Thank for your kindness and generosity in sharing your knowledge. I have made two compensated nuts using the limited information I could find, and this video has given me the confidence to end up with a much better result. Much appreciated.
@@StringTechWorkstations Sounds good. So am I correct that I need to subscribe to level 3 membership to get a pack of the compensated blanks, and see the additional videos on this topic? It looks like the ledge must be flat on the blanks, and then curved afterwards to fit the fretboard radius. I am assuming that the videos would show me how to do that...? Also, how much would the 20 pack cost? Regards, Glen
Yep. The Tier 3 Patreon Subs get the whole package and spec sheet and access to all of the detailed videos. 16-pack is $95.00 USD free shipping for the continental US / Canada.The current price that I charge my customers for a comp nut $195.00. Cheers Greg
By far the most informative/best video I've seen on intonating - thanks so much for putting out content like this, you inspire me to try (carefully) to intonate my own :)
Thanks David. The reason that I purposely show the multiple transitions, as I bring it into focus ... step by step..... ? It was to prepare you for the fact that you WILL go through a learning curve. This is precisely why I sell 20-packs of the compensated nut blanks to my students. This procedure is covered thoroughly for my Tier 3 Patreon subscribers. Cheers ! MMcC
wow now this is very informative I will be ordering some compensating nuts for sure this video is the best 1 I have seen to date and Ihave seen well over 1000 in past 2 years thanks Mike your a true guitar genius!!!!
Your welcome Joe. It's important for people to know that this isn't a quick fix job. It is VERY involved and THAT is why people are happy to spend the $$. Make no mistake about it .... there is a learning curve. That is exactly why I sell 20-packs of compensated nut blanks .... because you WILL go through them as you navigate that learning curve. Cheers ! MMcC
Thanks Kevin. I don't think that it is limited to Martins. To be fair ... any manufacturer will ( and should ) err on the side of caution and make sure the action is high enough to avoid any chance of fret buzzing issues. Once the guitar is sold; and the customer settles on a gauge of string and the tuning they will be using primarily ... THEN it's time to ultra-tweak with an intonated saddle and intonated nut ( and usually ) a light fret-dress to allow for silky smooth action. Cheers MMcC
What if that material you used to protect the body at the end of the fretboard. Also I've been watching a couple of your episodes now. What gets me the most is your ability to tune perfectly. What is the app that you use to tune. Is that preferred and what got you to use that app over your more comment top end tuners? I need to build my skills on compensated nuts. Do you compensate from the 1st fret and also I've seen you use the 7th and it's octave during your tunings too. Is this a technique that you built or did you learn it from somewhere else. I always knew about checking at the 12th fret but I see how you go about your setup and I'm rethinking mine entirely. I'm definitely thirsty for knowledge so any little bit helps! I definitely love your channel though!
These vinyl pads ( fret guards ) are sent out ( 6 ) in the fretting kits. The clear tune app is good ... although because it is a microphone only ... it does pick up ambient sounds. There are plenty of other tuners that you could use. I like the convenience of this particular one. This approach to precise intonation and calibration is something that I have developed over the course of 50 years. I share all the details / step by step spec sheet / supplies and tools with my Patreon Tier 3 subscribers and TechDeck workstation customers. MMcC
Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us! I understand that the shape of the compensated nut will be different if different set of string size will be replaced. My question is, what happens when you replace the strings, same size but different brand? Also, I notice that intonation does change sometimes on some new strings. Would you be needing to alter the compensated nut? Thanks in advance for your reply.
Ultimately, it's best to settle on an exact string ... gauge and brand ... for the most consistent result. Changing brands ( same gauge ) will have less of an effect than changing gauge. The other question that I get asked a lot .... is about dropping the 6th string down to D. This has a minimal affect. Although for the DADGAD guys + gals .... I set it up "exclusively" for that tuning ( and chosen string gauge ). MMcC
Great video! I would have liked to have seen the initial tuning and playability problems demonstrated up front before the work was started. Is this necessary for all guitars??
I've got plenty of before and after videos. If you do this tuning check: Open string - first fret / 7th fret - 19th fret / 12th fret - open string / .... if all those notes on every string are in tune ... you're golden . MMcC
The material is Corian. The same stuff Martin use. I sorted through a bunch of leftover sheets at a kitchen countertop place, and found this beautiful ivory coloured stuff. I shelled out the $1700.00 and bought the last couple of pieces they had. The issue is finding the right colour. Most of the stuff is pretty hideous ... Ha ! I checked back a couple more times ... to no avail. The kitchen counter- top industry has switched over to granite now ... so the Corian has become less popular. Nice channel btw .... beautiful looking guitars. Cheers , MMcC
@@StringTechWorkstations thanks for the quick reply, compliment. I love the compensated nuts. I Was doing the Buzz F. Nuts for a while. It seem to need special tuners korg or Peterson. Clients not happy with that. Chanced on your video and your method with intonating at the saddle first intrigued me so I will be checking that process out seems logical to me. Will be doing some new builds soon and will make my first attempt. Fretted instruments can be so annoying. Thanks again 1mgw.com
It is a moving target Dennis. This is why most manufacturers shy away from them. I did 4 compensated nuts today .... all different. Gibson Les Paul .010"-.046" at concert / Epiphone Masterbilt ( yep... that's the way they spell it ... Lol ! ) / Taylor ( also a neck re-set ) / and a Martin. I have had a few builders jump onto the Patreon Tier 3 channel to get the scoop ( and the blanks ) ... and the dedicated tools.... in order to produce these comp nuts and saddles in all of the different configurations. Very Best to you ... you are obviously a Pro. Cheers , MMcC
So I got excited when I made the first comment but now that I've finished the video...I'm still excited but basically alot of my questions were answered but I am curious what got you to use Cleartune over the common house tuners? I'm going to watch this a couple more times but this was incredibly helpful and interesting. If there are any other things I should know though, please let me know. Should I also purchase thicker nut blanks to make compensated nuts? Thank you for this 🤘
My Tier 3 Patreon Subscribers get access to all of the super detailed videos as well as step by step instruction specs and compensated nut + saddle blanks.
Practice. I do cover all of this in much greater detail for all of my Tier 3 Patreon Subs. with hours of detailed video / nut blank packages / tools + supplies + spec sheet.
Hi Michael , I've got a CF Martin D-41 with an action of 8/ 64ths on the low E and 7/64ths on the high E string is this too high of an action on a Martin guitar. The guitar is from 1995. Thanks Michael Newell from Niagara Falls, Ontario
The real test is the accuracy of the intonation along the entire length of the neck and the first fret notes. If your guitar is set up properly ... it should "feel" exactly the same for the fretting hand ANYWHERE along the length of the neck. The added bonus of a perfectly intonated guitar .... is the silky smooth action ... it comes with the territory. Cheers MMcC
Can anyone tell me how to make a compensated nut blank? The extending part obviously needs to be curved at the bottom to match the board... I’m thinking of gluing a curved piece to a normal blank, and going from there... not sure if that is the best way....
I sell pre-profiled 20 packs to my Patreon Subs and students. mcconvilleguitars.blogspot.com I have several more comp-nut videos and cantilevered compensated bridge saddle videos coming up. Stay tuned ;^ ) .... Lol !
A quick question if you don't mind, is keeping the open E tuning on my d28 bad for the guitar? I'm using 013 strings but I can change to something lighter of course. I'm reading different opinions online..
Hmmmm ... is it permanently in this tuning ? Have a look across the sound hole and see if the guitar top is imploding. Stepping down to a lighter gauge certainly won't hurt anything.
