Extension nut use; raise the saddle(s)?

Lap steels, resonators, multi-neck consoles and acoustic steel guitars

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Bob McElroy
Posts: 35
Joined: 7 Apr 2011 7:34 am
Location: New Jersey, USA

Extension nut use; raise the saddle(s)?

Post by Bob McElroy »

My posts should come with a warning that I am now fascinated with this playing style; sorry if these are dumb questions.

I am currently trying out installing extension nuts with varying results.

Newest test guitar is a forsaken and long abandoned Washburn Dread.

It has a not-so-great neck set, and while I am still acclimating, it feels different than my actual lap guitar. I am tempted to raise the saddle.

Is this a common practice when using extension nuts?
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James Mayer
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Location: back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)

Post by James Mayer »

I'm no expert but I've been using nut extenders on resonators, lately. If the strings are not parallel to the fretboard and are sloped down from the nut to the saddle, I'd want to replace the saddle with a taller one. It would just bug me. Also, if you are using the original saddle, there's surely a radius to it and you'd probably want a non-radiused saddle anyway. Kill two birds with one stone.
Modified Emmons GS-10 3X4 and too many iPad apps to list.
Bob McElroy
Posts: 35
Joined: 7 Apr 2011 7:34 am
Location: New Jersey, USA

Yep, the slope to the saddlle

Post by Bob McElroy »

Thanks for sanity check James.

As slight as it is, the downward slope feels really weird.

I have played slide on armpit electric guitars for decades, and even though the left-hand technique is new to me, the feel is surprisingly distracting.
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Samuel Phillippe
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Location: Douglas Michigan, USA

Post by Samuel Phillippe »

Bob, I have been using a nut riser on a Regal, round neck, Resonator for years without any problems. I have also used them on a cheap Les Paul on occasion, again zero problems. The risers are a cheap way to have a lap type steel.

Sam
Bob McElroy
Posts: 35
Joined: 7 Apr 2011 7:34 am
Location: New Jersey, USA

Thanks Samuel

Post by Bob McElroy »

Just re-evaluated; the neck 'set' is atrocious and the saddle has been sanded way too far.

Probably why the guitar was abandoned by previous owner (it has sat in its case for 5 years at my buddy's house. He thought it was mine and vice versa).
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