Busted my nut.

[Texas_Blues]

Wow, I turn around for one second and all I hear is "wham" my guitar fell head first onto the tiled floor. I look at the damage and it seems the nut slot near the big E snapped, its still in place but it's broken. How much is it gonna run me to get this fixed? What material should I use to replace it?

[crzyfngers]

50 bucks tops. what kind of guitar? maybe you can buy a pre-cut and do it yourself.

[Texas_Blues]

Fender Stratocaster, the nut only snapped in the big E slot, it stays in place, but I'm not sure how long it will hold.

[musicman1]

My tech charges $80.00 for a new nut installed and a set up to go with it. I prefer Tusq nuts which are only about $6.00 or $8.00...

[tastylicks]

Fortunate. That's about the least bad thing that could have happened. A nut is easily replaced, and cheap.

[Sparky6string]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/Sparky6/New%20Sparky1/ouch.jpg

[Texas_Blues]

^Thats how I felt when I heard the guitar body slam the floor.

[musicofanatic5]

[quote=Texas_Blues;5487864]Fender Stratocaster, quote]

I knew it couldn't have been a gibson when you described the minimal damage!

[Texas_Blues]

If it was a Gibson type guitar I'd probably have to get the neck glued back on...but the strat cracked a piece of my tile ):

[Texas_Blues]

Well it seems to be holding tight, so I don't think I'll have to replace it any time soon. But I am saving up for either a Mayer neck or SRV neck...something thick.

[jeffwith1f]

Bone nuts are self lubrcating. (so I've read)
consider one.

[David Collins]

Depends on your tech. I charge $80 for a bone nut, or $40-$60 to fit a pre-made replacement (they don't take that much less work to properly install and cut than it takes to make a bone nut from scratch.

[treeofpain]

Or you can just glue the existing one back in place. It'll probably be fine.

[Texas_Blues]

Thats what I was thinking, which glue would be the best, and do I glue it to the other peice of nut or the fretboard. Thanks

[guitarfish]

The Graphtech precut Tusq nuts fit beautifully in Strats. You just use a regular old file, then sandpaper on the sides & bottom to get them to size. I've done a couple.

[Reeltarded]

Take both parts out, use wood glue, dry, clean off squeeze out, and it'll work a while.

Don't glue the nut into the slot with anything but one-tenth of a drop of superglue.

[Texas_Blues]

Ok thanks, so I either do one or the other?

[Texas_Blues]

Alright I contacted a local guitar repairman, who has done a great job in the past installing, and repairing stuff on my guitar. It is going to cost me $57 +tax to get an Ivory nut for my strat installed and fitted.

[dazco]

Whatever you do, get bone ! ivory is often good to, but expensive. and the kinds that are legal are very inconsistant. I've paid 30 or 40 bucks for a blank several times and 2 were just dead sounding. It's a crapshoot. Bone is pretty much always good and cheap at about 5 bucks for a curved or straight blank.

But anyways, i just did a comparison for the second time in my life. the first time i could hear that bone sounded better EVEN ON THE FRETTED STRINGS. And believe me, it's true. I had tried a slipstone nut to see if they were as slippery for tuning as they say, but it seemed to deaden the sound like i found graphite did in my first experiment years ago. Anyways, i went back to bone and this time it was even more obvious than the first. Maybe my ears are more educated now about 8-9 years after the first time. In any case i was blown away how much clearer and more resonant the guitar sounds now. So much so i haven't been able to put the guitar down since i did this last week. I would never use anything else. It's not a subtle improvment if your ears are well educated. Even to those who's ears don't allow them to notice it for sure will subconciously notice the guitar is just seeming better than usual after playing it a while even if they can't hear an obvious effect.

[Texas_Blues]

So bone would be a better choice over ivory.

Thanks.

[dazco]

Well, IMO it is simply because of the few ivory pieces i've bought 2 were sonically horrible. the rest were good, but i still think bone has a more balanced sound while ivory can be bright. I've actually only had one that was really good sounding, but in retrospect i still think bone is better balanced, not to mention i don't ever recall getting a bad piece. So IMO, yes.

[Texas_Blues]

Alright will do, what is a good bonenut brand?

[dazco]

Well, i doubt it really matters. Cows all makes thier bone matter the same way....eating grass ! The only difference i've seen is color....some bleach thiers and some don't. But as sound goes i can't really say i've ever notice a difference between two pieces. The 2 looks you'll see depending on whether it's blached or not is one is very opaque looking with a slightly yellowish or cream tint, the other is pure white and has a almost translucent look to it. But if you are having a tech do it he'll likely choose whatever he normally uses. If YOU are choosing the blank and bringing it to him, the only thing you need to know is whether to get one with a curved base or flat. Vintage radius necks that have 7.25" radius have a nut slot that is curved while the rest are flat. thats really the only thing you need to know if you purchase the material.

[Structo]

I would use super glue to glue the piece back on.
Obviously the bottom of the slot is ok since the string is sitting there.