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Cut the nut too deep

Posted by Dave Onastik on December 24, 2010 at 11:20am in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

I recently completed a 3 stringer, and I cut the slot in the nut for the middle string just a hair too deep.  When I play the string open, there's a slight buzzing against the first fret.

 

I know the right thing to do is to cut a new nut, but was wondering if there is any way to backfill the slot to slightly raise the string?

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Replies

  • Josh Gayou (SmokehouseGuitars) December 29, 2010 at 5:27pm
    It would but you'd end up wasting a nut.  If it's made of something cheap like scrap wood or plastic its not so bad but if you have something nice on there like bone or horn it kind of hurts to trash it.

    Monte said:
    Would making a new nut made the same amount taller then the over cut is solve the problem?
  • Monte December 29, 2010 at 2:20pm
    Would making a new nut made the same amount taller then the over cut is solve the problem?
  • Bob Harrison December 27, 2010 at 3:44pm

    One other way I have used is to shim the nut and recut the other slots.

  • Jon Pruett December 27, 2010 at 10:29am

    I've had to do this once or twice - worked well for me. :)



    Josh Gayou (SmokehouseGuitars) said:

    I did this once before.  I put masking tape on both sides of the nut (think like a concrete form) and then filled the slot with two part epoxy.  Sets up nice and hard.  Came back to it an hour later and recut the slot.  Worked nice and you couldn't tell it had been done looking closely at it.
  • Josh Gayou (SmokehouseGuitars) December 27, 2010 at 12:40am
    I did this once before.  I put masking tape on both sides of the nut (think like a concrete form) and then filled the slot with two part epoxy.  Sets up nice and hard.  Came back to it an hour later and recut the slot.  Worked nice and you couldn't tell it had been done looking closely at it.
  • Dan December 25, 2010 at 10:56am
    How bout just turning the nut over and cutting new string grooves?
  • Bob Harrison December 25, 2010 at 8:44am
    I have also made the string groove wider and inlayed a bone insert then recut the groove. But on a plastic nut I like the super glue and soda fix. Also I have used a little slive of paper super glued in, at times this has worked best..
  • BenBob December 25, 2010 at 3:43am
    Yep, bone dust or baking soda and super glue is what I've done. It's not as good as an unadulterated bone nut though... it can creak sometimes.
  • Mark Werner December 24, 2010 at 10:49pm
    I use bone nuts almost exclusively, and they can be adjusted with bone dust and superglue.  The "gel" superglue seems to work well.
  • Dave Onastik December 24, 2010 at 9:12pm

    Thanks everybody, especially Mike.  I tried the super glue and baking soda, and it's much improved.  I may try another layer to remove the minimal buzz that's left.

     

    Good tip, as well as the others. I can always count on the Nation.  Happy Holidays to everybody.

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