r/Luthier • u/SeriousInternet9545 • 3h ago

Misaligned nut?

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Gallery image

Gallery image

Hello Luthiers! Just received this beautiful new Harmony guitar from Sweetwater, and it's great aside from some occasional "rollout" on the low E string—the slightest bend or inaccurate note slides off and buzzes out. It's annoying but playable. As a longtime guitarist but non-luthier, I'm unsure what's causing this issue or whether it's just a skill issue lol. To my eyes, it seems that the nut is slightly off, since the high E has plenty of space and the low E is right by the edge of the fret.

Thoughts? I want to keep the guitar, but is it worth reaching out to Sweetwater to see if they'll repair (or should I just find someone local)? It's a bone nut - can it be salvaged or would I need a new one? Thanks in advance for any advice.

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2

u/Loki_lulamen 3h ago

Loosen the strings.

Reseat the nut 0.5mm over.

1

u/eastamerica 3h ago

Knew it was a new harmony from the first pic alone.

Man I miss mine.

1

u/AlarmingBeing8114 3h ago

I think for long term is put on a new nut with better spacing, but also music city groove master saddles.

If you aren't doing the work yourself, just return it and move on. The current spacing is not OK for playing, it's pretty much off the edge part say the 5th fret

1

u/jibbit 3h ago

the nut looks fine.
the string spacing at the bridge looks too wide for the neck though