anDy LAKIN Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 the head nut that the strings at the top of the head is called a nut, is there a reason for this? it looks nothing like a nut, metal or food wise. Personally i thought it would of been called the head or neck bridge or even the chin. does anyone know the reasoning behind its name? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 It's called the Top Nut actually. And like you, I've no idea, but then I've never asked. The question has never seemed as important as others, like where can you get condoms in 1980s Carmarthen at 1.37am?, why do the prawn cocktails in The Harvester smell like faeces?, why do all the schoolchildren in Acton sound like Yardies? etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umcoo Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 The first nuts on stringed instruments were made from cashew nut due to the ease of use of the material and the abundance of them. They changed to bone (and a variety of other materials) after the cashew nut 'corroded' and wore down, usually over the space of a few months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 (edited) [quote name='umcoo' timestamp='1364900785' post='2032280'] The first nuts on stringed instruments were made from cashew nut due to the ease of use of the material and the abundance of them. They changed to bone (and a variety of other materials) after the cashew nut 'corroded' and wore down, usually over the space of a few months. [/quote] I have a Top Bone. And Top Nuts actually Edited April 2, 2013 by xilddx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umcoo Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 I've heard.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBus Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 A quick search on Google produced a Telecaster forum asking the same question. The answer seems to be that the word comes from German meaning groove or slot. Putting it through MS Word translation seems to agree with that. Any other takers. Good question by the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaypup Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 'The Chin' is a brilliant name for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 [quote name='chaypup' timestamp='1364901081' post='2032289'] 'The Chin' is a brilliant name for it! [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anDy LAKIN Posted April 2, 2013 Author Share Posted April 2, 2013 chuuffin hell that was quick thanks bassbus and will you be playing the blues today since its the second of april Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anDy LAKIN Posted April 2, 2013 Author Share Posted April 2, 2013 [quote name='chaypup' timestamp='1364901081' post='2032289'] 'The Chin' is a brilliant name for it! [/quote] or tongue but then it would be constantly licking the G string Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
risingson Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 [quote name='umcoo' timestamp='1364900785' post='2032280'] The first nuts on stringed instruments were made from cashew nut due to the ease of use of the material and the abundance of them. They changed to bone (and a variety of other materials) after the cashew nut 'corroded' and wore down, usually over the space of a few months. [/quote] Not even joking when I say I was going to suggest this as a half-serious possibility! You learn something new every day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Rich Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 [quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1364900770' post='2032278'] It's called the Top Nut actually. And like you, I've no idea, but then I've never asked. The question has never seemed as important as others, like where can you get condoms in 1980s Carmarthen at 1.37am?, why do the prawn cocktails in The Harvester smell like faeces?, why do all the schoolchildren in Acton sound like Yardies? etc. [/quote] It's called the top nut to avoid confusion with bottom nuts, the less said about them the better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 A certain ebayer even calls it a "zero fret" which is totally wrong...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmo Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 [quote name='umcoo' timestamp='1364900785' post='2032280'] The first nuts on stringed instruments were made from cashew nut due to the ease of use of the material and the abundance of them. They changed to bone (and a variety of other materials) after the cashew nut 'corroded' and wore down, usually over the space of a few months. [/quote] That sounded like it should have been written on April fools day regardless if it was true or not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 If they called it the "bridge", then that would have caused a lot of confusion. Especially when someone suggests resting your palm on the bridge to mute the strings. So to save the confusion of having two bridges, they called it a nut. Simple really! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulconnolly Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 [quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1364900953' post='2032284'] I have a Top Bone. And Top Nuts actually [/quote] [quote name='umcoo' timestamp='1364901008' post='2032286'] I've heard.... [/quote] I've heard not actually Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 [quote name='paulconnolly' timestamp='1364941512' post='2033216'] I've heard not actually [/quote] I have zero fret about that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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