Cutting my own nut.

Poop-Loops · #1 09-23-2006, 01:21 AM

It hurts.

But seriously, I don't like to make another thread, but I picked up my 4 string just now and I notice that the nut isn't cut deep enough. Makes playing low a pain. How would I cut it deeper? Do I just solder the hole deeper? Or do I need a special cutter thing? This is just an SX bass, so I don't want to take it to a shop, especially since my local one moved somewhere else, so I'm left with a GC 25 minuts away or Bass Northwest an hour away in downtown Seattle with no parking. =/

joeyl · #2 09-23-2006, 01:29 AM

look for needle files on ebay, file until fretting at the first fret is no more hard than fretting at the third, all without buzzing of course

Poop-Loops · #3 09-23-2006, 01:38 AM

Has to be on eBay? Home Depot doesn't carry them or something?

Trevorus · #4 09-23-2006, 01:59 AM

This thread made me feel a wierd sympathy pain in a strange area...

Poop-Loops · #5 09-23-2006, 03:24 AM

If I don't have a needle file and don't want to dish out $30 on something I'll only use once and fail, are there an alternatives?

Poop-Loops · #6 09-23-2006, 12:57 PM

This sucks. No, I need to take out a bit, because it's a realy pain to play at the first fret. I did the "fret the 3rd fret and tap the first one" test and the E and G string are fine, but the D and especially A are too high.

Trevorus · #7 09-23-2006, 01:05 PM

http://www.warmoth.com/supplies/supp...seaction=files

I bought some guitar ones, and they worked great.

joeyl · #8 09-23-2006, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

Has to be on eBay? Home Depot doesn't carry them or something?

on ebay you get 30 needle files for about 9 bucks

Poop-Loops · #9 09-23-2006, 03:30 PM

Nuts to this, I'm taking a box cutter to that mofo and seeing what happens.

Poop-Loops · #10 09-23-2006, 06:28 PM

Well, I did it.

The box cutter was useless. =/

First I took the smallest file I could find. It was a triangular one. Basically, it cut a V into the nut. =/

Then I found a piece of stone used for sharpening knives that my dad has. I broke off a piece (hope he won't get mad) and since it's rugged, I could shape it into a small file. that did fairly well. Lastly, I took some fairly fine sand paper and sanded it into a nice round shape for my strings.

Does it fit perfectly? Not really. Does it matter on a $140 bass? Not really.

DLEE · #11 09-25-2006, 05:00 PM

Check out Radio Shack,I just picked up a set of precision files last week for 1.97 on closeout.They should be over with the precision screwdrivers and the computer toolkits.It comes with 5 files that will do the job.No these aren't Stew Mac quality but I bet you won't ever wear them out either!I've used them to fine tune the nuts on all my basses(29),believe me,it makes a world of difference!

spudmaster34 · #12 09-25-2006, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

It hurts.

I opened this thread just so I could say that, but you stole my fun, FUN STEALER

Tomis17 · #13 03-29-2007, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DLEE

Check out Radio Shack,I just picked up a set of precision files last week for 1.97 on closeout.They should be over with the precision screwdrivers and the computer toolkits.It comes with 5 files that will do the job.No these aren't Stew Mac quality but I bet you won't ever wear them out either!I've used them to fine tune the nuts on all my basses(29),believe me,it makes a world of difference!

I read you post and had the urge to get myself a set so I went to Radio Shack minutes ago and guess what...they're out. I looked online and they have it but when I went to the store the b@stard told me they're out and it's been discontinued. So if Home Depot doesn't have small enough filers and Stew Mac/Warmoth are too expensive, I guess my only option is eBay???

Tomis17 · #14 03-29-2007, 12:57 PM

I just checked on eBay and the filers on average are $70!!! The cheapest one was $40 BIN. That's a lot for something to file a nut. I also found a replacement nut that is pre-slotted. Is this a good alternative for a Jazz bass?

Jaco D · #15 03-29-2007, 01:10 PM

I use old string like Josh suggests - with a slight change in the process. I get an old credit card and super glue strips of E, A, D and G strings along the four edges of the card (in the proper guages that you plan to use) and just use that thing like a file on the nut.

Tomis17 · #16 03-30-2007, 07:28 PM

I'm replacing a nut right now and I'm having the hardest time filing it down to fit each string. I tried the credit card thing and that was a flop. The only thing that is work is using drill bids that match each string and run the drill while pressing the nut to it. This actually files down the slots faster and cleaner tha the credit card thing.

202dy · #17 03-30-2007, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomis17

I'm replacing a nut right now and I'm having the hardest time filing it down to fit each string. I tried the credit card thing and that was a flop. The only thing that is work is using drill bids that match each string and run the drill while pressing the nut to it. This actually files down the slots faster and cleaner tha the credit card thing.

Interesting thought. You can wrap a piece of 600 grit around the shaft of the bit to polish the slot. Drop back ~.040" or so on the drill bit diameter so that the slot does not become too wide. Polish away.

Diego · #18 03-30-2007, 08:30 PM

OK, here's what I do, super cheap, super easy, very clean filing and works like a charm:

Get some old strings or string cut-outs. Now, wrap a strip of sandpaper around the piece of string lenghtwise (I like 280-400 grit for this job) and glue it to the string with cyanoacrylate (aka superbonder).

Now use the snadpaper wrapped A string to file the slot for the E string, the sand-paper wrapped D string for the slot for the A string and so on. Now. you wonder what about the G string slot right?. Go to the hardware store and get a lenght of wire that is about 3/4 the diameter of your G string (you can actually ge this for free as scrap wire cut-outs. Do the same, i.e. wrap it in sandpaper.

Hope this helps a bit.

Diego

Turnaround · #19 03-30-2007, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diego

OK, here's what I do, super cheap, super easy, very clean filing and works like a charm:

Get some old strings or string cut-outs. Now, wrap a strip of sandpaper around the piece of string lenghtwise (I like 280-400 grit for this job) and glue it to the string with cyanoacrylate (aka superbonder).

Now use the snadpaper wrapped A string to file the slot for the E string, the sand-paper wrapped D string for the slot for the A string and so on. Now. you wonder what about the G string slot right?. Go to the hardware store and get a lenght of wire that is about 3/4 the diameter of your G string (you can actually ge this for free as scrap wire cut-outs. Do the same, i.e. wrap it in sandpaper.

Hope this helps a bit.

Diego

BRILLIANT! Cheap too. Wish I'd thought of that.

Tomis17 · #20 04-04-2007, 12:26 PM

F*** I filed the slots too close to each other. It loks and plays funny. Does this affect tuning?