Keeping strings well spaced and at the proper height seems like a basic necessity to me while the other two are just nice to have.
9 months ago | 16
I'm surprised to see the nut not winning! Glassy frets and top tier electronics are quality of life, but if the nut isn't done right, you CAN'T play it
9 months ago | 9
I think people vastly underestimate how important properly cut nut is. You can have low action, and guitar will still feel like s*it if the nut is cut too high. You get strange buzzing when it's cut too low. When it's perfect, you can have higher action that you're used to, and it will still feel amazing, especially for bending.
9 months ago (edited) | 3
Upgrading electronics improves gain &/or removes various noise and smooth frets are lovely to glide on, all that is for not if the spacing is uneven and/or strings sitting too high. You will beg to trade your slightly high high e-string for rough frets.
9 months ago | 4
You can have the best custom pickups, rolled fingerboard edges, stainless steel frets, but if your nut is made from poor quality material or isn't cut properly, you're never gonna have fun playing the damn thing
9 months ago | 5
The nut effects how the guitar plays the most for me. Low e buzz, string spacing, sometimes even pinched strings, fixing those is what's beneficial to me. Electronics and smooth frets are little more than face lifts to me.
9 months ago | 0
if there is a tremolo bridge the nut will make or break it's tuning stability
9 months ago | 3
The perfect set up for your guitar..... That is all.. that includes the like frets and nut yeah but when it's set up perfect when you play it and it just PLAYS and sounds PERFECT. Like a perfectly intonated guitar, pure bliss and how it makes power chords sound OOOOHHHH MUH LORD ITS AMAZING. When the guitar feels so nice to play and is effortless to play and then it becomes an extension form you is where it's at. The proper set up is where it starts from that to get to that point.
9 months ago | 0
Assuming the neck is fine and there are no high frets, then a well cut makes all the difference when it comes to playability.
9 months ago | 0
nice bridge saddles. I have Highwood saddles on my strat. They are super comfortable to play, and do wonders to help with tuning stability.
9 months ago | 0
There should be an "All the Above" option. Depends on the guitar but usually electronics for me because I do not buy guitars with crappy nuts so they are usually "Good" to "Great" on my guitars. Same goes with frets.
9 months ago | 0
ive always had trouble with electronics on guitars ive played on
9 months ago | 0
Since the nut is the origin of most tuning stability, I'll vote there. As long as it stays in tune, I can bear with cheap electronics or a little roughness on the frets.
9 months ago | 0
People make good points, but this poll was about which one of the 3 you think benefits the most. For me it's the nut carve. Then polished frets, then quality electronics. Most nuts are cut well from the factory so I can see why it isn't winning. I have guitars with expensive electronics and cheap electronics and they work great. Polished frets won't help you if your guitars action makes it unplayable or insane fret buzz. You can however play on dirty frets, not fun, but playable. I do understand that polishing frets is the most intuitive of the 3, which is why I think it's winning the poll.
9 months ago | 0
As someone who has 2 guitars without silky smooth frets and has been procrastinating on dealing with them…. Yeah, that’s a big deal
9 months ago | 0
Yes. Well executed frets are really important. I get it. But, I also value a well-executed nut. Also, if you can get a guitar with a zero-fret, you may be pleasantly surprised.
9 months ago | 0
For me, the greatest satisfaction comes from upgrading the pickups. I love the sound of the Seymour Duncan SSL-2s and SSL-6 on my G&L S-500 Tribute, Duncan Black Winter set in my Ibanez and Dimarzio PAF Masters in my Epiphone SG! Makes playing a joy!
9 months ago | 1
Science of Loud
What upgrades benefit your guitar playing experience most?
9 months ago | [YT] | 67