why is it called a nut

[anDy LAKIN]

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?

[xilddx]

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.

[umcoo]

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.

[xilddx]

[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

[umcoo]

I've heard....

[BassBus]

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.

[chaypup]

'The Chin' is a brilliant name for it!

[xilddx]

[quote name='chaypup' timestamp='1364901081' post='2032289']
'The Chin' is a brilliant name for it!
[/quote]

[anDy LAKIN]

chuuffin hell that was quick thanks bassbus and will you be playing the blues today since its the second of april

[anDy LAKIN]

[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

[risingson]

[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.

[Fat Rich]

[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.

[yorks5stringer]

A certain ebayer even calls it a "zero fret" which is totally wrong......

[timmo]

[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

[xgsjx]

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!

[paulconnolly]

[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

[xilddx]

[quote name='paulconnolly' timestamp='1364941512' post='2033216']
I've heard not actually
[/quote]

I have zero fret about that.