Bone Nut Adjustment

So, I decided to man up and throw a Partscaster together for myself. I miss having a "true" Tele, and I'd like to have the experience of all the steps of a set up on my own (minus the woodwork or actually creating a body/neck; I'm a bit busy for that at the moment).

My question: bone nuts. I just found out there's a pretty substantial upcharge for having one fitted properly. Is it really that difficult? The bits I've read about it seem a bit unclear to me. It seems like such a small level of detail and adjustment necessary that I am a bit apprehensive about what I need to look out for and any "pro tips" I may need to know. I've heard so much about it, from techs to Wayne's World, that I feel like I may me missing out on the bigger picture of the smaller details, if ya know what I mean.

Inform me! Let me know the secrets of the Bone Nut Freemasons guild.

There are many threads on here on slotting your nuts.

Best tools are nut files - they are expensive.
Also need slitting saw; caliper gauge (with points for marking); smooth jaw vise; steel rule; good eyesight; wet'n'dry to 2000 grit; jewellers rouge; fine half round file; patience; several (6) bone nut blanks (you /will/ mess up); profiling tool.

Imo bone is easiest to work and looks best.

It is not especially difficult to but takes some learning, skill and patience.
Especially curving the bottom of a Fender nut.

Jefrs is right. My first homemade nut was ok, but the end string slots were too close to the edge of the fingerboard, especially #1 e string. I kept pulling the string off the fingerboard when chording. I carved a nut for another guitar that my local YMCA owns (for free so I could get some experience) and it turned out pretty well.

My third nut, second on my Strat, is a good one. I'm real pleased with it. I'm not even thinking how much this nut cost when I factor in the price of the tools, but it sure was fun to make and the sense of accomplishment is real.

My Squier Bullet Strat has a flat nut slot so I didn't have to curve my nuts.

I would strongly suggest you carve your own nut(s). It's fun, and you get a good nut out of the deal. You WILL mess up your first one, though--almost guaranteed.

Here ya go.......
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-home-depot/276101-makin-your-own-nuts-tutorial.html

Bob

Here ya go.......
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-home-depot/276101-makin-your-own-nuts-tutorial.html

Bob

Wow. That's brilliant. Exactly what I wanted.
Also, it illuminates the fact that, without a decent investment in tools, any hope for precision may rest firmly on the shoulders of a proper tech.
Oh well. Thanks for the reply!

if yer in the world of guitars and other stringed instruments for life, tooling up and learning how to cut and adjust nuts is well worth the initial investment and time. it makes you self sufficient and always able to take care of your guitars ... the downside, if any, is yer buds will bug ya to make and fix their nuts, too. :cool:

+10000 to what Rob said. I've been getting by using makeshift nut files from feeler guages with teeth cut into them. Honestly, they suck, but after way too much time, I do end up with very good bone nuts for the effort. They cut a nice rounded bottom slot, but are slow to cut.

Real nut files are on my list for sure and I will end up making new bone nuts for all of my guitars once I get them. Learning to make nuts, level, crown, polish frets, swapping electronics, and doing setups are lifetime skills. I love the fact that there isn't anything on my instruments that I can't fix and I can make some cheap guitars play like proverbial butter.

+10000 to what Rob said. I've been getting by using makeshift nut files from feeler guages with teeth cut into them. Honestly, they suck, but after way too much time, I do end up with very good bone nuts for the effort. They cut a nice rounded bottom slot, but are slow to cut.

Real nut files are on my list for sure and I will end up making new bone nuts for all of my guitars once I get them. Learning to make nuts, level, crown, polish frets, swapping electronics, and doing setups are lifetime skills. I love the fact that there isn't anything on my instruments that I can't fix and I can make some cheap guitars play like proverbial butter.

dead nuts on the money, sir! :cool: