rangercaster
Poster Extraordinaire
When I encounter nut issues, I just bring it to my tech ...
Or just buy another guitar ...
Or just buy another guitar ...
Nut Files - How cheap can I be?
- Thread starter SamIV
- Start date
Bought a cheap set of three double sided for about £5 a while ago. Posted details as part of another thread but can’t find it now. No, something with no moving parts, used with care and only occasionally should last well.
Fred_Garvin
Tele-Holic
They pay for themselves the first time you use them. It was a no brainer for me.
Collin D Plonker
Friend of Leo's
Me too. They are good. Use them all the time.
IronSchef
Tele-Afflicted
interesting - only 2 folks suggested Stew-Mac. They have great files (not cheap, however) for light, medium, or heavy strings. (IMHO) WELL worth the $89 (yes, I have tried the welding tip cleaner hack - WON'T go back!)
https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-too...ut-slotting-file-set-for-electric-guitar.html
https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-too...ut-slotting-file-set-for-electric-guitar.html
zippofan
Tele-Afflicted
I got a set of 6 Hiroshima files a few years ago from eBay, standard .010-.046 gauges. It wasn't that expensive at the time, but recently I misplaced one I needed and bought a single. Get a set, it's much cheaper that way.
When I set up my guitars the nut gets filed since they're never quite where I want them. I still haven't tried making a nut, but my luthier charges $50 no muss no fuss. I only over filed one on my G&L Tribute Bluesboy and had him install a bone nut.
When I set up my guitars the nut gets filed since they're never quite where I want them. I still haven't tried making a nut, but my luthier charges $50 no muss no fuss. I only over filed one on my G&L Tribute Bluesboy and had him install a bone nut.
Freeman Keller
Doctor of Teleocity
My files are StewMac but I think they are an older set (15 years) and may not be the same gauges that they sell today. I keep thinking I need to replace them but they still work fine. FWIW I have the Grizzly blades also which I almost never use.
Boreas
Doctor of Teleocity
I have been using a set of 3, double-sided nut files from StewMac. Then I "polish" with sanding cord in various diameters. Usually they don't require this if you don't have a whammy. If you are only going to do it once, take it to a good tech...
dazzaman
Tele-Afflicted
I use the Stewmac ones. There may well be others that are as good. But I have had my set for years, and the purchase cost divided by times they have been used is now in the fairly low single digits. Not sure when I might ever need to worry about some replacement ones. Good nut files are well worth it as an investment.
RodeoTex
Doctor of Teleocity
I recently bought that $100 Grizzly set mentioned above on sale for $58.
It's been like a dream after using only 3 files for 20+ years.
It's been like a dream after using only 3 files for 20+ years.
SamIV
Tele-Holic
Still have not bought a set yet. Anyone have an opinion on these from Philadelphia Luthier Tools. They are on sale.
https://www.philadelphialuthiertools.com/luthier-tools/files/guitar-nut-file-set-10-files/
https://www.philadelphialuthiertools.com/luthier-tools/files/guitar-nut-file-set-10-files/
Steve_U1S
Tele-Afflicted
Sorry I didn't see this sooner - now they appear to be out of stock.
They're good - I've got some Hosco from that series in my collection of nut slotting files, and they stand up well with other brands.
Did you nab a set during the sale?
SamIV
Tele-Holic
Nope. Out of stock when I decided. Oh well. I'm a little slow.
byacey
NEW MEMBER!
I bought my Hiroshima Uo-Chikyu files from here:
http://www.japarts.ca/Uo-Chikyu/Uo-Chikyu-Products-Featured.asp
Unfortunately, they are having supply issues at the moment. The do have some other items that may be of interest.
http://www.japarts.ca/Uo-Chikyu/Uo-Chikyu-Products-Featured.asp
Unfortunately, they are having supply issues at the moment. The do have some other items that may be of interest.
KelvinS1965
Tele-Afflicted
It's been a bit of a revelation to me, but a properly cut nut makes such a difference to how the guitar plays on the lower frets especially. I can't say that I can hear any difference between materials, but I've replaced some plastic nuts with bone on my guitars and all of them have benefited from some slight filing to improve the action and tuning stability, except for my Gibson Les Paul Junior, which was perfect off the shop floor.
My Gretsch Electromatic (ie a mid range model, similar to a MIM Fender I guess) couldn't stay in tune for a whole song when I got it. I'd bought it on line as the prices were jumping up, so didn't try it out before buying. All it took was to recut the nut slots and also to remove some material from the TOP of the nut so that the strings aren't buried into very deep slots. I usually just use a sanding block with some P600-800 grade paper, then polish up the finish afterwards on the TOP of the nut, but proper nut files for the slots themselves.
Just doing this made my Gretsch play properly and stay in tune for hours rather than minutes. Of course all the Gretsch forum guys were saying I needed a roller bridge, then some fancy tremolo (because it's a 'Licenced to' rather than 'made by' like the MIA models). I could have thrown money at that guitar and it still wouldn't have stayed in tune any better, but 30 minutes careful filing and setting up was all it cost me.
