Nut repair

[GNAPPI]

I've had some bad experiences with "luthiers" in my area so I'm hard pressed to bring in a guitar that has the high "E" slot cut a bit low, it buzzes when not fretted. The rest is perfect.

Can a single nut cut be fixed with a drop of epoxy or something else?

[Bebop Tom]

It is a simple fix. Luthiers use super glue mixed with baking soda or ground nut material. I just had one done, and was charged $5.00.

[Jabberwocky]

The wonders of cyanoacrylate and baking soda. Use the thicker gel cyanoacrylate for woodworkers.

[Para]

grind an old nut same material to make a dust it doesn't need a lot, using diluted superglue is best but it isn't crucial, put a small amount in the slot shake the dust in then put superglue on the dust, when hard, about 10mins you can recut the slot.

[John A.]

I've had some bad experiences with "luthiers" in my area so I'm hard pressed to bring in a guitar that has the high "E" slot cut a bit low, it buzzes when not fretted. The rest is perfect.

Can a single nut cut be fixed with a drop of epoxy or something else?

This is a pretty easy DIY fix. Here's a video demonstrating how to do it with super glue and baking soda.

I've done it myself; it's very easy to do, and very effective. Just make sure you mask off the areas near where you're working to protect them from the glue. I used plain old Krazy Glue from the stationery store. It's easier to do it with all the strings off, so with archtops, make sure to tape down the bridge with masking tape to keep it in place.

John

[Engine Swap]

JB weld

[zigzag]

I recently had a similar issue with my 335. The luthier I used said that filling in the groove was only a temporary solution. He recommended pulling out the nut, building it up with a shim, and cutting the other grooves to the appropriate depth. I wasn't happy after this was done, so I had him replace the nut with a bone nut. The bone nut cost around $5.00, and he charged me $20 labor.

[Woody Sound]

The wonders of cyanoacrylate and baking soda. Use the thicker gel cyanoacrylate for woodworkers.

I used baby powder once when I was out of baking soda. Worked great.

[mr. beaumont]

I recently had a similar issue with my 335. The luthier I used said that filling in the groove was only a temporary solution. He recommended pulling out the nut, building it up with a shim, and cutting the other grooves to the appropriate depth. I wasn't happy after this was done, so I had him replace the nut with a bone nut. The bone nut cost around $5.00, and he charged me $20 labor.

I have one of those "temporary solutions" on an old acoustic going on 15 years.

[fritz jones]

I've put little splinters of wood in the slot, under the string.
You can inlay a little piece of bone too.

[TH]

I've put little splinters of wood in the slot, under the string.
You can inlay a little piece of bone too.

But don't use ivory. That's illegal.
David

[Jabberwocky]

What about eye-teeth? Is it legal? That's what ivory is, isn't it? Teeth.

[zigzag]

I have one of those "temporary solutions" on an old acoustic going on 15 years.

Yeah, I've got another guitar with a nut groove that was filled in, and I haven't had any problems with it, either. I didn't really care for the idea of putting a shim under a plastic nut, and I'm glad I had the luthier replace the plastic nut with a bone nut.

[Jabberwocky]

But don't use ivory. That's illegal.
David

Try telling it to...The Hathaway Man http://graphic-design.tjs-labs.com/t...-079-thumb.jpg

The Hathaway Man can.

[GNAPPI]

Looks like a plan, but why baking soda and not gypsum / sheetrock dust?

[mr. beaumont]

Because most of us don't live at a construction site?

Kidding aside, because baking soda works and you can get it anywhere.

I'd use bone dust on a bone nut though...buy a cheap bonde saddle blank and get some sandpaper.

[Patrick2]

I've had some bad experiences with "luthiers" in my area so I'm hard pressed to bring in a guitar that has the high "E" slot cut a bit low, it buzzes when not fretted. The rest is perfect.

Can a single nut cut be fixed with a drop of epoxy or something else?

It seems like no one has asked this question yet, so please allow me to do so. Are you sure that the buzzing of the open high E string is due to a too low nut slot? Have you checked it with a feeler gauge . . or preformed the traditional test of fretting the string at the third fret with your second finger, then depressing the string at the second fret, to see if it frets out at the first fret . . or if there's still a little bit of travel left in it? Checked for a back bow on the treble side of the fret board? Checked for a too high 1st fret? I'm guessing that you did some or all of those things . . but, just wanted to double check with you.

Now, with that said . . . if it is indeed a too low fret slot, there's a good probability that who ever last slotted the nut might have also got the slot depth wrong on other strings too. I know that you indicated good techs are hard to come by where you are. But, if it were me and my guitar . . I'd have a totally new nut installed and slotted by someone very reputable . . . even if I had to drive 100 miles to get it done.

There really is no better feeling playing a guitar than having it set up perfectly. That means a preperly radius (matching the radius of the fret board) and slotted nut . . . AND bridge saddle (if your guitar has a wood saddle).

[GNAPPI]

Well, with the nut cut visibly sloping down toward the FB on the high "E" side and the cut as deep as it is it's so obvious it's silly. The rest of the slots are perfect.

I would not drive 100 miles to fix it unless I had to hence my post here :-)