[Jerich]

So i am not sure if this has ever been talk of before...but here goes...almost every custom guitar I get is Loaded with shims (spelling unknown during typing time) in between the nut and the neck at the top of the headstock...I was wondering what is the best material to use for the lower distorted guitar. I have gotten guitars with wood...Brass...and aluminum shims.....it is only on the Neck thru guitars i have...i do not have any bolt on's even knowing i am sure there are a few out there...has anyone the answer? I am guessing that Brass shims would be best for tone transfer?

[Elysian]

the thing about the nut... it only affects the tone of open strings, as when you are fretting, the tone transfer happens at the fret not the nut... wood, brass, aluminum, all are good, it all ultimately goes to wood anyways.

[Jerich]

yeah but..some might disagree with useing wood..in which would have more effect on it during humidity...verses Brass or aluminum in which is not effected at all...I am replacing all my shims as we speak with Brass....

[eaeolian]

I've used aluminum under locknuts for years. I've never noticed any tone issues, and the big craft store chains sell sheets of it in multiple thicknesses.

[theunforgiven246]

ummm... i use cardboard...

[dpm]

I use Schaller locknut shims which are brass and stainless depending on thickness. Metal shim material is good purely because it's accurate and can allow very small adjustments. Wood is good too for thicker shims. Cardboard will compress so it's a bit hit and miss, plastic I suppose will work too but it tends to be slippery and the locking nut is more likely to slip.
There's so much mass in a locking nut that I doubt much would have a perceivable tonal effect providing it's all seated correctly and firmly bolted.

[that guy]

buisness card from the store of your choice

[LordOVchaoS]

Originally Posted by that guy

buisness card from the store of your choice

That's what I use. My UV came from Eric with some brass shims but after a stiring gauge change the lower strings needed a but more of a shim so I hacked up a business card and went at it. I didn't notice any difference in tone. As Elysian said, as soon as you fret a note your strings aren't vibrating against the nut.

[Jerich]

I think the answers here were killer....I was just refering to the fact will a metallic shim be better then wood or plastic..But the word is across the board..it doesn't matter...I figured Brass would be the better one considering most of the Custom guitars i have had made by BC Rich...Cloe...LAG have all had...Brass shims.I am guessing if you were a Tap touch guitar player similar to a WARR guitar a metallic shim would transfer tone better.....

[dpm]

I think the the huge amount of metal already in a locking nut and it's hardness (both points relative to fretwire) make the shim material properties fairly irrelevant. Also, the locking nut is mechanically coupled (ie. bolted/screwed) to the neck which will play a part too.