Need help on simple tele repair....

J Lacey · August 3rd, 2007, 04:57 PM

Hey guys,

I purchased a '04 MIM Tele for my 11 year old son off E-Bay a couple of weeks ago. The seller said he got the new guitar , a small Crate amp, cord, strap, picks, and a nice,heavy built Fender gig bag for Christmas a couple years ago, and had hoped to take lessons but never did. The guitar is mint and still has the protective film over the pick guard. For all I can tell it's never been played. Anyway this was my first E-Bay adventure and I bought everything listed above for $275.00 + $34.00 shipping so the kid's in the Tele business and I think we did OK on that deal being the guitar was unharmed........

My repair question concerns the g string poppin' out of the nut anytime I bend the string. A close look at the nut tells me the slot is not near deep enough to hold the string in place. It looks as it was only cut 1/2 as deep as it needs to be. The other thing is that the G string seems to be the correct height off the fret board compared to the rest of the strings so I don't want to lower that string by cutting too deep. Also, what can I use to deepen that slot? I don't own a file that tiny........

Help,!

and thanks

Jeffro

The String King · August 3rd, 2007, 05:02 PM

Fold a bit of sand paper in half and use it as a file. Be sure not to widen the slot to much, and use a light touch. A little goes a long way with nuts...

xanadewnick · August 3rd, 2007, 05:09 PM

nuts are some times a problem with the mim try the sand paper if you get to much fret buzz replace with a better nut I like the ones you cut yourself or grafite. use 2000 grit.

0le FUZZY · August 3rd, 2007, 05:10 PM

...I grind down the sides of a hack saw blade.

0.F.

Buckocaster51 · August 3rd, 2007, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Lacey

... The other thing is that the G string seems to be the correct height off the fret board compared to the rest of the strings so I don't want to lower that string by cutting too deep...

So, you have to make the slot deeper, without getting the string closer to the fingerboard.

Sounds like you have some non-linear phase co-inductance of the spervel bearing going on!

This could get tricky!

Ultimately you may just want to make a new nut...

but you COULD try to tap it loose, glue some business card type cardboard to the bottom. Trim it up. Put it back in...and THEN cut all of the slots to your liking.

Another thing, and don't laugh too hard at this, I have done it and it pretty much works...really...put a piece of DUCT TAPE over the nut to hold that string in place.

Really!

0le FUZZY · August 3rd, 2007, 05:25 PM

Quote:

I have done it and it pretty much works...really...put a piece of DUCT TAPE over the nut to hold that string in place.

...YUP!!! It duz werk !

0.F.

jwells393 · August 3rd, 2007, 05:35 PM

I vote for Fuzzy's hacksaw blade technique. Get a new blade with 32 teeth per inch. I hammer the teeth flat on one end to take the set out of them. You can also use such a blade to cut glued in dowels flush with the surface. Hammer or grind the teeth on the end that allows you to cut on the pull stroke. With a file you could probably shape the teeth of the blade so it cuts a round bottom slot.

The slot should be deep enough so that half the string is above the top of the nut ......... half below the top of the nut.

mellecaster · August 3rd, 2007, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwells393

I vote for Fuzzy's hacksaw blade technique. Get a new blade with 32 teeth per inch. I hammer the teeth flat on one end to take the set out of them. You can also use such a blade to cut glued in dowels flush with the surface. Hammer or grind the teeth on the end that allows you to cut on the pull stroke. With a file you could probably shape the teeth of the blade so it cuts a round bottom slot.

The slot should be deep enough so that half the string is above the top of the nut ......... half below the top of the nut.

Jack..that would hold true for wound strings...but not a plain G, like he's speakin of....slots should be a little deeper for those.

jwells393 · August 3rd, 2007, 05:48 PM

OK ............ I stand corrected.

J Lacey · August 3rd, 2007, 06:46 PM

Heres a pic of the nut in question. This thing is really a mess. I just went down stairs to take this pic and realized that the slot for the B string is junk as well. It's even got a B slot started in the wrong place, and you can see that the G slot doesn't seem like enough either. Guess somebody at quality control was out that day.........

