About the Customizable top nut
The nut is the small slotted piece at the top of the neck that spaces the strings and sets their height. This OpenSCAD script generates one to your measurements. Enter the nut size, the number of strings, their gauges, the distance from the edge to the outer strings, the fretboard radius (12 inches by default) and the string height. It cuts a slot sized to each string, V-shaped by default, and lets you adjust or angle each one.
It supports proportional spacing, where the gaps between strings are equal rather than their centres. That's what luthiers usually prefer, because thick and thin strings then feel evenly spaced. It also handles paired courses, as on a 12-string. The designer advises generating the file in desktop OpenSCAD, because the online Customizer renders it incorrectly. Note that the edge distances are measured to the outer edge of the outermost strings.
Who it's for. Guitar and bass builders, especially anyone printing an instrument like the Prusacaster, and players replacing a worn nut. For the strongest part, use nylon or 100% infill.
What you'll need
Printed parts
- One nut generated for your instrument
Bought parts
- Nothing
Tools
- Desktop OpenSCAD
- Calipers to measure the old nut and strings
- Fine files to finish the fit
Build overview
Print settings
- Material: Nylon is best; PLA at 50% infill works; PETG or resin ?
- Layer height: 0.15 mm
- Infill: At least 50%; 100% for strength
- Supports: Not important
Photos
All photos: Torkel Börjeson, from the design page on Printables, licensed CC BY-NC. We resized them and converted them to WebP.
8 more photos on Printables ↗