worn nut slot(s)?...what I did

PilbaraBass · #1 09-08-2007, 06:10 PM

Hi,

The other day, I noticed some severe E-string "backbuzz" (buzzing on frets between nut and fingers) on my otherwise-very-well-setup Yamaha RBX170.

The culprit? a nut slot that had worn down quite deep. Plastic nuts can wear quite quickly, and since I've been playing the daylights out of this thing in the last two years, I'm not surprised.

I checked it by fretting the 3rd fret and sure-enough, the string was resting against the 1st fret (there should be the TINYEST of gaps there. Jamming a folded-over piece of paper in the slot under the string revealed that this was INDEED the issue.

So what to do? New nut? perhaps...but that's a bit of a hassle, especially in australia...so I did a quick search on the internet...and the repair became evident.

super glue and baking soda...I did some experiments with a ground up calcium tablet (calcium carbonate), and baking powder, but baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) worked best because the superglue wicked through it best...

what I did, was using electrical tape...I masked off both sides along the nut...then, using more electrical tape, I made a "dam" on each side of the nut slot...

now with the dam nice and tight...a tiny drop of super glue into the slot...then, I packed in some baking soda. I pushed it down with a toothpick and placed more baking soda where the super glue "bled" through...then I removed the tape along the dam and cleaned up the excess...then I let it sit for about 10 minutes (plenty of time really for this method)...

then using some inexpensive needle files that I bought for $2 from a dollar shop, I first evened out the extremities with a small flat file...then using the round file, I slowly and methodically began reshaping the groove...stopping often to check the string in the slot...

after I was close but still a bit high, I strung up the string and checked it out...I then removed the string and made some tweaks....I repeated the "tweaking" about 5 times, until I was completely satisfied with the job...

the entire operation took about 1/2 hour...and now everything is terrific again...

GlennW · #2 09-08-2007, 06:22 PM

Glad you had success, and thanks, you just saved me some time searching. I reshaped a headstock today and noticed the E slot looked low. I thought I'd look it up next time I was here.

202dy · #3 09-09-2007, 08:25 PM

Kudos. Baking soda and CA glue is hard and long wearing. It will do well for you for a long time.

PilbaraBass · #4 09-09-2007, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshua

PilbaraBass - if that's the bass I'm thinking of (that you posted often about), it's become quite the learning instrument for you in terms of setup and repair. Sounds like are both learning a ton and getting a great playing bass in the bargain, w00t!

ALL my basses have been learning instruments...

My first bass a P-bass copy (back in 1991) I assembled myself from parts...I learned quite a bit from that one...I haven't seen it in 6 years (it's in the States), I'd like to get ahold of it to refine it.

The "ever tweaking trussrod" bass is my Carvin AC40...it's a really cool instrument, except for that neck that likes to flex around...

My "refinish project" bass has been my wishbass...I almost have that bass to where I want it...someday, I'll pull it out and do some more "bass surgery" on it...it still needs a good nut slot lowering + a bit more bridge work...I dig this bass, though...it really is a cool fretless...

The "fret level" bass was a cheap chinese P-bass copy...I'm selling that to a kid at church...it sounds and plays great! I also learned quite a bit about nuts on this one when I changed it to a BEAD bass...(it's back to EADG, BTW for the sale)...

THIS BASS, the "nut slot fill" bass, is my pride and joy Yamaha RBX170...an awesome playing bass that I just LOVE...I played it last night at church again...it just flat out performs!

PilbaraBass · #5 12-10-2007, 07:04 PM

I did some more work on my nut the other day...
the first repair I did only involved my E-string slot (which is still great, by the way)
I did a second repair a few weeks ago on the D and G strings...the G-string is still great, but the fill material came out of the D-string slot...

what I learned is that after you dam the slot, you really should put the super glue in first and THEN pack in the baking soda followed by a little more glue...(I use a toothpick to pack in the material).

When I did the 2nd repair, the super glue did not penetrate the baking soda sufficiently and consequently did not bond properly to the original nut material.

I'm really pleased with how the instrument plays after making the final repair. It's really critical to have nut slots at proper depth to get the best playability possible out your instrument.

If your nut slots are too low and you have a non-compensated white plastic nut, you really should look into doing something like this...it's not difficult, just a little patience and a good eye is all that's really required.

The only other thing to remember is that the slots need to be cut with a bit of a back angle so that the witness point for the string is on the extrement neck side of the nut.

GeoffByrne · #6 12-11-2007, 04:42 AM

Only in Oz will you pay $2 for something in The Dollar Shop................

G.

PilbaraBass · #7 12-13-2007, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffByrne

Only in Oz will you pay $2 for something in The Dollar Shop................

G.

true...lol

in the UK, what do they have? "the pound shop"?

GeoffByrne · #8 12-13-2007, 02:36 PM

That's right - and guess what?

Everything's £1.

PilbaraBass · #9 12-13-2007, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffByrne

That's right - and guess what?

Everything's £1.

LOL...yes, but 1 Aussie Dollar = 2.33 British Pounds

so everything is $2.33 AU...(I think I'll stick to the dollar shop)

Anyway, back on subject...the reason I updated the thread was to highlight the fact that a little CA glue in the slot BEFORE the baking soda (ie "sodium bicarbonate" or "bicarb of soda") is a good idea to secure the fill material properly to the nut...

and those $2 needle files (which would cost you $2.33 in the UK

) work a treat...

jasper383 · #10 12-13-2007, 06:40 PM

Can't you also use a string as a file?

It would also be just the right width.

PilbaraBass · #11 12-13-2007, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasper383

Can't you also use a string as a file?

It would also be just the right width.

actually, yes...

you can take an old set of roundwounds @ your favourite gauge and use them for sure...the going will be a tad slower than a proper file, but for final, finish work they'd be perfect...

Pilgrim · #12 12-15-2007, 04:03 PM

The super glue/baking soda is a well-known way to raise or repair nut slots - well done!