File nut too much?

[doghouseman]

I guess it is possible to file a nut too much? My new nut is causing the low E to hit the first fret. I can adjust the bridge higher and also file the first fret down a little?? Seems like the strings are clearing the second fret fine and problem is only for the low E.

Anyone else have this problem before?

 

[ahiddentableau]

If you mean the low E is hitting the first fret when trying to play the open string your best option (short of having a new nut cut and installed) is to shim the nut enough to allow it to ring. You'd have to jack up the height at the bridge a heck of a lot to solve the issue and you'd surely wreck your action in the process. If you have access to nut files you could then adjust the other slots to compensate but it probably won't be strictly necessary.

 

[hopdybob]

i solved it with a piece of aluminum foil beneath the nut, and if that is not enough a slide more.
did no harm to the tone ;-)

 

[Deaf Eddie]

Many of us use the fill-with-something-and-saturate-with-superglue trick to address nut slots cut too deep. Everybody has their own favorite filler; my favorites are bone nut dust and baking soda. I've repaired many an over-slotted nut this way.

 

[darkforce]

I agree with Deaf Eddie.
Don't do anything to the frets. I tend to use baking soda and super glue, because it sets almost instantly. You can watch Dan Erlewine fix a nut in this way over on YouTube:

 

[Fenderbaum]

Botched a few nuts by cutting too much.
Is hard to see it but suddenly the groove is too deep without you knowing.

 

[Greenmachine]

I hate botching nuts. Such a let down.

 

[middy]

I’ve only ever cut one slot too deep. That was enough of a lesson to make me go real slow. Fixed it with superglue and baking soda.

 

[Ronkirn]

I hate botching nuts. Such a let down.

yep, U 'n me both... there are three ways to correct it.. the baking soda trick, you can also use the "powder" that remains on the samd paper after ya shape the nut, . . . 2, you can insert a sliver of something under the nut thus raising the overall height of said, or . . 3, do it the "right" way... start over with a new nut...

a new nut costs a few bux and passes into the invisible world of "done correctly" .. a "patch" job can hang out there, exposed like a "raw" bunion in a barefoot football game... one little bump.. and everything that needs be said about your "art" is painfully revealed.. Do it right ... not doing so costs a hellova lot more than that few bux....

r

 

[Telekarster]

yep, U 'n me both... there are three ways to correct it.. the baking soda trick, you can also use the "powder" that remains on the samd paper after ya shape the nut, . . . 2, you can insert a sliver of something under the nut thus raising the overall height of said, or . . 3, do it the "right" way... start over with a new nut...

a new nut costs a few bux and passes into the invisible world of "done correctly" .. a "patch" job can hang out there, exposed like a "raw" bunion in a barefoot football game... one little bump.. and everything that needs be said about your "art" is painfully revealed.. Do it right ... not doing so costs a hellova lot more than that few bux....

r

Yep.... I'm building another 335 right now and just cut the bone nut outta stock bone. Problem is that I think I may have took too much off the bottom of the nut, fitting it to the neck etc., and what I didn't realize was how close I already was to the optimum height for filing. So... I may have screwed up, but won't know for sure until I actually start filing. I'll make a new nut if I have to, but dang it... what a drag if I do cause the nut I made turned out sooooo well....

 

[Fluddman]

I guess it is possible to file a nut too much? My new nut is causing the low E to hit the first fret. I can adjust the bridge higher and also file the first fret down a little?? Seems like the strings are clearing the second fret fine and problem is only for the low E.

Anyone else have this problem before?

Definitely don't file the first fret down a little! That would be a really bad strategy.

 

[RickyRicardo]

I've done it too. Bone dust, baking soda and super glue works as a temporary fix but as Ron said, make a new one and get it right. Filing down the fret is definitely the wrong thing to do. The nut is the problem and not the fret.

 

[Peegoo]

Filing down the first fret will just create more problems.

Lay a small straight edge atop the frets, with one end resting on the 1st fret. Unless a fret has come loose and is lifting, you'll probably discover they are all the same height--which is how they should be.

The problem is the nut slot.

 

[Fenderbaum]

Get all my blanks from a guy on Ebay. so when i slip up, i lose about a dollar or two.
But it´s the work you put into it that aggravates you.. Shaping and sanding by hand.. Ugh.

 

[beagle]

I guess it is possible to file a nut too much?

Not only is it possible, it's easier than doing the job properly when you first start.

 

[Freeman Keller]

For what it is worth I might temporarily shim or fill the slot if its too low but I always make a new nut. If I'm working on your guitar you wouldn't want me to say "I made your nut too low but fixed it with some baking soda...." I feel the same about my guitars.

 

[Ronkirn]

FILING DOWN THE FRET!!!??? YIKES!!! Just plain yikes.... if there's any DO NOT DO's regarding a guitar, filling down the fret to accomodate a poorly cut nut has to be at or around the top of that do not do list..

r

 

[tewiq]

Bone dust and super glue is the best immediate fix.

 

[stratisfied]

New pre-slotted nut. All the precision, none of the pain.

 

[Red Ryder]

When I build I machine the nut from aircraft grade aluminum. I try not to screw up it's a no fix situation ya start over.