Buzz Feiten tuning system

[John]

Does it really work, or is it just an expensive way of properly intonating your guitar?

[simonallaway]

I wouldn't pay for the whole weird nut arrangement. But I use the offsets when adjusting intonation with a strobe tuner, and on a normal day tune my guitars to "all the Es" which seems to work very well.

My opinion is that if your nut is prepared properly in the traditional way it shouldn't need offsets.

[G._Hoffman]

Waste of money, in my opinion.  (I actually made the mistake of saying so to Buzz Feiten himself, once.  Whoops!)

He has a few good points, but his "system" is trying to put a specific value on something that is by its very nature very inconsistent.  Yes, its good to have the nut a little closer to the first fret than nominal - but that is taken care of as a side effect of the way we all cut the slots on our fingerboards, so it isn't really an issue for most guitars. 


Gabriel

[John]

Thanks for the replies. Often have wondered about it.

[Madison]

If you are thinking about doing something like that, an Earvana nut is a way better option, IMHO.

[John]

First time I even heard of the Earvana. Basically, you install that and then do the intonation as normal, and you're good to go?

Thanks for the replies, btw!

[G._Hoffman]

First time I even heard of the Earvana. Basically, you install that and then do the intonation as normal, and you're good to go?

Thanks for the replies, btw!

Its a bit more complicated than that.

I don't much care for the Earvana, because its a plastic nut, which I never like. 

You can achieve the same basic idea by gluing small bits of bone to your nut.  That's how we do it, when we have a situation that requires it. 


Gabriel

[John]

I'm revisiting this... picked up a cheap Jap / Gibson knockoff solely to practice on. Want to learn how to do some basic neck work, etc. Anyway, not to open up a huge can of worms, but how much difference is there between plastic and bone nuts (or brass for that matter) tone-wise? Or is the difference more in how smoothly the string slides in the groove, etc.? I don't really get too caught up in the whole tone debate because imvho you can hand a good guitarist a piece of crap gitar, plug it into a POS amp, and he'll still make it sound okay.

Darn shame I'm not a good guitarist. 

[G._Hoffman]

I'm revisiting this... picked up a cheap Jap / Gibson knockoff solely to practice on. Want to learn how to do some basic neck work, etc. Anyway, not to open up a huge can of worms, but how much difference is there between plastic and bone nuts (or brass for that matter) tone-wise? Or is the difference more in how smoothly the string slides in the groove, etc.? I don't really get too caught up in the whole tone debate because imvho you can hand a good guitarist a piece of crap gitar, plug it into a POS amp, and he'll still make it sound okay.

Darn shame I'm not a good guitarist. 

On the open strings, it will make a bit of difference.  On fretted strings, none what-so-ever.  On the other hand, I very much prefer unbleached bone to any other material, because it will have the best wear properties, and if properly cut will last longer and is very easy to keep in tune.  Brass tends to bind a lot, so I dislike it a great deal, and all of the man made materials (plastic, corian, what-not) wear too fast.


Gabriel

[John]

Thanks for the reply, I always wondered!