Nut Lube

[goldtopper]

Ooooh, bad title for a topic!
But I digress...

My nut makes the high ptched "chink" sound when I use the Bigsby. Is there a lube I should use there to make the strings slide more freely?

 

[charlie chitlin]

Bend a piece of fine sandpaper (#400 or even 600) in half and polish the slots.
Rub a pencil back and forth across the slot and get some graphite in there.
Mmmmmmmmm....smoooooth.

 

[woof*]

ive been using a lube for several years. its very important to me.it stops the string from hangin in the nut slot.even on a great cut nut there is still friction. i used to use light oil in my strats, but i got a bottle of this stuff from rene:
http://www.texasguitarwhiz.com/
i use it on my teles even without any trem.. it still helps stay in tune.
ive also heard good things about this
(link removed)
the stuff rene sells is graphite powder in a light paste. ive had the bottle for three years..and thats with alot of string changes on alot of guitars. it really works

 

[WickedGTR]

You Probably already Have some-

A buddy at Fender reccommended using vaseline a long time ago, and I've been using it ever since.

A dollar's worth will last you many years.

 

[goldtopper]

Thanks for the tips! I went to Rene's site and saw the white graphite at $16. Did a little checking and found it at stringitup.com for $3.98.
On it's way and thanks again!

 

[denny]

+1 charlie frey's comment.

If a string is hanging up in the nut, the final solution is to fix the nut. A set of nut files are pricey, but they will last a lifetime. Just about every new guitar that has not had a pro setup will require a little work on the nut slots and/or bridge to correct tuning issues.

That being said, I have a Squier Strat that I apply a pencil to the nut slots with with every string change. The white nut has permanent black smudges around the string slots, but the graphite works so well I keep doing it. I have an aversion to putting anything oily/greasy/gloppy on the nut... never tried the other lube stuff.

denny

 

[WickedGTR]

The white nut has permanent black smudges around the string slots, but the graphite works so well I keep doing it. I have an aversion to putting anything oily/greasy/gloppy on the nut... never tried the other lube stuff.

That's the problem with graphite! It gets everywhere except where you need it and doesn't come off easily. Doesn't really even lubricate that well.

Ever try applying grahite to a string tree? Good luck. String trees need lubricatrion too.

Vaseline in the nut slot only, and you won't know it's there. You only have to do it a few times a year. a dab under the string tree will help also.

I often keep a tube of chapstick in may case- makes it easy (and fast) to apply.

 

[wenis]

I've heard that nut sauce is good stuff.

 

[WickedGTR]

Nut Sauce, about $20 an ounce, available online or music stores.

Vaseline, about $2 for a lifetime supply, and you may already have some. If not you can get it at the corner drugstore.

Nut sauce, Likely 99.99% vaseline.

In fact, looking at their website, ((link removed)) almost everything they sell is available at any discount drug store for a fraction of what they are charging for putting a brand on it. Alcohol wipes for strings, microfiber polishing cloth, mineral oil (fretboard juice!), plastic tubing etc....

How gullible do the think we are? I guess we're gullible enough for them to make a decent profit!!


Ok, I'll shut up.

 

[ruger9]

Nut Sauce, about $20 an ounce, available online or music stores.

Vaseline, about $2 for a lifetime supply, and you may already have some. If not you can get it at the corner drugstore.

Nut sauce, Likely 99.99% vaseline.

.

Yeah, but that ounce will last me 1/2 a lifetime. However, I never thought of vaseline. Nut Sauce may very well be vaseline w/"graphite & synthetic lubricants" , which is what the label says. When my syringe of nut sauce is gone, I'll fill 'er up with vaseline & see what happens...

 

[wenis]

Come ON EVERYONE! It's always nice to have some nut sauce handy!

 

[Ringo]

couple of other alternatives

I have a tube of Nut Sauce and it will probably last me for years so I don't mind, but I have used vaseline mixed with pencil lead ( it works fine but it's messy and I don't like the black graphite on a white nut )
I've also used a teflon oiler that I got at Radio Shack, it works fine.
And the real cheap fix last, I've read that a lot of guitar techs use this for bands on the road .... Chapstick!

But as has been mentioned, if the nut slots are too tight a little fine sandpaper is in order first. I use some 600 grit wet dry sandpaper, works fine.