My nut fell off!

Alex · #1 06-09-2006, 04:45 PM

I was changing the strings on my TUNE TWB63 today. When I began to restring the bass, strating with the C string, the nut just slipped off! I have no idea what happened, nor do I know what I should do about it. Since I (stupidly) bought the maintenance plan with this bass, I could take it to Sam Ash and have them send it to their repair people and get it back in a week or so, but I have some crucial band rehearsals coming up this week that I simply cannot miss. I have a feeling that there is an easy fix like using a special glue to glue it in place or something.

I took pics, but I can't get them to upload, but I can email them to anybody who wants them.

Thanks

~Alex

Trevorus · #2 06-09-2006, 04:47 PM

Get to a doctor, man!!! Put it in a cooler, and hopefully they can reattatch it!!!

I had to do it...

just a tiny dab of superglue will work, or even a dab of wood glue. Wood glue tends to be easier to remove from a non-porous nut later.

gottawalk · #3 06-09-2006, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevorus

Get to a doctor, man!!! Put it in a cooler, and hopefully they can reattatch it!!!

I had to do it...

just a tiny dab of superglue will work, or even a dab of wood glue. Wood glue tends to be easier to remove from a non-porous nut later.

+1 on both counts.
My Fender Jazz had a "floating" nut. Somehow it just was loose. Little glue and make sure you seat it evenly on the neck and you should be fine.

Alex · #4 06-09-2006, 04:52 PM

So I should use wood glue?

**HeavyDuty** · #5 06-09-2006, 05:58 PM

I would use Elmer's School Glue - it'll hold fine and is easily water soluble in case you need to do nut work in the future.

An extremely tiny dot of super glue works, too - but put it in the slot and press the nut on top of it. If you wick it in a crack, you can very easily make a mess.

SBassman · #6 06-09-2006, 06:07 PM

Don't use super glue. You don't want to do that.

Buy some wood glue. You don't need to use alot. Put a thin layer down there, line it up, clamp or tape it, and leave it. You'll be good to go. This is one repair that is absolutely safe for you to do yourself. Go for it. [minus the super glue.

]

Diego · #7 06-09-2006, 06:12 PM

Put in on ice quick!!!, hopefully a good luthier-surgeon can place it back

Now seriously, use a tiny drop of super glue on each end (smaller than a pins head!) and place it back on its place. Press dwon for a few seconds and voila!. If you are afraid of super bonder or any other acrylic based super glue, use polyvinyl acetate-based glues (this is fancy wording for carpenter's glue). Again 2 minuscule drops are enough to hold it in place.

**HeavyDuty** · #8 06-09-2006, 06:14 PM

Cyanoarcrylate ("super glue") works fine for nuts in extremely small quantities - you can easily pop the nut out with a sharp sideways rap. Unless, of course, you use too much. I'm talking about a dot the size of a period or two applied with the tip of a pin. I've been doing it this way for years.

Wood glue is fine, but I can't advise the use of waterproof wood glue. It's hard to clean up if you need future nut work.

**HeavyDuty** · #9 06-09-2006, 06:15 PM

Diego, you posted while I was typing. You're exactly right - the smallest amount of CA is all that's needed.

truckin88 · #10 06-09-2006, 07:27 PM

dont use super glue it is a bitch to remove and you will most likely end up taking a chunk of the fingerboard when you remove it.

pkr2 · #11 06-10-2006, 06:27 AM

I've also used superglue for years with never a prob. As was said, just use a tiny amount.

Once the strings are installed the glue does nothing anyway. It's just to keep the nut in place untill the strings go on. The string tension actually is what keeps everything in place. Never, ever coat the entire footprint with any type of glue. It will have to be completely removed without damaging any wood when the nut eventually needs replacing.

SBassman · #12 06-10-2006, 08:25 AM

One of the reasons why wood glue is the choice of most builders is that:

- A thin, small amount is all that is needed
- It creates a good bond, yet the bond can be broken with either a tap or heating the area, which loosens the glue.

On this one, the final answer is really - wood glue.

Alex · #13 06-10-2006, 10:27 AM

Well, I used Elmers normal glue and clamped it overnight and it is fine today. Thanks guys!

SGT. Pepper · #14 06-13-2006, 06:56 AM

OUCH! That must have hurt!

jeff_bass28 · #15 06-13-2006, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

I was changing the strings on my TUNE TWB63 today. When I began to restring the bass, strating with the C string, the nut just slipped off! I have no idea what happened, nor do I know what I should do about it. Since I (stupidly) bought the maintenance plan with this bass, I could take it to Sam Ash and have them send it to their repair people and get it back in a week or so, but I have some crucial band rehearsals coming up this week that I simply cannot miss. I have a feeling that there is an easy fix like using a special glue to glue it in place or something.

I took pics, but I can't get them to upload, but I can email them to anybody who wants them.

Thanks

~Alex

You have no idea how hard I laughed when I saw the title of this!
OT question...How do you like the Tune? I've been thinking about one when I get the money, but that neck on the 6 is awfully wide. And at least in the store, I think I prefer the sound of the 5.