Why getting this right is so important! Olaf talks about the Nut and how it effects your playing

[@RobertFay]

*- The string spacing looks to be 6 mm {1/4- or 7/32+ or 15/64 inch}, not 16 mm {5/8 in}.* *- To a carpenters' eye in America, they see pubic hair thinness + or - as red, yellow, black/brown.* *- Red hair is understood to be thicker then yellow, black is thicker than brown, using + or - depending on which way you are going, fat or thin. A Red Hair is a stand in for 1/64th inch.* *- True, carpenters don't measure to the 64th, but planing or a sharp chisel can work that close, and the colors are easier to say than cut it "1/16 inch short" or "cut it 1/16 inch long" when you are trying to tell a helper how much short or long to cut something on a noisy work site.* *- To keep the laughter going on a long day, pubic hair is replace with the vulgar slang word.* *- So now we know why the world talks in metric instead of the vulgar or Imperial Inch hair colors.*

[@carolmccurdy6576]

FINALLY! I’ve been teaching stringed instruments for 35 years. I’ve been asked two questions over and over. “Why is that little piece of wood called a nut?” and “Why is the place where I hold the bow called a frog?” Now I can answer the first question 😊.

[@AskOlaftheViolinmaker]

Thanks! Looks like I have to make another video: 🐸

[@mezzopiano3119]

Don't want to spoil the surprise, also because I'm looking forward to Olaf making a video about bow making, but if you cannot wait, Wikipedia has the answer (search for "Bow frog").

[@741662027]

Editor -- thanks for showing his work, and keeping the cuts a reasonable length! It's a big improvement!

[@jackiemiller6060]

Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge and experience with us, well done!

[@KeithR0000]

Woohoo new video! I always look forward to olafs new videos they are always so much fun.

[@LC-th1hy]

Amazing how carving the string grooves in the nut makes changing strings solid plus secure. All measurements precise makes confident sound! Thank you for sharing knowledge of the violin parts! ^o^

[@Highlander515]

Great video! Thank you Olaf for sharing your vast knowledge of violin making!

[@nickyork8901]

What also matters a lot, is that there is no sharp corner on the top of the nut at the scroll / treble corner of the nut - otherwise the violinist will end up with a sore first finger first joint.

[@wakingtheworld]

Not gonna forget this part of the violin, Olaf. That visual with the macadamia nut was a good 'un. So it's the German word for groove! Always learn summat from your videos... Good to know that my (rented) violin was set up correctly...

[@KBorham]

Always informative and precise, thank you. Why wouldn't a violin nut be made from bone, like a six steel string guitar? I suspect tradition no?

[@App494]

Pls make a video with twoset

[@sadhbhdelahunt]

So interesting. The knowledge helps me understand my violin to play better. Thanks.

[@BratislavILIC65]

It is called the saddle in some languages because strings sit on it and it also has saddle points for every string…

[@Ramplcro]

Great video. A general woodworking question - how do you remove (quickly and efficiently) ebony dust, especially after fine sanding, from your fingers? It seems to enter finger pours and if continue to work with other woods it does contaminate them 😁.

[@AskOlaftheViolinmaker]

I wash my hands with a scour normally used for dishes

[@Ramplcro]

Thanks.

[@rossthefiddler5890]

There is a school of thought that has the strings "spacing" the same, but graduated string centres where they are not equal. In other words, the centres measurement between G & D is greater than between A & E, but the actual space between each string, if measured with a Vernier calliper, is equal. I tend to do that. Part of that argument can also be about the angle at which the finger is pressed on the string, directly above A & E & slightly angled over D & G, meaning there may be a little more of the finger to press across D & G than on the A & E strings (that's just me theorising). Also, if the string doesn't fall away in a gradual curve over the nut sufficiently, the string might buzz in the string groove, so yes, the nut is critical in getting it right for best playability.

[@AskOlaftheViolinmaker]

Interesting... I make sure that the centre of the strings are equal, so the spacing at the top of each string is the same.

