven though I trust recommendations from folks like Ryan, the reason I have trouble overcoming my skepticism, is the simple fact of knowing all the hundreds of great guitarists, and guitars, that have managed to sound good without these systems.

Still, it might be worth checking out, just on the strength of those same recommendations.

i agree artie. but, this may be something comparable to the invention of the tune o matic bridge for the early les paul models. a player could sound fine on one but once the new bridge came out there was no comparison.


Originally Posted by the guy who invented firelet me ask this...I am sure that they are quot;betterquot; as far as intonation but how do they sound?I've heard they sound closest to graphite...