Photo by VIVIANE from PixabaySome newbies might think that a “guitar nut” is just someone who really likes guitars. But ask anyone who knows about guitar parts, and they’ll tell you about one of the more important components about the guitar.
It’s so important that you should replace the stock guitar nut you got with your affordable guitar and replace it with the best guitar nut you can get.
The guitar nut is that component set at the base of the headstock, and it’s at the top of your fretboard. This is the part on which your guitar strings lie on, with the strings sitting in the grooves of the guitar nut.
It acts as one of the anchor points for your vibrating strings, with the bridge saddle as the other anchor point.
The material of the nut affects the quality of your tone, which is why this component is more important that it seems. Also, a bad guitar nut can lead to countless tuning issues. With the top guitar nut, your guitar can sound a lot better.
Contents
Best Picks of Guitar Nuts
Picking the best acoustic guitars nut and the best electric guitar nut material among the countless available options can be a chore. We’ve made it easier for you by compiling a list of great nuts you can choose from instead:
#1: Blisstime 2 Sets 4pcs 6 String Acoustic Guitar
- Made of real cattle bone, which can offer a better tone than plastic. Used for a Right-Handed guitar.
- Package includes 2 pcs nut and 2 pcs saddle.
- Bone saddle size: 72mm x 3mm x 9mm; Bone nut size: 43mm x 6mm x 8.5mm.
- Many luthiers and guitar manufacturers prefer bone guitar nuts for their instruments. The bone we offer is oxen bone from China. This bone has minimal porosity and a great appearance. Its density and minimal porosity are features that yield good intonation and clarity.
- Note: Due to the different workmanship of the guitars, the sizes of the accessories are not uniform. This string pin will work with most guitars on the market, but is not guaranteed to fit every guitar perfectly. Please read the product dimensions carefully before purchasing to ensure that our product is in accordance with your needs.
Last update on 2023-06-09 / Affiliate links (#ad) / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
With this, you get a set consisting of the nut and the bridge saddle—and then there’s a spare set too. These are all made with real oxen bone, and this bone is quite dense and not very porous at all. These qualities offer terrific clarity and intonation.
In addition, they’re all easy to set up and use. Use this for your acoustic guitar, and you’ll notice the tone improvement compared to when you were using the stock plastic nut.
#2. TecUnite Acoustic Guitar Bridge Pins
- Function: the guitar removal tool is designed to pull the bridge pin directly without damaging the guitar; And the bridge pins are small and exquisite, useful spare parts for guitars
- Reliable Guitar Puller: the bridge pin puller is made of good quality alloy; It is lightweight and portable, a beautiful accessory for your guitar, easy to use
- Suitable Range: the guitar puller fits most standard bridge pins and serves as a puller, extractor and removal tool to replace acoustic guitar bridge pins
- Velvet Bag: the package comes with a velvet pouch, which is good for storage and convenient carrying
- Package Includes: 1 guitar bridge pin puller, 1 guitar saddle, 1 guitar nut, 6 ivory guitar bridge pins and 6 black guitar bridge pins
Last update on 2023-06-09 / Affiliate links (#ad) / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Now this doesn’t just give you a set with a guitar nut and a bridge saddle. The whole package also includes a guitar bridge pin puller, along with a dozen guitar bridge pins. Six of the pins come with an ivory color, while the other 6 is in black. You even get a velvet bag for everything.
The nut and the saddle here are made with plastic material (ABS), but some people like the tone and the low cost. With this kit, you get all the accessories you need to replace the bridge or nut on your affordable acoustic guitar if something goes wrong with them.
#3. GraphTech PQ611600 TUSQ Acoustic Guitar Nut
- TUSQ delivers a rich tone, crystal clear bell like high end with big open lows and a significant increase in harmonic content and harmonic sustain
- Increase harmonics equals more richness and character in your tone
- Its the difference between a four piece choir and a twelve piece choir singing every time your play a note
- Country of Origin: United States
Last update on 2023-06-09 / Affiliate links (#ad) / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
If you have an old Yamaha acoustic guitar with a damaged guitar nut, you won’t have to buy a new guitar with your hard-earned money. Instead, you can just get this. This particular nut is perfect for the Yamaha FG830. It works for Ovation guitars too.
