Sat Mar 04, 2017 2:50 pm
Sat Mar 04, 2017 3:03 pm
Sat Mar 04, 2017 5:43 pm
Sat Mar 04, 2017 6:10 pm
darwinohm wrote:FZTNT, Timely post. I just finished the nut tonight for my 24 3/4 scale neck that I just finished painting. I really like the scale and have put this neck on my John Mayer strat, which I converted a couple of years ago to a Bass VI. I did post a thread on the forum about that conversion. I now do all my own nut and fret work after obtaining the tools to do these things.
I have discovered that the nut work is one of the most important and needed on many new guitars. I have been through most of my G&L's and several of them were not cut low enough. It really affects the playability on the first several frets and also clears up some intonation issues. First let me answer what material I used for this.
I used a bone blank and totally made the nut, filing and shaping from scratch. It was my first one and I wanted to do it from scratch. Now that I have done it and cut several others to my wishes I will use the preslotted blanks. It saves a ton of time. I first made the nut, installed it on the guitar and cut the slots. After getting everything correct I played it for a few days, removed it this evening and shaped the top and polished it. Here are some photos:
Shaped the top with a file, the used 600, 1000, 1500, and 2000 sand paper to get the polished look.
I then used polishing compound to get the gloss.
The slot is prepared to install:
And finally strung up:
And here is the whole rig.
As for materials, bone is nice to cut slots with the file. TusQ is more difficult to cut but you don't have to be as careful as the file takes less material. I don't use plastic as it is probably a waste of time as long as your doing the work. My favorite is a zero fret or a Fender LSR nut which I have installed on a g&L Tribute. If all my guitars had the zero fret, I would be happy but now having the tools, I enjoy doing it and life is good. My opinion for what it's worth. -- Darwin
Sat Mar 04, 2017 6:31 pm
Sun Mar 05, 2017 3:36 am
Sun Mar 05, 2017 8:01 am
Sun Mar 05, 2017 7:07 pm
Sun Mar 05, 2017 8:43 pm
FZTNT wrote:Thanks Darwin, This certainly gives me a place to start. I think I will pick up a simple uncut bone nut radiuses to 7.5 on the bottom as I think my nut slots are radiuses along with the neck. Or am I wrong? You say your guitars have flat nut slots and are all rep BBE instruments. Mine are also all pre BBE such as the Nighthawk and a couple old F-100s and some Invaders. I was under the impression that all of these were radiuses nut slots, no?
Great information though and I will keep the thread updated as I go to see what happens I will start with the Nighthawk as it is currently just too unplayable because of the deep cut nut.
Gotta run dinner is ready...
Tom
Sun Mar 05, 2017 11:47 pm
FZTNT wrote:... I will start with the Nighthawk as it is currently just too unplayable because of the deep cut nut.
Tom
Mon Mar 06, 2017 9:41 am
Craig wrote:FZTNT wrote:Thanks Darwin, This certainly gives me a place to start. I think I will pick up a simple uncut bone nut radiuses to 7.5 on the bottom as I think my nut slots are radiuses along with the neck. Or am I wrong? You say your guitars have flat nut slots and are all rep BBE instruments. Mine are also all pre BBE such as the Nighthawk and a couple old F-100s and some Invaders. I was under the impression that all of these were radiuses nut slots, no?
Great information though and I will keep the thread updated as I go to see what happens I will start with the Nighthawk as it is currently just too unplayable because of the deep cut nut.
Gotta run dinner is ready...
Tom
i suggest you search for this post: Are G&L nuts curved or flat on the bottom?.
Mon Mar 06, 2017 10:04 am
Elwood wrote:FZTNT wrote:... I will start with the Nighthawk as it is currently just too unplayable because of the deep cut nut.
Tom
This trick might get your Nighthawk playable until you get a replacement nut:
http://www.stewmac.com/How-To/Online_Re ... _soda.html
Mon Mar 06, 2017 8:36 pm
FZTNT wrote:Craig wrote:FZTNT wrote:Thanks Darwin, This certainly gives me a place to start. I think I will pick up a simple uncut bone nut radiuses to 7.5 on the bottom as I think my nut slots are radiuses along with the neck. Or am I wrong? You say your guitars have flat nut slots and are all rep BBE instruments. Mine are also all pre BBE such as the Nighthawk and a couple old F-100s and some Invaders. I was under the impression that all of these were radiuses nut slots, no?
Great information though and I will keep the thread updated as I go to see what happens I will start with the Nighthawk as it is currently just too unplayable because of the deep cut nut.
Gotta run dinner is ready...
Tom
i suggest you search for this post: Are G&L nuts curved or flat on the bottom?.
Craig,
Both this link and the other one you posted I have seen before. This is why I ask the questions. They seem to contradict what has been said in other posts and some of what Darwin has said in his posts. There are many differences in the nuts from certain era's, models, trip vs USA etc. So I am looking for info and tips from folks that have actually done this a few times or more to see what the "ground truth" is, not what some lame old post that I have seen before says.
Thanks for the input,
Tom
FZTNT wrote:Lately there has been some discussion about nuts on various sub-forums here so I thought I would start a thread specific to this question.
What I would like to know is:
What nut material do you use?
Why is that your choice?
Do you replace your own nuts and how difficult do you think it is? Do you start with a pre-cut etc?
What is the most common material that G&L has used over time?
I know someone had asked what type of animal are he bone nuts made from and I don't think that was answered.
Do you think anyone would mind if I dug up Jimi Hendrix and used one of his finger bones for a guitar nut?
Does anyone use dees for this purpose? (there, I've gotten the inevitable nut jokes out of the way so no need for more.)
I'm quite interested to hear everyones thoughts as I am about to have the need to replace a couple nuts on my guitars.
Tom
Tue Mar 07, 2017 11:33 am
Tue Mar 07, 2017 12:12 pm
Tue Mar 07, 2017 5:55 pm
Wed Mar 08, 2017 6:04 am
Wed Mar 08, 2017 7:14 am
Wed Mar 08, 2017 9:24 am
Wed Mar 08, 2017 10:29 am
FZTNT wrote:Craig,
Thanks for the info. It's not about being a mind reader, it's just that I was looking for a group dialog from folks that have done this and what their experiences and materials were. That's why I wanted it in the Projects Sub-Forum so more people would see it and get involved. I am about to venture into this type work on my guitars and want to be as informed as I can. I already do all kinds of setup stuff myself, am a world class solderer and have just never done nut shaping and replacement before. It's a delicate procedure and I want to get it right.
Darwin has been of great help and I would love to here from some other members as to their experiences.
Tom
Tue Mar 14, 2017 3:14 pm