Wider nut for Mini

[dangrunloh]

Hello Taylor fans. Sorry if this is already well known. With 100,000  GS-mini built surely others have noted that you can get a drop-in perfect fit Tusq nut that changes the string spacing to a full 1-7/16. It's Tusq PQ-6116.

I hesitated buying a mini for years due to the narrow neck but my wife wanted me to have one so a comparison of 3 different mahogany minis resulted in the purchase of a Mini-M with very wide grain on the top, and a mellow tone, and lots of responsiveness.

Getting it home I noticed there is a bunch of fingerboard space beyond the 1st and 6th string. Much more than a standard Taylor. The spacing is 1-13/32 instead of the 1-7/16 I would have expected on a neck of this width. I think they moved it tighter for youth and beginners to prevent pushing the string off the side.

I wasn't sure if they might use a drop of glue under the nut so I warmed it with a heat gun before tapping upward with a small block. It popped right out no hint of glue under it and no hint it was sanded for height.  The replacement  dropped right in perfectly and the ends were also perfect. They build these guitars to fit the nut.

My fat fingers like it better.  If you compare the nuts side-by-side you can see the difference. I also play it with lights for lower string tension. It takes no more technique than needed on a standard Taylor to keep the strings on the fingerboard. Well maybe a little more way up the neck with light gauge strings.

If you find the Mini fingerboard tight it's only about $XX-$XX to try out the wider spacing of PQ-6116.  I'll probably never go back to the "junior" spacing.

A bone saddle sounds nice and creamy too.

I hate the plastic bridge pins and want wood if I have to make them.  They are not identical to standard ebony Taylor pins according to my micrometer. They are a little larger. The standard pins work but they bottom out too soon. Why can't I have perfection in a $XXX guitar?

---2010 414ce and 2014 Mini-M

$

[Frettingflyer]

Thanks for the info, I may have to try that. Love my Mini but I find myself "fat fingering" more than on my full size guitars.

[packy]

Thanks for the info on the nut.  You probably know this already but, if not, check out Bob Colosi's website for custom saddles and bridge pins.

[paulin]

Thanks for that info.  Where did you buy the nut and what size did you specify, the
1 3/4"?

[ebick]

I think I found it here:

http://www.guitarelectronics.com/product/GTT6116/Graph-Tech-TUSQ-Slotted-Guitar-Nut-PQ-6116-00.html

[Earl]

Just as a point of information, I was carefully evaluating a Rainsong guitar for purchase earlier this year.  I made a bunch of careful measurements all over on my 414 and my Rainsong, including the string-to-string width.  Although our Taylor necks are 1-3/4" wide at the nut, the actual E-E string spacing is almost exactly 1.5" (center of string to center of string).  I did not measure the GS Mini.  I'm intrigued by a wider string spacing for the Mini, especially if it is as easy as switching out the nut.  So I will be following this thread with interest.

[Dulcilo]

I sold my mini just because of the string spacing at the nut. I wish now that I had tried this instead, sounds like an easy fix.

[Stringband Eric]

Great info.  The spacing is the reason I've not purchased one.  This might change things.  Hmmm.

[dangrunloh]

I think I found it here:

http://www.guitarelectronics.com/product/GTT6116/Graph-Tech-TUSQ-Slotted-Guitar-Nut-PQ-6116-00.html

That's the one (6116) but there seems to be an error in the specs on that page. The E-E distance is incorrect according to the Graphtec website.  It should be 1.43 or 1-7/16 or 36.5mm.  Those are the specs of the one I got from allparts.com.

https://www.allparts.com/BN-2862-00T-Graph-Tech-PQ-6116-00-Tusq-Nut_p_853.html

http://www.graphtech.com/products/brands/tusq/tusq-guitar-nuts

It's only a small amount but can make a difference if you have fat fingers.

[dangrunloh]

More about Taylor bridge pins.  My micrometer indicates .205 width on my 414 ebony pins and .210 on the plastic GS-Mini pins.  Taylor ebony pins are supposed to be .210 (just under the rim) according to some sources so I thought maybe mine were worn. A new set of abalone dot pins from Taylor were ordered and found to be .205-.206.  That's what they measure. They certainly do work in the Mini but are a little loose. By contrast the plastic pins from Mini work in the 414 but are they are tight.

I hate the plastic pins because the ball head lacks a decent gap on the underside for a bridge pin tool. And they sit too deep even in the Mini.  Here is the kicker though.

The ebony pins sound better on my GSmini-M.  I wouldn't have believed it as I have not found pins to make any difference on my other guitars. My wife could hear it in the next room. She knew I was changing pins and remarked on the difference. The notes sound more distinct. I went back and forth sometimes only putting in one plastic pin. I tested only the wound strings but have become convinced the ebony sounds better than plastic. I am slightly surprised.

[azslacker]

Wondering if anyone's tried one of these nuts, besides the OP. Looks like a cheap experiment, and reversible. OP hasn't been active in a while.

[Frettingflyer]

Wondering if anyone's tried one of these nuts, besides the OP. Looks like a cheap experiment, and reversible. OP hasn't been active in a while.

I plan to try this on one of my mini's but probably not until fall. I was(am) considering a rainsong Shorty but need to try one and then raise the money. This could be a much cheaper solution but I do wonder if the E strings may be too close to the edge with this change.
I will report back when and if I do this, but I am not one that usually "changes" my instruments thinking they were made this way for a reason. This is a relatively inexpensive and reversible experiment though.

[DannyF]

I have the PQ-6116-00 TUSQ nut in hand and can't for the life of me see the advantage to change it out from the original nut.
We are only talking of a 1/32 of an inch spread over 6 strings.
I held it over my 3 different GS Minis and it looks like that the extra width is only at the high E string.
Has anyone else made this change to the nut besides the original poster?
Did it make any difference?
Thanks, Danny

[dangrunloh]

You wouldn't expect to "see" the difference but you might hear the difference in the form of cleaner chords with less buzzing if you have wide finders. The wider nut does place the first and last string closer the the edge but not any closer then the standard full-size Taylors.  If you have the nut in hand why not try it? My experience or that of others isn't important.  Does it feel any different to your fingers? If you can play a standard B7 cowboy chord or a C6 cleanly with the stock nut you probably won't care. It only helps at the first few frets as the neck widens quickly to a saddle that is even wider than the standard Taylor.  I'm still playing the wider nut and I like it better for my fat fingers and my clumsy chords.

Incidentally I tried playing lights on my Mini with the wider nut and didn't like it. I had trouble keeping the end strings on the finger board at the lower tension. I'm back to playing mediums.

Soon I promise to post here my recent experience mounting and playing the passive JJB bridgeplate transducer pickup system (like K&K) on my Mini-M.  I'm loving it!

--Dan

[DannyF]

I still haven't made the change as this nut doesn't look much different than what's on my 3 Mini's.
I just ordered the PQ 6134-00  which is 1 3/4" x 3/16" x 11/32", E to E is 1.496 or 1 1/2".
If needed, I have an edge sander to make it the same width as the neck at the nut.
If I'm going to take my 3 GS Mini's apart I may as well have another nut that's a bit wider to make comparisons & put on what's best suited, or leave as built.
I can always give it to my friend who has a menagerie of over 25+ guitars that he's picked up here and there for a bargain.
It should be here January 6th, 2016 and I'll post the outcome.
Danny