It’s actually designed for both acoustic and electric guitars, but it is best for most instruments that come with 1 and 11/16 of an inch of length. It offers great sound, and many Yamaha guitar owners report that their guitar now sounds better because of this fake bone guitar nut.
#4: PT-6643-00: Black TUSQ nut 6 Stg Electric Nut
- GraphTech Black TUSQ XL Guitar Nut
- Graphtech Black Tusq Nut 6 String Electric 43 X 6
- Designed to boost guitar performance, TUSQ XL is precision engineered and specially formulated to bring out the hidden harmonics and richness in every note.
- TUSQ XL is based on the highly resonant TUSQ man made ivory and impregnated with PTFE, the slipperiest substance on earth, to improve the tuning performance of the guitar.
- Improved tuning stability, improved harmonic content
Last update on 2023-06-09 / Affiliate links (#ad) / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Now you may pick this Graph Tech nut simply because of the color, but that’s not all you need to check/. This particular guitar nut is meant for a string spacing measurement of 1⅜ inches, which is what you’ll find in the Epiphone Les Paul guitars.
On the other hand, this isn’t for the USA Gibson Les Pauls, since the spacing for those strings is 1 and 7/16 of an inch.
With the TUSQ material here, you get quit an upgrade from the stock plastic nut. Now you’ll be able to bend strings without any tuning issues. If you don’t mind plastic but you want the best guitar nut for tuning stability, then this is the material you want.
#5: Graph Tech PT-5042-00: Black TUSQ XL 42
- What it Fits: The PT-5042-00 Black TUSQ XL is compatible for Fender style electric guitar. And a great option to upgrade the nut on your electric guitar. It has a flat bottom but is only 3/16" tall. It is pre-slotted for a quick and simple install.
Last update on 2023-06-09 / Affiliate links (#ad) / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This is what you get if you want a new nut for your Fender-style electric guitar. It uses the TUSQ material, but it’s reinforced with PTFE. That makes it 500% more slippery than graphite.
Basically, it offers all the tonal advantages of TUSQ without giving you any tuning headaches. You can even sand the ends and the bottom of this nut to make sure you’re able to set it flush on your guitar.
#6: PRS Guitars Nut
- Made from PRS designed proprietary materials that captures many of the tonal qualities of bone
- This self-lubricating nut is compatible with tremolo and stop-tail models
- Only available in black color. Set of 2.
- Be sure to select the appropriate nut for your neck shape
- SKU: 101755:001:001:007
Last update on 2023-06-09 / Affiliate links (#ad) / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This is for the Pattern Regular and Standard necks found in PRS guitars. If you have a Paul Reed Smith guitar with the regular neck design, then you’ll want this as your replacement guitar nut should anything go wrong with the original.
This uses synthetic material, which mimics the performance of bone. How good are these? They’re terrific, since these are the nuts that you’ll find in the Core PRS guitar models. Put this on your SE, and you’ll be amazed at the different tones you’ll get.
Buy the 2-nut package, so that you won’t have to worry about this component for a long while. Lots of people consider this the best PRS guitar upgrade you can go for.
#7: Musiclily 6 String Acoustic Guitar Buffalo Bone Neck Slotted Nut
- Pre-slotted for 6 strings Les paul & acoustic guitar
- Material: Bone,That makes them harder than the more common plastic ones. This nut will 100% improve sound quality and sustain!
- Size: 43mm x 6mm x 9mm
- Easy to install and use
- Package Including:2 pcs guitar Nut
Last update on 2023-06-09 / Affiliate links (#ad) / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Made of real buffalo bone, this guitar nut gives you a much better tone than what you’d get from its plastic counterparts. This is also quite durable, even though you can get this in a 2-nut package.
