curved underside nut question

I have bought a used allparts neck which came with a black graphite looking nut which wasn't glued in properly. The under side is curved but the slot isnt, which means there is a space beneath the nut in the middle.I'm wondering if i glue it back in whether that space will affect the tone in that only the outer edges will be in contact with the fret board with air in between.Should I play it safe and buy another nut?

I'd change it. And use bone.

Are you absolutely sure the slot isn't curved? Allparts has been curving the slots on all of their necks for a long, long time.

Can't the nut be sanded on the bottom to get the correct shape ?

Hi
Thanks for your replies:
Having checked the slot with a metal straight edge, it is slightly curved like the fingerboard, however the nut has a a curve with flatted ends and is crudely shaped. I have reformed the curve to match the fingerboard slot using a needle file and it now fits ok as far as i can see.I think it must be bone or synthetic bone material as it is very hard and dense.Do I glue it in using super glue or araldite? given that it will have to come out one day, to be replaced through wear

You can curve the bottom of the nut to match the radius of the slot by attaching a piece of adhesive-backed sandpaper to the fretboard and sanding the nut on it. Super glue will work just fine

http://www.hergoods.info/avatar1.jpgAllparts has been curving the slots on all of their necks for a long, long time.

Personally I wouldn't use super glue - nuts super glued in can be a real pain to remove. A couple of small dabs of white wood glue works just fine for me.

Personally I wouldn't use super glue - nuts super glued in can be a real pain to remove. A couple of small dabs of white wood glue works just fine for me.

+1...on the white glue!

By white glue, I assume you mean pva?

The glue really doesn't matter. I usually use two small dots of super glue. Use elmer's, use wood glue, use super glue... the results will be the same. Nuts glued with a couple of dots of super glue are absolutely no harder to remove than any of the other typical choices.

If you actually need the glue to hold the nut in place on a Fender neck, it's too narrow for the slot. You want that nut to fit real snug.

The glue really doesn't matter. I usually use two small dots of super glue. Use elmer's, use wood glue, use super glue... the results will be the same. Nuts glued with a couple of dots of super glue are absolutely no harder to remove than any of the other typical choices.

If you actually need the glue to hold the nut in place on a Fender neck, it's too narrow for the slot. You want that nut to fit real snug.

The new nut I carved last week for my Strat is not glued in and it fits tight and sounds just fine. I don't know if I'll ever glue it in, but if I do, it'll be with one drop of super glue.

Those Graph Tech nuts come with a radius shape and a flat extension in the center.
If you have a curved slot you're supposed to remove the flat extension until the nut sits in the slot properly.
If it's a flat slot the extension is supposed to fit that.
Personally I don't care for that setup.
If I have a neck with a flat slot I'll buy a nut made with a flat bottom. They're easy enough to find on the E Bays.
I prefer bone or tusq. And use a drop or two of white glue to hold it in place.