Thanks for all the help, I'm gonna try to fix it......

Jeffro

Daddydex · August 3rd, 2007, 08:04 PM

I took a filet knife to the nut on my Squier Tele. Worked like a charm, just go slow. I think if you just deepen the slot a hair you won't have to worry about the string height. Good luck.

Dan

cacibi · August 3rd, 2007, 08:11 PM

Slow is the way to go for sure. Take a few passes - re-slot the string, bend and repeat.

August 3rd, 2007, 04:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
J Lacey TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: North Georgia Age: 41 Posts: 95 9 Photos	Help on tele repair, pic added Hey guys, I purchased a '04 MIM Tele for my 11 year old son off E-Bay a couple of weeks ago. The seller said he got the new guitar , a small Crate amp, cord, strap, picks, and a nice,heavy built Fender gig bag for Christmas a couple years ago, and had hoped to take lessons but never did. The guitar is mint and still has the protective film over the pick guard. For all I can tell it's never been played. Anyway this was my first E-Bay adventure and I bought everything listed above for $275.00 + $34.00 shipping so the kid's in the Tele business and I think we did OK on that deal being the guitar was unharmed........ My repair question concerns the g string poppin' out of the nut anytime I bend the string. A close look at the nut tells me the slot is not near deep enough to hold the string in place. It looks as it was only cut 1/2 as deep as it needs to be. The other thing is that the G string seems to be the correct height off the fret board compared to the rest of the strings so I don't want to lower that string by cutting too deep. Also, what can I use to deepen that slot? I don't own a file that tiny........ Help,! and thanks Jeffro Last edited by J Lacey; August 3rd, 2007 at 06:53 PM.

August 3rd, 2007, 05:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
The String King Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: East Sussex, U.K. Age: 16 Posts: 1,065 22 Photos	Fold a bit of sand paper in half and use it as a file. Be sure not to widen the slot to much, and use a light touch. A little goes a long way with nuts... __________________ I twang therefore I am

August 3rd, 2007, 05:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 11,921 101 Photos	I vote for Fuzzy's hacksaw blade technique. Get a new blade with 32 teeth per inch. I hammer the teeth flat on one end to take the set out of them. You can also use such a blade to cut glued in dowels flush with the surface. Hammer or grind the teeth on the end that allows you to cut on the pull stroke. With a file you could probably shape the teeth of the blade so it cuts a round bottom slot. The slot should be deep enough so that half the string is above the top of the nut ......... half below the top of the nut. __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras.

August 3rd, 2007, 05:48 PM	#9 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 11,921 101 Photos	OK ............ I stand corrected. __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras.

August 3rd, 2007, 08:04 PM	#11 (permalink)
Daddydex Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,598	I took a filet knife to the nut on my Squier Tele. Worked like a charm, just go slow. I think if you just deepen the slot a hair you won't have to worry about the string height. Good luck. Dan __________________ Teles are like Mr. Potato head

August 3rd, 2007, 05:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
xanadewnick NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: utah Age: 29 Posts: 5	nuts are some times a problem with the mim try the sand paper if you get to much fret buzz replace with a better nut I like the ones you cut yourself or grafite. use 2000 grit.

August 3rd, 2007, 05:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
0le FUZZY Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kolly-forn-knee-ya Posts: 10,001 6 Photos	...I grind down the sides of a hack saw blade. 0.F.

August 3rd, 2007, 06:46 PM	#10 (permalink)
J Lacey TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: North Georgia Age: 41 Posts: 95 9 Photos	Heres a pic of the nut in question. This thing is really a mess. I just went down stairs to take this pic and realized that the slot for the B string is junk as well. It's even got a B slot started in the wrong place, and you can see that the G slot doesn't seem like enough either. Guess somebody at quality control was out that day......... Thanks for all the help, I'm gonna try to fix it...... Jeffro

August 3rd, 2007, 08:11 PM	#12 (permalink)
cacibi Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,727	Slow is the way to go for sure. Take a few passes - re-slot the string, bend and repeat. __________________ www.krisgeren.com