This has been pre-slotted for a 6-string guitar, but some people have reported that they’ve also used this for their 12-string guitars. This will give you no problems when it comes to installation and use, and any filing you might need to do during the installation will probably be minimal.
If you’re upgrading from a bone guitar nut, the improvement of your guitar tone will be amazing. You probably won’t ever want to go back to plastic nuts ever again.
#8: GETMusic 6-String Acoustic Guitar Brass Nut
- For Acoustic Guitar Saddle and Nut
- it's shining and gives a very good and crisp sound
- Materials:Brass Colors:Gold Plated
- Saddle Length*thickness*height:Approx 72*3*7.8-6.9mm
- Nut Length*thickness*height:Approx 43.2*6*8.8-8.3mm
Last update on 2023-06-09 / Affiliate links (#ad) / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Now we get to a metal nut, made of brass. But it’s a lot more impressive when it comes to its looks, because of the gold plating. This is actually a nut and saddle set, so you get a matched pairing.
The sound here is great for lots of folks, with a terrific sustain due to the brass material. The tone is really bright.
But we have to admit that its look is what really gets people going. If you want some bling for your ordinary-looking guitar, you really can’t go wrong with gold for the nut and saddle.
#9: Musiclily Pro 44mm Standard LP style Flat Bottom Bone Nut
- With string slots, used on Les Paul guitars
- E to E String Spacing: 1-7/16 inch (36.20mm)
- 44.07mm Length, 4.98mm Width, 9.30mm Height
- Material:Real Bone; Color: Bleached White
- Package included: 2pcs guitar nuts
Last update on 2023-06-09 / Affiliate links (#ad) / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This is a bone nut designed mainly for standard Les-Paul-style guitars. It comes with a height of ⅜ of an inch, and it’s designed for 1 and 7/16 of an inch string spacing.
This bone neck slotted nut works very well with the Gibson Les Paul, and with the Epiphone version too. With these guitars, the installation is super-easy and you won’t even need to do any sanding. You’ll get the expected bone nut advantages, such as perfect action all along the neck with no buzzing whatsoever.
#10: DISENS Bass Guitar Nuts
- Real Bone Bass Guitar Nut: This 4 string bass guitar nut made of high dense, unbleached real cattle bone. Its density and minimal porosity are features that yield good intonation and clarity, ideal for 4 string bass guitar
- Easy to Use: This true bone guitar nut has pre-cut string slots, easy to install.You could do it along even you are very little experience
- Flat Bottom Bass Guitar Replacement Nut: Ideal for replace and upgrade the nut on your bass guitar. Compatible with most kinds of 4 strings bass guitars.
- Guitar Nut Size: Length x Thickness x Height: Approx. 38x3.5x5/4.5mm(1.49x0.13x0.19/0.17inches); E to E String Spacing: Approx. 28.5mm(1-1/8"). Please measure the dimension of your guitar nut carefully before your order it.Our guitar nuts can easily be removed with fine grit sandpaper, to achieve a perfect fit for your guitar
- Package Included: 1pcs 4 string bone bass guitar nut
Last update on 2023-06-09 / Affiliate links (#ad) / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
You need bass guitar nuts when you’re working with a bass guitar, obviously. It works with lots of bass guitars, including the Squier P-bass and the Ibanez EDC700.
This is made with high-density cattle bone, which looks good unbleached. More importantly, the tone quality is superior to what you might get with a plastic version. The nut enhances the bass response, with terrific transfer of the vibration.
Just check that this nut has the same dimensions as the nut you’re replacing, to be sure it’ll fit. The good news is that this nut can be a bit bigger than the original. You can just sand this to size with fine grit sandpaper.
What Material Makes the Best Guitar Nut?
This is a matter of opinion, so there’s no real consensus. Still, if you survey a large number of experienced guitar players, many of them will single out bone as the top guitar nut material. It can make your music feel alive, while you get a bright and resonant tone.
How to Choose the Best Guitar Nut?
There are several key factors you need to prioritize when you’re picking the best guitar nut for your guitar.
