Where to order custom-cut nut?

[thatonedude02]

I am wanting to order a nut that is pre-slotted for my specific string sizes. Does anyone know where I can find a place that would offer such a thing? I have my bass set up BEAD using .065, .085, .105, .125 strings. I am hoping to get a brass nut.

Now, I know I can get someone at a shop to cut one for me, but I'm too much of a DIYer to resort to that as of yet.

My existing nut is the stock plastic and, though my DIY filing job worked well for it, I am wanting something of a bit higher quality.

Thank you!

[mdogs]

Find a local repair shop, most should be able to cut a nut no problem... Well apparently I did not read your post too well. I don't understand, you want someone to slot you a custom nut but you don't want a local shop to do it?

[father of fires]

If you're DIY, you can cut it yourself.

STEWMAC.COM : Guitar Nuts, Saddles, Nut Files, Tools at

[KeithAlanK]

Even if you order a slotted nut, someone will still have to file the depth of the slots so it'll have the right action.
Nuts need to be installed before the final depth is done, so you pretty much HAVE to go local or DIY.

[Diogenes]

Originally Posted by father of fires

If you're DIY, you can cut it yourself.

Originally Posted by KeithAlanK

Even if you order a slotted nut, someone will still have to file the depth of the slots so it'll have the right action.
Nuts need to be installed before the final depth is done, so you pretty much HAVE to go local or DIY.

+1

[JLS]

Originally Posted by thatonedude02

I am wanting to order a nut that is pre-slotted for my specific string sizes. Does anyone know where I can find a place that would offer such a thing? I have my bass set up BEAD using .065, .085, .105, .125 strings. I am hoping to get a brass nut.

Now, I know I can get someone at a shop to cut one for me, but I'm too much of a DIYer to resort to that as of yet.

My existing nut is the stock plastic and, though my DIY filing job worked well for it, I am wanting something of a bit higher quality.

Thank you!

It's not going to make any significant difference, except cosmetically. Waste of time/$, IMO.

[thatonedude02]

Originally Posted by mdogs

Find a local repair shop, most should be able to cut a nut no problem... Well apparently I did not read your post too well. I don't understand, you want someone to slot you a custom nut but you don't want a local shop to do it?

My thought was along these lines:
1. The action on my bass is just fine without adjustment to the nut slot depth (stock nut depth) I just need wider slots.
2. Ordering a slotted nut online that would fit my bass costs about $10 (but they don't have the slot widths I need)
3. Getting a local shop to do it, costs more like $50.

Hence, looking for a online source to save some money.

Sounds like such a thing might not exist.

[father of fires]

Originally Posted by thatonedude02

My thought was along these lines:
1. The action on my bass is just fine without adjustment to the nut slot depth (stock nut depth) I just need wider slots.
2. Ordering a slotted nut online that would fit my bass costs about $10 (but they don't have the slot widths I need)
3. Getting a local shop to do it, costs more like $50.

Hence, looking for a online source to save some money.

Sounds like such a thing might not exist.

There is no guarantee that any nut you order will have the same depth as the one on your bass now.

Even if someone made a nut with your specific sizes. It would still need to be fitted properly. This is what you're paying a tech to do. The nut costs $2. The labor involved to get it done correctly is what you are paying for.

[Diogenes]

Originally Posted by thatonedude02

My thought was along these lines:
1. The action on my bass is just fine without adjustment to the nut slot depth (stock nut depth) I just need wider slots.
2. Ordering a slotted nut online that would fit my bass costs about $10 (but they don't have the slot widths I need)
3. Getting a local shop to do it, costs more like $50.

Hence, looking for a online source to save some money.

Sounds like such a thing might not exist.

I think there may be something that needs to be clarified. The nuts on even the same make and model of bass are not necessarily interchangeable. The nut slots need to be cut at the appropriate depth for that particular bass it's fit to so no matter where you get a replacement nut, it will most likely need to be tweeked to fit your bass optimally.

If you're a DIY kind of guy then you can easily cut your own nuts for pennies. The last time I needed nut material I went to my local Habitat for Humanity salvage store and paid $1 for a 1/2"X2"X24" slab of Corian. It's a plastic resin that is strong, hard and is really nice to work with... it's a lot like working with bone. Prior to that I got a slab for free when someone in my neighborhood remodeled their bathroom and tossed the old Corian sink countertop into the trash.

[grisezd]

I got tired of waiting for my slotted GraphTec Jazz nut to show up (local store ordered it for me) and scrounged through my scraps box. Found a small sheet of the right thickness brass and cut out a rough shape with my small hack saw. I also used the hack saw to cut terribly thin slots to the desired depths (using feeler gauges). An hour with the wrong size files, some sandpaper wrapped around used string stubs, and a beer or two and I had my DIY brass nut. I didn't necessarily want brass but it doesn't bother me enough to change it. The brass reminds me of the '80s. :-)

It would have been a lot quicker and easier with the right tools. Next time I need a new nut I'll order the right files rather than make do with what I have.

[father of fires]

Originally Posted by grisezd

I got tired of waiting for my slotted GraphTec Jazz nut to show up (local store ordered it for me) and scrounged through my scraps box. Found a small sheet of the right thickness brass and cut out a rough shape with my small hack saw. I also used the hack saw to cut terribly thin slots to the desired depths (using feeler gauges). An hour with the wrong size files, some sandpaper wrapped around used string stubs, and a beer or two and I had my DIY brass nut. I didn't necessarily want brass but it doesn't bother me enough to change it. The brass reminds me of the '80s. :-)

It would have been a lot quicker and easier with the right tools. Next time I need a new nut I'll order the right files rather than make do with what I have.

I recently used my mother-in-laws nail file. It was a hack job but it worked.

[darkstorm]

Originally Posted by father of fires

I recently used my mother-in-laws nail file. It was a hack job but it worked.

Just dont tell her you used it on your nut. Lol.

[father of fires]

Originally Posted by darkstorm

Just dont tell her you used it on your nut. Lol.

Ha ha! Indeed.

[darkstorm]

$50 for new nut installed? Geez, last time a had a nut replaced it only cost around $35 and that was with bone nut and slots done.

[walterw]

Originally Posted by JLS

It's not going to make any significant difference, except cosmetically. Waste of time/$, IMO.

i assume you mean getting a brass nut, not getting a nut professionally done in general?

i agree that any difference is minimal, but i like the brass nuts i've put on my electrics. maybe a bit more sustain, and maybe a bit more "zing" on the open strings.

i don't usually recommend them to my customers because they cost more to make (P.I.A. factor) and seem to need a little more care than regular nut material (lubrication, etc.), but i like them.

[JLS]

Walter-

Yeah, the PITA factor is way high, IMO.

[4Mal]

Do not cut your own nut... Find a luthier and have him do it.

[202dy]

If it can be ordered, it is not custom.

For optimal performance the slot depth (and sometimes the width) must be finished after the guitar is strung and set up. This is a game of thousandths. It cannot be done any other way because there is no way to predict fingerboard thickness, slot depth, and fret height.

[fhm555]

I recently bought a brass nut from an eBay seller who goes by the name 7wondersguitars so I'd have a replacement should the nut on a little mexi jazz I picked up recently ever fail. It's just slightly larger over all than the plastic nut, but the slots are spaced the same and not quite as deep or large as the slots in the plastic nut so it shouldn't take too much work to fit it up should I ever need it.