@@StringTechWorkstations Thank you! The idea was to keep it in open E but since I see a bit of doubt in your answer I think I'll keep it in open D to be sure. I was aiming at keeping it in E because playing with the slide when it's in D is kinda hard (strings are really soft to the touch). Anyway, thanks again ;)
In this case, trial and error can be pretty exhausting. My Patreon Tier 3 subscribers have all of the details for all of the variations. Michael McConville's Guitar Repair and Design Studies on PATREON.
I couldn’t imagine buying a brand new Martin with such a high action. And then finding out it needs a fret dress just to lower the action? Not what I would expect from a Martin.
You don't have to imagine. I see this type of thing on a regular basis. Got an HD 28 coming in next week ... same treatment. Stay tuned, for a front row seat.
Try this tuning test on your own guitar. No shame on Martin's part .... there are way too many variables ... to expect Martin or any other manufacturer to cover every possible case scenario.
@@StringTechWorkstations I'm sure most guitars do not have perfect tuning. Just like any other tool they require maintenance. especially if there are moving parts. You would think a new Martin would at least leave the factory in proper intonation and I suppose they are depending on the standards that they base properly on. I have slightly bent notes many time even while chording when a note in a an intro or another part of a song is very prominent. It's just human nature.
As a defence mechanism, all manufacturers tend to err' on the side of caution ... leaving the action just " a little too high " . This is understandable. The instruments are often shipped across multiple times zones and climatic zones. They need to ensure that the instrument is not buzzing. Once the customer purchases and settles on a particular gauge of string / action height etc .... THEN it is time to ultra-tweak .... and to setup for the maximum playability and tonal response. It's just nature of the beast.Happy New Year ! .... it's gotta be better than 2020 .. Doh !
How is it possible that a Martin Guitar is so poorly made that it needs a compensated nut and that the frets need dressing (or any work whatsoever)? I don’t care if it’s a $20,000 D45 or an $800 Road Series. Nuts, frets saddles should be not only accurate within less than a thousandth of an inch, but nut slots should also be perfect and saddles almost perfect. They are made on jigs and by CNC for pity’s sake. How are they not tested for accuracy and quality? (The same goes for all big name brands. Only very small, expensive boutique brands pay really close attention to quality).
I understand that this can be very frustrating Robin. The large manufacturers need to " ballpark" the setup so that it is fairly close. All of the minute adjustments that are needed to micro-tweak the guitar for very precise calibration, will vary; depending on a multitude of reasons: atmospheric - seasonal change ... string gauge preferences / tuning preferences /action height preferences / right hand attack. An experienced Tech or Luthier will take all of these things into consideration. In defence of larger manufacturers, they cannot realistically "do one set-up " that addresses every possible variation. As you mentioned in your closing comment; Only very small boutique brands ( or individual Luthiers / Techs ) pay really close attention to each and every detail. Thanks very much for your comment. There are undoubtedly MANY others wondering about the same concerns. Happy New Year ! MMcC
That's all there is to it!? 14:20 All we saw was your hairy wrist...you do that often stick your arm in front of the camera, while supposedly showing us something. Don't do that.
Thank for your kindness and generosity in sharing your knowledge. I have made two compensated nuts using the limited information I could find, and this video has given me the confidence to end up with a much better result. Much appreciated.
Fantastic! MMcC That was the idea ;^ )
@@StringTechWorkstations Sounds good.
So am I correct that I need to subscribe to level 3 membership to get a pack of the compensated blanks, and see the additional videos on this topic?
It looks like the ledge must be flat on the blanks, and then curved afterwards to fit the fretboard radius. I am assuming that the videos would show me how to do that...?
Also, how much would the 20 pack cost?
Regards,
Glen
Yep. The Tier 3 Patreon Subs get the whole package and spec sheet and access to all of the detailed videos. 16-pack is $95.00 USD free shipping for the continental US / Canada.The current price that I charge my customers for a comp nut $195.00. Cheers Greg
Brilliant, thank you so much. This is the best set up video I have seen.
Glad it was helpful! MMcC
My (guitarrepair)life has been a breeze, since I found You Michael ;) Thanks! All the best from Jan - DK
Dear Jan, Always so wonderful to hear from you my friend ! I did get your email .... will send out the package this coming week. Talk soon. Michael.
