New nut for fender musicmaster

pedrodelawasp · #1 04-22-2009, 05:40 AM

Hello all, a workmate has recently brought in an old fender musicmaster short scale bass and I've offered to fix it up for her. The first thing on my list is a new nut. The slot for the A string is way too deep (it arrived plugged with a bit of cardboard) and , to be honest, the other strings are probably sitting just that little bit too low at the nut end. The nut measures 1.5" or 37.5mm. Anybody know where I can get one, or should I go with a blank? Or would it be possible to raise the nut with a shim of sorts underneath it?

One more thing: any tips for removing stickers from guitars after they've been on there for a number of years?

megadan · #2 04-22-2009, 07:18 AM

Try goo gone or lighter fluid for the stickers, depending on the finish. Scrap carefully with a razor blade... I can't guarantee you won't end up with scratches but it's better than stickers, right?

You should be able to get replacement nuts here:
http://www.stewmac.com/

pedrodelawasp · #3 04-23-2009, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by megadan

Try goo gone or lighter fluid for the stickers, depending on the finish. Scrap carefully with a razor blade... I can't guarantee you won't end up with scratches but it's better than stickers, right?

You should be able to get replacement nuts here:
http://www.stewmac.com/

Cheers, i've got some lighter fluid kicking about somewhere, so i'll give that a go.
That's the cover for Mogwai's young team for your avatar, yeah? Great band...

HogieWan · #4 04-23-2009, 06:30 AM

+1 on the goo gone. It takes care of adhesives without being too harsh.

I'd try peeling as much of the stickers as you can by hand, then spraying the goo gone and trying to peel more (if necessary), but let that stuff sit for a few minutes. Keep spraying then wiping and eventually the goo will be gone. It's pretty oily, so keep it away from the fretboard and make sure you wipe it off well after you're done.

Pilgrim · #5 04-23-2009, 09:37 AM

Even better than Goo Gone: Motsenbocker's Lift-Off. Specifically formulated to remove adhesives with no scraping. ACE Hardware carries it. Comes in rattle-type can or manual spray. I've never seen it damage any kind of paint or finish, but the wise man tests first.

Linky: http://www.liftoffinc.com/product-tape-remover.php

Chances are pretty good that the sticker outlines will be visible, if for no other reason than fading from light exposure around the stickers.

On the nut - you can build it up with baking soda and super glue. Do some searches and you'll find the process well outlined in past threads.

Zooberwerx · #6 04-23-2009, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

On the nut - you can build it up with baking soda and super glue. Do some searches and you'll find the process well outlined in past threads.

I've had mixed results with filling the slots. You can always used the same mixture and build up the nut's base, though. I just shimmed my Kinal 5 using some super-thin hardwood veneer (courtesy of Alpha Music). I glued / clamped the thing, did a rough cut with an exacto razor, then fine-sanded to shape with 400 grit emery cloth. Really looks nice too considering it was done by a total hack.

Riis

bucephylus · #7 04-24-2009, 11:35 PM

NOT claiming this is the right thing to do. But I recently needed to raise the nut groove on my E string on a fretless Jazz. In truth, it really should get a new nut; but that seemed like a lot of down time and elbow grease. So, I went out and got some epoxy putty, put a little in the nut slot and then sanded to the desired height. The tone is fine, and the action is perfect. The cured epoxy seems to hold up to the string tunings. Who knows, maybe it will fall out some day. For now, it was a really quick cheap fix that seems to hang.

thirtypoint87 · #8 04-24-2009, 11:54 PM

Hello Pedrodelaswasp.....
Speaking as a guitar/bass repairman*, this is what I'd suggest:

First, put down the razorblades. Bad things happen with them. Period.

Second, GooGone is good for sticker removal. The "Lift Off" stuff looks good too. Sometimes you have to experiment with solvents to find the right one for the sticker. (lighter fluid, Naptha, mineral spirits, denatured alchohol, etc.)

Third, for the nut:adding glue to a nut slot works in the short term, but it's just a matter of time until the string will carve it out and leave you back where you started. If the nut slots are too deep then it's time to take your bass to a repairman and let them install a new nut. This shouldn't cost more than about $50** and will be well worth the price.

*like, a real live person who's been a guitar shop manager/repairman for the last dozen years.

**for what it's worth, I charge $40 plus the part($5) for this job.

Bassamatic · #9 04-24-2009, 11:55 PM

I have filled the nut slots with epoxy and re-filed with success. This is the best action unless you replace the nut.

+1 to Goo gone!

thirtypoint87 · #10 04-24-2009, 11:55 PM

"Pedrodelawasp", even.... sorry 'bout that!

bucephylus · #11 04-25-2009, 01:46 PM

Again, NOT to say I am advocating my epoxy experiment.

But, I think it is important to discriminate between the epoxy resin and the epoxy putty. With the resin, then, yeah, you are just talking about the inherent hardness of the polymer. But, the putty has a filler in it. I don't know if they use ceramic or whatever, but when it sets up, it seem more mechanically substantial than the resin alone. Pretty useful product, IMO.

LCW · #12 04-26-2009, 03:01 PM

its poly finish

soak it with windex

soak with with wd40

it will come off

pedrodelawasp · #13 04-28-2009, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thirtypoint87

"Pedrodelawasp", even.... sorry 'bout that!

No need to apologise

. Thanks for the advice. I don't think I'd ever attempt to cut the nut slots until I'd been shown in great detail by someone with alot of experience and quite a bit of practice, especially on someone else's bass...