Low Top E nut slot fix?

[BEDLAM_1]

Hi all, When i got my R8 a while back i had it set up by a well known luthier here in the midlands.It was just superb when i got it back.One of the jobs he did was "Nut slot height", for the last few string changes ive had a top E buzz/dead sound from the nut. Ok from first frett

The slot looks quite a bit lower than the B, so my quistions are.

1.Is there an easy fix?..ive heard of the baking soda method but i dont know anybody who has done it.And is it a real fix or a temp fix? or should i just get a new nutt installed?

2.Ive never known a nut to get worn so fast!..is it a gibby thing or a badly cut slot?

i will post some pix tonight

cheers all

[NoStatic]

I used super glue mixed with baking soda, small quantity. Tape up the nut, fill the slot, let set then score the new fill with a razor or scalpel and then (I use) an old string of the right gauge as a nut file. Make your life easy- the more you build it up, the more you have take out to get to the right height. Its slow going with an old string.

[joff]

When i bought my new 2009 R7 Darkback my luthier did a basic set-up on it to lower the action a bit...he said that a couple of slots in the nut were cut too deep and he used a mixture of superglue and crushed bone iirc to fill them...it plays lovely now!

[BEDLAM_1]

Can you tell me how youve done it static?
Did you file out the slot a bit first?..is better to go soda onto glue or vice versa?
How hard does the mix go and how fast?

cheers

[NoStatic]

Unless you have nut files which luthiers have and are precisley sized, I wouldnt file the nut myself.

You only need tiny qty- mask each side of the nut to hold the mix in (cover everything you might spill on.

Put a sprinkle of baking soda on some cardboard or something, add a drop or three of superglue. Use a toothpick or like to mix up a paste, then place some paste in the slot with the toothpick. It goes of in under a minute and sets like rock.

Using a same gauge string to file means you will "cut" the slot correctly, just watch your angle. You probaly only need raise it a poofteenth- bear that in mind when filling the slot. Remember the more you put in, the more have to take out.

[jimmyq]

I didn't have any problems with the nut on that R8, perhaps your tech cut it a little low when he did the setup?

Have you changed string guages since the setup? Nut slots size is closely related to string guage. For example, if you've switched to lower guage strings, the string will sit lower in the slot.

A new nut is cheap enough, or you could use the superglue method to build up the low slots a little at a time. However, if you use the superglue method, you'll still need to recut the slots yourself, and could end up back where you started!

I'd take it back to the tech (or a different tech if you suspect his nut work may not be up to the standards which you expect) and get a new nut fitted.

Just my 2p's worth. Glad you are still enjoying the R8, that one is a great guitar!

Jim

[River]

Originally Posted by jimmyq

I didn't have any problems with the nut on that R8, perhaps your tech cut it a little low when he did the setup?

Have you changed string guages since the setup? Nut slots size is closely related to string guage. For example, if you've switched to lower guage strings, the string will sit lower in the slot.

A new nut is cheap enough, or you could use the superglue method to build up the low slots a little at a time. However, if you use the superglue method, you'll still need to recut the slots yourself, and could end up back where you started!

I'd take it back to the tech (or a different tech if you suspect his nut work may not be up to the standards which you expect) and get a new nut fitted.

Just my 2p's worth. Glad you are still enjoying the R8, that one is a great guitar!

Jim

Maybe it just needs a little more relief in the neck.

[BEDLAM_1]

Eh up jim..
Your right, the nut didnt need any work...But it was done any way.
Im on the same guage as always..10s. Strange as its only been doing it the last month really.

Your right...I think i will take it back to him before i go on holiday,Im a bit worried about having a new nut fitted because the nitro goes over the nut sides and i dont want it damaged.

And yep!...shes still a stunner!...cant put it down, not touched my eggle since i got her

[jimmyq]

Originally Posted by BEDLAM_1

Your right...I think i will take it back to him before i go on holiday,Im a bit worried about having a new nut fitted because the nitro goes over the nut sides and i dont want it damaged.

Bah, get the nut fixed and play the thing, don't baby it!

[asmith9509]

I have done the bone dust + superglue method, and while it works to raise the nut height, it is not the same as a pristine nut IMHO. The material is stickier in the bottom of the slot, and tends to bind while tuning. It also wears out faster; in a few months of heavy play, the slot will be low again.
If it were my guitar and it were a good quality bone nut, I would remove the nut and slightly raise the height of the entire thing using the "sticky mailing label" method that Frank Ford describes on frets.com. Then adjust the height of all nut slots accordingly.
If it's a cheap nut to begin with, just replace the whole thing. You'll be happy you did.

[Strikerfox]

Doesnt stewmac have stuff to refile the nut precisely after you fill it up??

[asmith9509]

After re-reading your original thread, it seems likely to me that he already did the bone dust and superglue technique himself after he cut the slot too deep. That is why it wore out so quickly.

[BEDLAM_1]

Originally Posted by asmith9509

After re-reading your original thread, it seems likely to me that he already did the bone dust and superglue technique himself after he cut the slot too deep. That is why it wore out so quickly.

After reading your post, i had a closer look. Thats exactly what it looks like!,
Hes cut it to low and filled it, which is probably why it was ok for a few months! It looks like some of the glue has come away from the front edge.

Its going to new tech and getting a bone nut fitted, im not going to try and fix it. Ill get it done right. I play to much to be messing about.

Cheers for the help guys!