By far the most informative/best video I've seen on intonating - thanks so much for putting out content like this, you inspire me to try (carefully) to intonate my own :)
Thanks David. The reason that I purposely show the multiple transitions, as I bring it into focus ... step by step..... ? It was to prepare you for the fact that you WILL go through a learning curve. This is precisely why I sell 20-packs of the compensated nut blanks to my students. This procedure is covered thoroughly for my Tier 3 Patreon subscribers. Cheers ! MMcC
wow now this is very informative I will be ordering some compensating nuts for sure this video is the best 1 I have seen to date and Ihave seen well over 1000 in past 2 years thanks Mike your a true guitar genius!!!!
Your welcome Joe. It's important for people to know that this isn't a quick fix job. It is VERY involved and THAT is why people are happy to spend the $$. Make no mistake about it .... there is a learning curve. That is exactly why I sell 20-packs of compensated nut blanks .... because you WILL go through them as you navigate that learning curve. Cheers ! MMcC
Excellent work as always
Thank you so much 😀
thank you a lot, so well explained. Greetings from México!
You are welcome! MMcC
verry good video
Thank you very much David. MMcC
Wizard!
Great video Mike. Personal bugbear of mine is the high action on Martins 👏👏
Thanks Kevin. I don't think that it is limited to Martins. To be fair ... any manufacturer will ( and should ) err on the side of caution and make sure the action is high enough to avoid any chance of fret buzzing issues. Once the guitar is sold; and the customer settles on a gauge of string and the tuning they will be using primarily ... THEN it's time to ultra-tweak with an intonated saddle and intonated nut ( and usually ) a light fret-dress to allow for silky smooth action. Cheers MMcC
What if that material you used to protect the body at the end of the fretboard. Also I've been watching a couple of your episodes now. What gets me the most is your ability to tune perfectly. What is the app that you use to tune. Is that preferred and what got you to use that app over your more comment top end tuners?
I need to build my skills on compensated nuts. Do you compensate from the 1st fret and also I've seen you use the 7th and it's octave during your tunings too. Is this a technique that you built or did you learn it from somewhere else. I always knew about checking at the 12th fret but I see how you go about your setup and I'm rethinking mine entirely. I'm definitely thirsty for knowledge so any little bit helps! I definitely love your channel though!
These vinyl pads ( fret guards ) are sent out ( 6 ) in the fretting kits. The clear tune app is good ... although because it is a microphone only ... it does pick up ambient sounds. There are plenty of other tuners that you could use. I like the convenience of this particular one. This approach to precise intonation and calibration is something that I have developed over the course of 50 years. I share all the details / step by step spec sheet / supplies and tools with my Patreon Tier 3 subscribers and TechDeck workstation customers. MMcC
Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us!
I understand that the shape of the compensated nut will be different if different set of string size will be replaced. My question is, what happens when you replace the strings, same size but different brand? Also, I notice that intonation does change sometimes on some new strings. Would you be needing to alter the compensated nut? Thanks in advance for your reply.
Ultimately, it's best to settle on an exact string ... gauge and brand ... for the most consistent result. Changing brands ( same gauge ) will have less of an effect than changing gauge. The other question that I get asked a lot .... is about dropping the 6th string down to D. This has a minimal affect. Although for the DADGAD guys + gals .... I set it up "exclusively" for that tuning
( and chosen string gauge ). MMcC
Great video! I would have liked to have seen the initial tuning and playability problems demonstrated up front before the work was started. Is this necessary for all guitars??
