Nut — Small part, big difference

The nut sits at the start of the fretboard and sets the position and height of the strings at the headstock end. Its slots affect the feel in the first frets and the tuning stability.

If the slots are too high, fretting gets harder and notes can sound sharp. If they're too low, the open strings buzz. If a string sticks, the tuning can jump suddenly.

The material matters, but a precise fit matters more. Moving to a heavier string gauge may mean the slots need adjusting. Because removed material is hard to put back, corrections need specialist tools and care.