Source for reasonably priced nut files??

[georgestrings]

The title says it all - I'm looking for a set, and don't want to break the bank... Any help would be appreciated...


- georgestrings

[walterw]

for a 4-string, you could get by with a pair of double-sided ones from stew-mac, a 50/60 and a 75/90.

(you'd need to learn to "wobble" them, using the 60 to make a 65 slot or the 90 to make a 105.)

they're still gonna be like $26 each.

[madmatt]

Originally Posted by walterw

for a 4-string, you could get by with a pair of double-sided ones from stew-mac, a 50/60 and a 75/90.

(you'd need to learn to "wobble" them, using the 60 to make a 65 slot or the 90 to make a 105.)

That just sounds scary...

[MNAirHead]

Contact an industrial cutting tool distributor.. they commonly have tons of super high quality files.

[Zooberwerx]

Originally Posted by walterw

for a 4-string, you could get by with a pair of double-sided ones from stew-mac, a 50/60 and a 75/90.

(you'd need to learn to "wobble" them, using the 60 to make a 65 slot or the 90 to make a 105.)

they're still gonna be like $26 each.

I got 3 singles and 1 double-sided from Stew-Mac for my 5 bangers. Keep in mind that I use nothing lighter than a 45-125 set:

G: 42

D: 65

A: 85

E/B: 105 / 120

I don't have a very steady hand so there's a bit of "wobble" in every pass of the file.

Riis

[georgestrings]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone...


- georgestrings

[202dy]

Originally Posted by madmatt

That just sounds scary...

Scary? For the uninitiated, maybe. However, it is the way that it is done.

Think about this: Most of the work a tech does is on guitars. Most electric guitars are strung with either .009 or .010 gauge sets. There is no cross over between the sets. If individual files were made for each set of strings (they don't really exist from any one manufacturer) it would require the tech to purchase twelve files. They will need to purchase more files for acoustic guitars. Basses would be a nightmare.

The "wobble" that the Walter describes is called "rolling" the file by Dan Erlewine. Doesn't matter what it's called, the idea is to create a groove that is marginally larger than the gauge of the file. This is an important technique. A .040" file will cut a .040" slot if carefully held vertically. That's great, but when a .040" gauge string is placed in that slot it will tend to bind. An extra thou or two will prevent that. Fortunately it is pretty hard to cut a slot so exact by hand because we all tend to wobble a bit. So the slot tends to be just oversize when done.