My local Luthier does a lovely job, though I hadn't appreciated it until I started doing nut slots myself: He has done a refret on my old Strat and a level and crown job on another LP, which meant he also recut the nut, so the cost was hidden within the main job, but I believe my files have more than paid for themselves already many times over. The bone nuts I've done only cost £6-7 and have slight guide marks where to cut the slots, but not like a Graphtech (which are fine, but I still found I could improve them with my files
).
I'll be working on the nut this weekend on a new guitar I bought on Monday: Each string is sharp a few frets up, so the slots aren't deep enough, though the top of the nut also needs sanding down as the strings are way more than 'half' way in the slot, which is my preferred set up. My Luthier is so busy I'd have to wait for weeks for him to do this job, but my set of Hosco files are now effectively 'free' so I can get it done straight away, ready for a (socially distanced) jam on Monday night.
These are the ones I bought:
https://www.axecaster.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=42&products_id=302
Currently sold out, but I got about £10 off them.
I know you can struggle on with welding tip files or other bodged up tools, but they were paid for after 2 guitar's worth of use and I've used them on 6, plus a friend borrowed them for his guitar too.
Between those and a £15 set that included radius gauges, a string action gauge and feeler gauges I can do everything bar a level and crown job, so my guitars are set up to 'my perfect' within a few days of getting them. My Luthier gets the refret or L&C jobs that occasionally come up, but are so rare that it's not worth me buying the tools and learning how to do those jobs, but nut files were definitely worth it.
Oops, that was a bit of a long post...I blame my 5th coffee.
My Gretsch Electromatic (ie a mid range model, similar to a MIM Fender I guess) couldn't stay in tune for a whole song when I got it. I'd bought it on line as the prices were jumping up, so didn't try it out before buying. All it took was to recut the nut slots and also to remove some material from the TOP of the nut so that the strings aren't buried into very deep slots. I usually just use a sanding block with some P600-800 grade paper, then polish up the finish afterwards on the TOP of the nut, but proper nut files for the slots themselves.
Just doing this made my Gretsch play properly and stay in tune for hours rather than minutes. Of course all the Gretsch forum guys were saying I needed a roller bridge, then some fancy tremolo (because it's a 'Licenced to' rather than 'made by' like the MIA models). I could have thrown money at that guitar and it still wouldn't have stayed in tune any better, but 30 minutes careful filing and setting up was all it cost me.
My local Luthier does a lovely job, though I hadn't appreciated it until I started doing nut slots myself: He has done a refret on my old Strat and a level and crown job on another LP, which meant he also recut the nut, so the cost was hidden within the main job, but I believe my files have more than paid for themselves already many times over. The bone nuts I've done only cost £6-7 and have slight guide marks where to cut the slots, but not like a Graphtech (which are fine, but I still found I could improve them with my files
).I'll be working on the nut this weekend on a new guitar I bought on Monday: Each string is sharp a few frets up, so the slots aren't deep enough, though the top of the nut also needs sanding down as the strings are way more than 'half' way in the slot, which is my preferred set up. My Luthier is so busy I'd have to wait for weeks for him to do this job, but my set of Hosco files are now effectively 'free' so I can get it done straight away, ready for a (socially distanced) jam on Monday night.
These are the ones I bought:
https://www.axecaster.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=42&products_id=302
Currently sold out, but I got about £10 off them.
I know you can struggle on with welding tip files or other bodged up tools, but they were paid for after 2 guitar's worth of use and I've used them on 6, plus a friend borrowed them for his guitar too.
Between those and a £15 set that included radius gauges, a string action gauge and feeler gauges I can do everything bar a level and crown job, so my guitars are set up to 'my perfect' within a few days of getting them. My Luthier gets the refret or L&C jobs that occasionally come up, but are so rare that it's not worth me buying the tools and learning how to do those jobs, but nut files were definitely worth it.
Oops, that was a bit of a long post...I blame my 5th coffee.
kodiakblair
Tele-Meister
Surprised nobody mentioned Geetar Gizmos. Very affordable and work on any material.
6 string set with handle. $34
http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-5...0001&campid=5338148343&icep_item=181506824020
Just the files. $12.
http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-5...0001&campid=5338148343&icep_item=352154135408
I use them fairly regular and they work a treat.
6 string set with handle. $34
http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-5...0001&campid=5338148343&icep_item=181506824020
Just the files. $12.
http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-5...0001&campid=5338148343&icep_item=352154135408
I use them fairly regular and they work a treat.
SamIV
Tele-Holic
Well, I ended up with the set of files from Philadelphia Luthiers Supply. Was going to order the Stew Mac set, but two extra files here for about the same price. Can't say whether I will ever use the extra two though. Were not in stock during their sale, but oh well. Used on a couple of guitars so far. Made quite a difference in playability by the nut, and also lowered action on both with less fret buzz which I had before.
https://www.philadelphialuthiertools.com/luthier-tools/files/guitar-nut-file-set-10-files/
https://www.philadelphialuthiertools.com/luthier-tools/files/guitar-nut-file-set-10-files/
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