I've got plenty of before and after videos. If you do this tuning check: Open string - first fret / 7th fret - 19th fret / 12th fret - open string / .... if all those notes on every string are in tune ... you're golden . MMcC
Curious where to find the oversized nut material to creat the shelf. Thanks
The material is Corian. The same stuff Martin use. I sorted through a bunch of leftover sheets at a kitchen countertop place, and found this beautiful ivory coloured stuff. I shelled out the $1700.00 and bought the last couple of pieces they had. The issue is finding the right colour. Most of the stuff is pretty hideous ... Ha ! I checked back a couple more times ... to no avail. The kitchen counter- top industry has switched over to granite now ... so the Corian has become less popular. Nice channel btw .... beautiful looking guitars. Cheers , MMcC
@@StringTechWorkstations thanks for the quick reply, compliment. I love the compensated nuts. I Was doing the Buzz F. Nuts for a while. It seem to need special tuners korg or Peterson. Clients not happy with that. Chanced on your video and your method with intonating at the saddle first intrigued me so I will be checking that process out seems logical to me. Will be doing some new builds soon and will make my first attempt. Fretted instruments can be so annoying. Thanks again
1mgw.com
It is a moving target Dennis. This is why most manufacturers shy away from them. I did 4 compensated nuts today .... all different. Gibson Les Paul .010"-.046" at concert / Epiphone Masterbilt ( yep... that's the way they spell it ... Lol ! ) / Taylor ( also a neck re-set ) / and a Martin. I have had a few builders jump onto the Patreon Tier 3 channel to get the scoop ( and the blanks ) ... and the dedicated tools.... in order to produce these comp nuts and saddles in all of the different configurations. Very Best to you ... you are obviously a Pro. Cheers , MMcC
So I got excited when I made the first comment but now that I've finished the video...I'm still excited but basically alot of my questions were answered but I am curious what got you to use Cleartune over the common house tuners? I'm going to watch this a couple more times but this was incredibly helpful and interesting. If there are any other things I should know though, please let me know. Should I also purchase thicker nut blanks to make compensated nuts? Thank you for this 🤘
My Tier 3 Patreon Subscribers get access to all of the super detailed videos as well as step by step instruction specs and compensated nut + saddle blanks.
How do you know how much of a nut to take off to correct 5 cents ?
Practice. I do cover all of this in much greater detail for all of my Tier 3 Patreon Subs. with hours of detailed video / nut blank packages / tools + supplies + spec sheet.
Hi Michael , I've got a CF Martin D-41 with an action of 8/ 64ths on the low E and 7/64ths on the high E string is this too high of an action on a Martin guitar. The guitar is from 1995. Thanks Michael Newell from Niagara Falls, Ontario
The real test is the accuracy of the intonation along the entire length of the neck and the first fret notes. If your guitar is set up properly ... it should "feel" exactly the same for the fretting hand ANYWHERE along the length of the neck. The added bonus of a perfectly intonated guitar .... is the silky smooth action ... it comes with the territory. Cheers MMcC
Can anyone tell me how to make a compensated nut blank? The extending part obviously needs to be curved at the bottom to match the board... I’m thinking of gluing a curved piece to a normal blank, and going from there... not sure if that is the best way....
I sell pre-profiled 20 packs to my Patreon Subs and students. mcconvilleguitars.blogspot.com I have several more comp-nut videos and cantilevered compensated bridge saddle videos coming up. Stay tuned ;^ ) .... Lol !
All the good stuff except the final adjustment on the G String. Nothing but the wrist at 14:33
Oh well. Great video!
Ooops ! Sorry about that chief ..... ;^ )
Do you have a video leveling a compound radius fingerboard ?
ruclips.net/video/KYdhVuyi7aQ/видео.html
What do you think about the Zero Glide Replacement Nut system?
I am not familiar with this system.
A quick question if you don't mind, is keeping the open E tuning on my d28 bad for the guitar? I'm using 013 strings but I can change to something lighter of course. I'm reading different opinions online..
Hmmmm ... is it permanently in this tuning ? Have a look across the sound hole and see if the guitar top is imploding. Stepping down to a lighter gauge certainly won't hurt anything.
