Nut assembly for stringed musical instrument

Abstract

A height-adjustable nut assembly for stringed musical instruments can be implemented as a single elongate nut block that can be height-adjusted at each end, or as two such nut blocks disposed end-to-end. The nut block has a cross-sectional shape that provides at row of V-shaped channels for string support and guidance. A primary embodiment has a stabilizing flange extending from the bottom portion of the nut block toward the instrument body region. The nut block is adjustably supported by tripod mounting system including a pair of set-screws in the nut block under the channels and a fastening screw through the stabilizing flange, which is compressibly spaced from a support landing machined in the neck. A step formed by the landing is utilized for anti-rotation. The V-shape of the string support channels accommodates all sizes and tunings of strings with precise center-to-center spacing assured, and provides increased clearance for thicker strings. For an instrument with more than six strings and/or with strings arranged in two tuning groups. and particularly for an instrument to be played with a two-handed tapping technique, such as The Chapman Stick, two nut blocks may be deployed end-to-end: each adjustable independently at each end by the set-screws, unimpeded by the fastening screw and compressible spacer, thus enabling easy precise adjustment of optimal string-to-fret clearance independently for each string tuning group. A secondary embodiment, wherein the nut block is configured with no flange, may be implemented in several versions, some with rear access for adjustment.