replacing a nut

[Go_Blue80]

I have a fender strat, one of the cheap ones made in mexico.. anyways, my nut is broken and needs replaced, should i attempt this.. or have a professional? if i was to do it, do you just push it in there or what? or is it glued in there? thanks for your help!!

 

[64Firebird]

I love to work on my guitars! You'll know your insterment better and nut replacement is a good place to start. Nuts are cheap, so if you screw it up it's not a big deal.

But, nut jobs (joke here) are a pain. It's easy to get in a hurry and take too much out of the string grooves. And, you really need to have the right files.

If you do it yourself, DON"T USE SUPER GLUE!

 

[Krystof01]

You need patience for all guitar mods.

I replaced nuts on several of my guitars to graphite nuts (stay in tune better). They are cheap so buy a few.

How is the other broken? It is handy to be able to use the old nut as a template for the new one.

Shaping/filing the nut:
Just remember you can always take more off but you can't put it back on so do it slowly taking a bit of at a time.

Here's a link that should help you:
http://guitarrage.virtualave.net/guitar/repairs/nuts.html

Krystof.

 

[Krystof01]

Oh and btw; it's up to you if you use glue or not; I didn't need to on any of mine because I was carefull to shape/file it so it fit nicely in the groove without having to force it in or it slipping out. Remember the strings will also be pushing it down so it's not one of those things that needs to be overlly secure (I doubt it would spring out on you even without glue but it's your decision).

Just to add; yes I think that you should do it yourself. No offense but it's not a really expensive guitar and the way I see it the more you know about your instrument/rig the better.

Good luck.

 

[Tom Hicks]

Use Elmers white glue so it can be easily later popped out if needed.Make sure that you carefully scrape the nut shelf free of any previous glue residue but DO NOT REMOVE ANY WOOD!This is a simple repair that you can do yourself.
Check StewMac for "vintage cow bone",sounds closest to ivory.DuPont Corienne (countertop material) is next best and plastic is a distant third for good tone.
Tom

 

[Go_Blue80]

Thanks for your advice guys! I think my roomate bumped into my guitar and knoced it on its side.. so the nut is broken off under the low e string.. in other words.. a chunk of it is missing on one of the sides... as far as "filing", will a music store carry the right file i need? what kind of file are we talkin bout here! thanks!!

 

[Tom Hicks]

Try this link.
Tom

 

[bubinski]

If you need to ask these many questions about it, take it to some guitar shop and let them screw it up for you over and over, till you learn to do it for yourself.
bubinski

 

[Clive Hugh]

In answer to your question about files, most guitar shops would not carry them as they are sales people and not repairers, some will be of course, try stewmac.com and while you are there look at their graphlon nut, I have one in a Strat and it is really good, the trick to filing is to know how deep you want to make the groove and put a spacer between the fret board and the string space so when the file bottoms on the spacer you have reached the desired depth, it's standard to use feeler gauges for this, you also use them before you start to see what the current depth is.

The nut should just tap out but check the finish to see if it is sprayed on the existing nut. If it is you will have to mark it with a sharp knife so it does not chip when removing the old one.

When you file the nut for fit, lay the file on a bench and slowly rub the side of the nut over the file, this is how you fit a key in a shaft and gear, you keep the flat surface in contact with the file and don't get rounded ends and gouges. Only take a couple of 'thou off at a time, use a micrometer if you have one or a vernier, you want an interference fit, just tap in nicely.
Good luck
Clive