Pre-cut Graphtech nuts

[Rock Johnson]

Just got a new Benford HSS guitar - KILLER! The only problem I can find on the guitar is a poorly cut nut - not a huge shock considering that I've had the same problem on $3k Gibbies.

Anyway, I'm thinking of putting one of those pre-cut graphtech nuts on there. What's the collective TGP experience with those?

[walterw]

after you've gone through the hassle of installing the graphtech nut you'll have to cut its slots too, so you might as well just get the original one slotted properly, assuming it's a good quality material.

if it's cheap plastic, than the g-t stuff is a good upgrade.

[Rock Johnson]

Yeah, it's cheap plastic and needs to be upgraded.

I've considered bone as well, but getting a bone nut cut around here is a bit cost prohibitive (gotta travel 90 miles or so).

[UMT]

Rock,

I've got one on my Tele HH and love it. I'm replacing a plastic one on my Strat HH right now. Anything in particular you are wondering about?

[Rock Johnson]

Mostly, I'm wondering if the pre-cut nuts are okay or if I should just suck it up and have a luthier cut me a bone nut.

See, problem is, there's no one in my town that does nut work anymore. So, I'd have to drive approx 90 miles to have someone cut the nut. $50 nut job + $50 in gas + 3 or 4 hours... well, you get the idea.

If the precut nuts are decent out of the box, that's $10 delivered to my door.

[UMT]

I just put a GraphTech nut in my Strat tonite in about a 1/2 hour. Most of that was removing and replacing the strings. I went along the edge of the nut with a razor blade and then got under it with a jeweler screwdriver and it popped right out. Clean the groove out a bit. A dab of Elmers. Pop the new nut in and restring it. Piece of cake. Actually, I found the string height to be not too bad. I'll probably double check it tomorrow with a feeler gauge and maybe have to do some minor cutting but this is easy. This is also the first time I've actually replaced a nut. Very simple. I'm real happy with it. For $10.00, it's a steal.

[sector9]

You should try doing it yourself first, if you screw it up, then take it to a pro. If it works out then you can be proud of your nut job and you saved some money.

[walterw]

that's fine, but without a set of rather expensive nut files, it will be near impossible to get the string slots really right. sure, you can fake it with x-acto saws on the high strings and hacksaw blades on the low strings, or try to get the height right just by taking material off the bottom of the nut, and then attempting to "floss" the slots with old strings to get the slot contour right, but it's a real uphill battle.

people often end up with a way high action at the first fret, never realizing how much better it should play.

[macatt]

I`ve done several pre-slotted TUSK nuts and only had to trim the bottom and ends (and maybe the width). I didn`t have to do a thing to the slots and the nut higth turned out just right.

S. Mac

[elkym]

I used a couple of files and a hacksaw on a sample of Corian I got from Home Depot. 2 hours and absolutely free. Great tone, awesome sustain...

[Rock Johnson]

Thanks for the input, guys. I ordered a slotted graph-tech nut, and hey, if it ain't right at first... well... it's still better than what's on there.

[UMT]

"sample of Corian I got from Home Depot."

What a neat idea! If nothing else, it should be great stuff to practice with. I'm off to the Depot tomorrow for white AND black!

UMT

[9fingers]

I did a repair workshop with Bob Smakula a month ago. His trick for getting the nut height right is to have the nut in place, string it up & tune up. Press on the bridge side of the 3rd fret- there should be just a TINY bit of clearance over the 2nd fret. This is usually adjusted to tolerance by deepening the slots, but I imagine you could use this method to judge how much you might need to take off the bottom of the nut if you don't want to fool with the slots. Just take off a LITTLE bit at a time- it is way too easy to get a nut too low.

[Rock Johnson]

My precut nut should be showing up in the mail any day now. I'll report back after it's in.

[paul14470]

I bought 2 off ebay, pre slotted TUSQ nuts, needed no slot dressing. All I did was rub them on a file to get it to the right height, make sure you center it correctly before gluing it in.. then file the sides even with the neck (be sure to use masking tape, 2 layers all around the nut sides)

[Rock Johnson]

The graphtech nut is in. It took a LOT of filing on the bottom of the nut -- so much so that I probably should have used a dremel for the first rough cut. Once I got the overall height right, it took just a little bit of filing with the welding tip cleaners to get each slot just right. Tuning stability is WAY better than before, and I can't say that I notice any tonal difference. Definitely worth the $8.00 to get the graphtech nut.