Guitar Type
Some of these nuts are designed for acoustic guitars, while others are for electric. Of course, you’ll need specially designed nuts for bass guitars.
Check the premade slots, which will indicate if your nut is made for a 6-string or 4-string instrument.
Material
The type of material you have for your nut will affect the tone quality, durability, and cost of the nut.
Ease of Installation
Basically, you have to make sure that you’re getting the right type of guitar nut with the right size. It’s easy to do if you’re replacing a stock nut. You just need the same exact measurements for the new guitar nut.
Different Types of Guitar Nut Materials
Let’s check out some of the more common types of guitar nut materials you may find these days:
Cheap Plastic
If you have an affordable guitar, then it probably comes with a plastic nut. Manufacturers like its low cost and it’s also easy to shape. You even get a bright tone.
However, the sound properties they offer generally pale in comparison with the other guitar nut materials. Also, durability can be a problem.
High Quality Plastic
This is also known as the “Fake Bone” category of guitar nuts. You have materials like Micarta, Corian and TUSQ, which to some ears (but not to others) sound great. Often, they’re made to look like bone, and some people even claim that it can sound as good as bone.
Bone
This is widely considered as the best guitar nut material. Even those who prefer other materials admit that it’s a superior choice. It can give you terrific resonance and sustain, and it’s quite durable. You also get reliable tuning. It even looks cool.
Metal
Usually this means brass, though you may find steel or even titanium options. As you may have guessed, its main advantage is that it’s extremely durable. You also get a clear tone even with distortion.
Fossil Ivory
First of all, we’re not talking about non-fossil ivory. That means the ivory that comes from the elephants that poachers kill for their tusks. Obviously, no one approves of that sort of thing.
With fossil ivory, you have tonal qualities that can resemble bone, with nice resonance and sustain. The tone is just a bit brighter and harder compared to bone, and it looks impressive as well. It’s just that manufacturers don’t find it as easy to get into the right shape.
Ebony
The sound is terrific, and so is its looks. On the other hand, it’s wood—it can soften more quickly than other materials.
Graphite
If you get premium graphite, you’re in luck. It offers reliable tuning stability and you even get some tremolo effects. It also gives you low friction because it’s self-lubricating.
The main issue is that it may not last as long as bone or even fake bone. And don’t even think about the cheap graphite options—you get none of the benefits that premium graphite offers.
Best Guitar Nut Brands
Guitar Manufacturer Brands
Often, the brand that made your guitar is your best choice for your replacement. So, if you’re looking to replace your stock PRS guitar nut, look for the nuts offered by PRS as well.
Graph Tech
No list of nut and saddle makers is complete without this brand. This is the brand that made the first self-lubricating guitar nut.
Musiclily
This brand has been around since 2012, and they offer up to 1,500 different kinds of products.
Blisstime
This is an American brand that makes guitar accessories, along with home and kitchen supplies and products for children. They’re all about cost-effectiveness, so if you don’t have a large budget for a nut then you can get the best guitar nut for the money from these guys.
FAQs
Is TUSQ better than micarta or Corian?
For guitar players, TUSQ is a better material for your guitar nut. It gives you a richer tone compared to other plastic materials. On the other hand, it’s also a bit more expensive.
Should you get a bone nut?
Only if you can hear the difference. Most newbies seem to think that a bone nut and a plastic nut sound the same. If that’s the case with you, stick to hard plastic nuts for greater durability.
Is it hard to install a guitar nut?
For a newbie, it can be a bit complicated. You may want your local luthier to do it for you at first. But you may want to see how the pro does it, so you can do it yourself next time. You can also check out plenty of demo videos online on how to do it.
Final Verdict
Here’s the deal: just go with the bone nut. After a while, your newbie’s ears will get used to the terrific quality of the tone. When you try a plastic nut afterwards, it will just sound terrible.
Plenty of people have noticed this after switching from a plastic nut. So, try the Blisstime or the Musiclily if you have an acoustic guitar. Just make sure you’re getting the right guitar nut size—the best guitar nut is one that actually fits!