Brass nut on Double Six why ?

[RayL]

With a very few exceptions (eg, the "aluminum" examples used on Danelectros and on certain Italian guitars such as Wandre), metal nuts were unheard of back in the sixties.

The Baldwin 700 series from 1967 used an aluminium nut for the 12-string version, as evidenced by my 712T.

Baldwin 712T nut.JPG

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(If the lower strings look strangely thin, it's because it's strung Nashville)

Peering with a magnifying glass at the advertising sheet for the 700 series, it looks as if the 706 guitar and the 704 bass had a black plastic nut.

Paul Day suggests that Jim Burns had minimal input on the 700 series design, but whoever it was, they obviously felt that the string spacing on a 12-string needed the strength of a metal bridge (especially the 712T with its neck the same width as a 6-string guitar).

Ray

[bor64]

My original Burns Double Six is a very early one and 100% original except the strings of course
This guitar has still his original nut and it's a very dark brownish almost black plastic...

Cheers Rob

[dave robinson]

I had a look at mine tonight and it's a brass one

[Billyboygretsch]

I have never had a problem with my brass nuts. I understand that they would not be good with a vibrato system like the Apache. So no brass nuts for my strat project.

[MikeThomas47]

My 712 had a metal nut while my 704 and 706 had black plastic nuts. I bought all of these second hand in the very early 2000s and the 712 came from USA so can't vouch for its originality. I always wondered why it was different!
These have now all been sold...to fund more purchases including a red Apache 50th Anniversary - fantastic!

I still have, and still play in Southampton and Ilfracombe, my totally original September 1967 Baldwin 706 (ok, it had a refret in 1997 and was featured in September 1997 Guitarist but I still have the original frets in a masking tape roll) which has a black plastic nut and the obligatory zero fret.

[Uncle Fiesta]

Just checked my 2008 Double Six. Zero fret and a brass nut.

[beeches304]

Over the years I have owned at least 6 Double 6s - several from the original Burns / Baldwin era, one '96/7 Custom Shop Legend and two from the more recent far eastern manufactured run. Not one has had a brass nut. I can remember Barry telling me about the material used on the Custom Shop example but, as that was seventeen years ago I can't remember what he told me!!

Hello Brian,
I am intrigued by the history of your doublesix..I think I may have bought it.
I cant seem to load pictures here..

You may be able to advise more on the history of the guitar to see if it is in fact one in the same.

Regards
Steve

[Iain Purdon]

I cant seem to load pictures here..

You should be able to unless the file size is very large. If that’s the case, reduce them first. 1,000 pixels height and width will work.

[beeches304]

Hello Brian D,

I came across the forum whilst researching the double six...

I think I may have your double six..Indeed bought form Europe.

initially in Germany then sold to a collector in the Netherlands..

it would be great if your were able to provide any history at all..

Regards
Steve