@@StringTechWorkstations Thank you! The idea was to keep it in open E but since I see a bit of doubt in your answer I think I'll keep it in open D to be sure. I was aiming at keeping it in E because playing with the slide when it's in D is kinda hard (strings are really soft to the touch). Anyway, thanks again ;)
Good thinking ! If you drop the thing a whole tone ... you'll be golden \m/ !
It wasn't clear the final adjustment you made for 1st fret compensation. Was it the depth of the nut slot?
Yes.
What song are you playing at the end? Do you have the link for the tab or sheet music?
Sorry no tabs ... it was done "off the cuff". Thanks for watching ... AND listening ;^ ) ! MMcC
So, if you are 8 cents sharp, which way do you compensate, and how much. I've done trial and error, and got the job done but dang.
In this case, trial and error can be pretty exhausting. My Patreon Tier 3 subscribers have all of the details for all of the variations. Michael McConville's Guitar Repair and Design Studies on PATREON.
@@StringTechWorkstations Thanks, I will have to look into that.
I couldn’t imagine buying a brand new Martin with such a high action. And then finding out it needs a fret dress just to lower the action? Not what I would expect from a Martin.
You don't have to imagine. I see this type of thing on a regular basis. Got an HD 28 coming in next week ... same treatment. Stay tuned, for a front row seat.
👍
Martin should be ashamed of themselves for sending a brand new guitar out the door like that. Great in name and wood selection only.
Try this tuning test on your own guitar. No shame on Martin's part .... there are way too many variables ... to expect Martin or any other manufacturer to cover every possible case scenario.
@@StringTechWorkstations I'm sure most guitars do not have perfect tuning. Just like any other tool they require maintenance. especially if there are moving parts. You would think a new Martin would at least leave the factory in proper intonation and I suppose they are depending on the standards that they base properly on. I have slightly bent notes many time even while chording when a note in a an intro or another part of a song is very prominent. It's just human nature.
As a defence mechanism, all manufacturers tend to err' on the side of caution ... leaving the action just " a little too high " . This is understandable. The instruments are often shipped across multiple times zones and climatic zones. They need to ensure that the instrument is not buzzing. Once the customer purchases and settles on a particular gauge of string / action height etc .... THEN it is time to ultra-tweak .... and to setup for the maximum playability and tonal response. It's just nature of the beast.Happy New Year ! .... it's gotta be better than 2020 .. Doh !
@@StringTechWorkstations God i hope so. I do work in live entertianment.
How is it possible that a Martin Guitar is so poorly made that it needs a compensated nut and that the frets need dressing (or any work whatsoever)? I don’t care if it’s a $20,000 D45 or an $800 Road Series. Nuts, frets saddles should be not only accurate within less than a thousandth of an inch, but nut slots should also be perfect and saddles almost perfect. They are made on jigs and by CNC for pity’s sake. How are they not tested for accuracy and quality? (The same goes for all big name brands. Only very small, expensive boutique brands pay really close attention to quality).
I understand that this can be very frustrating Robin. The large manufacturers need to " ballpark" the setup so that it is fairly close. All of the minute adjustments that are needed to micro-tweak the guitar for very precise calibration, will vary; depending on a multitude of reasons: atmospheric - seasonal change ... string gauge preferences / tuning preferences /action height preferences / right hand attack. An experienced Tech or Luthier will take all of these things into consideration. In defence of larger manufacturers, they cannot realistically "do one set-up " that addresses every possible variation. As you mentioned in your closing comment; Only very small boutique brands ( or individual Luthiers / Techs ) pay really close attention to each and every detail. Thanks very much for your comment. There are undoubtedly MANY others wondering about the same concerns. Happy New Year ! MMcC
A brand new guitar so poorly setup??
Setting up a guitar to this degree of accuracy will need to be done independent of the standard factory setup.
That's all there is to it!? 14:20 All we saw was your hairy wrist...you do that often stick your arm in front of the camera, while supposedly showing us something. Don't do that.
Oops sorry about that. I'll shave my wrist before I do this HD 28.