strat neck off ebay, nut issue.

I bought a MIM classic player strat neck from ebay. The seller stated it had had a recent fret and nut-job. It was a few months ago and I've only just fitted it on a tele build. I'm getting major fret buzz when played open, but none when fretted. Raising or lowering the saddles has no effect but i'm able to get a really nice low action with no buzz except when played open.

I measured the 1st fret height and the height from the fingerboard to the bottom of the strings and the two measurements are more or less the same. Now that can't be right can it? The strings behind the nut are also sitting on the end of the board and have worn grooves in it.

Obviously I can't go back to the seller, especially as I've sanded off the Fender logo and put my own on :wink:

so should i just replace the nut or are there any setup tricks that i can do. I don't mind redoing the nut as it's all good practice.

Cheers
Dave

I'd imagine that the nut is cut too low. You may be able to shim up the bottom of it, but I think cutting a new one, especially if it is for practice, would be a better idea. I recently cut my first nut...I made files from a set of feeler gauges and bought a beef bone from a pet store. It was about $5 and I've already made one nut, and cut out a bit to make a second nut, plus a bridge for my acoustic guitar. There's still quite a bit of material left over, but it's definitely more work because you have to cut/shape the material much more.

I'd imagine that the nut is cut too low. You may be able to shim up the bottom of it, but I think cutting a new one, especially if it is for practice, would be a better idea. I recently cut my first nut...I made files from a set of feeler gauges and bought a beef bone from a pet store. It was about $5 and I've already made one nut, and cut out a bit to make a second nut, plus a bridge for my acoustic guitar. There's still quite a bit of material left over, but it's definitely more work because you have to cut/shape the material much more.

Blimey that was quick. I guess that's the way to go, I've done a couple of nuts so far with Stewmac files, something to do tomorrow. That nut looks pretty snug though, think i might have to saw down the middle and collapse it in or I'll risk damaging the board or finish.

Here's a good way to check the nut, as shown by luthier Rick Turner in Acoustic Guitar Magazine:

http://www.gregertsen.com/image/nut.jpg

I use a tiny amount of superglue in the fret slot, then sprinkle a pinch of baking soda into the slot. The baking soda catalyses the glue and it solidifies. Then use your nut files, an exacto saw or a jeweler's saw to cut the slots to the proper depth.
Sounds like whoever made the nut used the same measurement as the fret height to cut the nut, and failed to add 5 to 10 thousandths.
That same technique with the crazy glue and baking soda can be used to repair mother of pearl fingerboard dots in a pinch.

Blimey that was quick. I guess that's the way to go, I've done a couple of nuts so far with Stewmac files, something to do tomorrow. That nut looks pretty snug though, think i might have to saw down the middle and collapse it in or I'll risk damaging the board or finish.

I've only pulled a nut from a neck once, but I scored along the edges of the nut with an exacto knife blade (similar to the description on the frets.com page (http://frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthier/Technique/Setup/NewNut/newnut1.html)

I didn't have an issues with the finish getting marred, but sawing down the middle might be a decent idea as well. Just make sure that you don't saw into the bottom of the nut slot (if the slot is radiused).

Here's a good way to check the nut, as shown by luthier Rick Turner in Acoustic Guitar Magazine:

http://www.gregertsen.com/image/nut.jpg

Thanks for that, when i do that, the strings are actually sitting on the first fret! Don't think i'll be buying ebay neck in the future!

Good luck on that. I sincerely hope the guy that installed the nut is not the guy who reworked the frets.

I'm not sure how anyone could have done such a bad job to be honest. The frets though seem good, they're very skinny and are nicely dressed. They're prefectly level up to the 12th then that they drop off very very slightly and they're level al the way to the end. I think I've read a thread about that being good.

I've only put two strings on but I can get a lovely action with no buzz when fretted. All in all it's a nice neck I'm just peeved as I paid a little over the odds in the first place.

Ah well, another lesson learnt!