[@rossthefiddler5890]

@@AskOlaftheViolinmaker I'll try & find details on that thinking & let you know where I came across it.

[@rossthefiddler5890]

@@AskOlaftheViolinmaker I can't find the original source of that concept of graduated spacing & may have been from a musician's request, however there is a String Spacing Nut Rule where it does purposely give graduated spacing to compensate for the string thickness, found on Australian Luthiers Supplies web site. "The String Spacing Nut Rule is by far the most accurate and easy way to set out the string position on nuts and bridges. The intervals gradually reduce from one end of the rule to the other so that you can find the exact spacing for any neck width of bridge. The graduated intervals on the rule also compensate for the string diameters from treble to bass so the the strings feel less crowded."

[@rossthefiddler5890]

Thinking back, the musician that may have requested it is a cellist & classical guitarist.

[@porkynuggetsplays]

thanks for the plastic wrap clamping tip

[@nimekupata]

Thank you!

[@slocke1983]

I find that I'm drawn to darker colored violins. If I were to save my pennies for one of your instruments, could I get it with a dark varnish?

[@AskOlaftheViolinmaker]

Have you taken a look at my Georg Hoffmeister violin? It's darker and absolutely beautiful... It sounds amazing too

[@gasparocelloman9852]

Would the nut height still be 1/3 of the string diameter with gut strings (covered and uncovered)?

[@yaelfregier1218]

I am just wondering : Why not just lower the height of the nut by sanding the bottom of the nut before gluing, and not touch the top which has already been in theory properly set-up initially?

[@RiyaJoline]

LoL! In germany we call that little piece ‚Sattel‘ (like the Saddle for horse) 😂😂😂😂

[@mezzopiano3119]

Hi Olaf, thanks for all your interesting videos! I'm not a luthier, but isn't the depth of the nut grooves (and not the string height above the nut) usually 1/3 of the string diameter?

[@AskOlaftheViolinmaker]

I think I mentioned that as well... It's about getting the finger feeling right...

[@gil_evans]

Is the string spacing compensating for the different string diameters?

[@KBorham]

From the way he marked the position of the slots, with a divider, no, spacing is from center to center, not edge to edge.

[@keyem4504]

Very interesting and it answered a question of mine. However, is it called a Nut in German as well or what's the term in German?

[@mezzopiano3119]

Afaik in German it's called Obersattel (upper saddle) or just Sattel (saddle), whereas the saddle under the tailgut is called Untersattel (lower saddle)

[@keyem4504]

@@mezzopiano3119 That makes a lot of sense. Thank you.

[@AskOlaftheViolinmaker]

It's Obersattel... Upper saddle and the 'saddle' which is the black part at the bottom of the violin that the tailgut runs over is called the Untersattel - lower saddle

[@AskOlaftheViolinmaker]

Oops... Thanks for answering already 😃

[@jarrahtree5130]

Hey Olaf! Really cool video, thank you for sharing it! I know it's padantic, but given it is in the video title, I feel it is important to use the word "affect" instead of "effect" :D

[@zainab58]

Or you could be super-pedantic and postulate that, since “effect” as a verb takes an internal object, the nut brings your playing into existence ;-)

[@jarrahtree5130]

@@zainab58 good try, however the nut's role is not to bring your playing into existence; it simply prevents buzz on the fingerboard. Thus it assists rather than brings into fruition

[@ВадимЛефтор]

Dear Olaf, what kind of oil did You use finishing fingerboard?

[@AskOlaftheViolinmaker]

Paraffin oil

[@chrispbacon3042]

All this time I thought the nut was the one holding onto the instrument.

[@jchumley57]

You can tell a lot about a luthier by looking at his nuts.😃

[@user-us4dj9tv7j]

If it's a $40 ebay violin no feeler gauges are necessary. Just file the nut close to the fingerboard. If you take too much off buy another $40 violin and start over.

[@quest-cequecesttonvisage]

Nice shift to f