becoming an amateur b.s. luthier

[pmoran]

i've learned how to do everything on my alembics, gibsons, ricks, pedullas, surines, warwicks, sukops and fenders. i will not touch my EB-1 except to play it. however, i need to replace the nut on my '51 reissue pbass. i want to learn to do this myself. i don't own a woodshop. i have tables, clamps and a nasty temper when things don't go my way. i don't throw ****, but i do knock the **** out of stuff. if i lose the 'tude, how do i replace the nut? tools? technique? i already have researched the concept of grooving the nut to zero w/the first fret. i've done some reading. how do you knock the nut out of it's groove, shave a bone nut down to fit (slowly and w/patience i assume), and once snug........get into the slit..sorry, slot? how do you secure it? carpenter's glue? epoxy? what if i want to commit heresy and put in a brass, pre-grooved nut? my fender is beatup from a previous heathen owner. so, i want to turn it into a player's bass and not a prettyboy. i want sustain like brass brings to my alembics. can i do it w/this bass? HELP! I NEED SOMEBODY! NOT JUST ANYBODY! HELP! I NEED A FRIEND!

[spudmaster34]

if you look in the luthier's corner FAQ there is a tutorial I did a while ago. Basically, knock out the old one with something like a hammer and chissel, I have succesfully used a swiss army knife. You probably want to hit it from the side. Once you get the new nut to fit, use a tiny dab of super glue, not much. It really isn't that hard to do compared to many other things

[pmoran]

do you lock the neck in, with padding and what all, and take the chisel to the edge of the bone and tap it out sideways? little knocks, one after one, until you slide it out of the slot? tap, tap, tap, tap?

[pmoran]

oh, and please, where is the luthier's corner?

[spudmaster34]

the luthier's corner is here http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f57/ it depends on the neck, if it won't come out easily, I would wrap it in a towell and put it in a clamp, then put the chisel/ something else hard on the nut and hit it out, but be carefull not to touch the wood when you are hitting it out

[joegeezer]

Nothin to it, really. Read the tutorial in the Stew Mac help section. Use feeler gauges as they show. I've done several that way. Take your time, and remember, you can't put it back once it's gone so file carefully, and check action and height often, as you go. Once you have one under your belt, it will be gravy from there. Maybe start on a fixer-upper, and gain your confidence from there. Good Luck!