Official Luthiers Forum!

I'm curious about the different placements of a nut.
Some are on the flat part of the neck with the fretboard and some are on the headstock.
Are there advantages/disadvantages to one over the other?

Thanks,
Mike

I don't think it matters as long as your geometry is correct. Maybe a little harder to fit on the angled headstock but that is my preference - I like the looks better.

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

The advantage of flat bottom nut location (eg; on the freatboard surface of the neck) is simply that you dont have to cut a slot and only need to taper the peghead veneer as a retaining surface. The disadvantage is that while unstrung they are easier to knocked loose

You need to make up your mind on this in the design stage on which way to go. If you go with the flat bottom on the neck you need to make your neck account for the nut lenght or else you move the neck joint fret inboard by the nut thickness. And this will affect the nut slot and bridge location accordingly

Thanks for the replies.

Mike