Any tips before I ruin my Tusq XL nut? Strings binding.

[astrozombie]

Went up to 11s and I'm not sure that certain strings are going cleanly through their slots. Seem to be having trouble with the D and G strings in particular.

I have some fine sand paper and know I can use this to fix this issue.

How should I sand though? I've tried running it under the string itself under loose tension but ended up ruining the nut I tried the technique on.

Should I sand literally just the sides of each string slot, without touching the bottoms or is there a better way?

I know I can be a wuss but I just had this nut installed a few weeks ago and don't want to have to drop more money on the same issue.




Of course I could always go back to 10s :-D

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Any tips before I ruin my Tusq XL nut? Strings binding.

https://vimeo.com/193107852



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[greekdude]

Re: Any tips before I ruin my Tusq XL nut? Strings binding.

Of course I could always go back to 10s :-D

My single cut 25" Ibanez arz800 came with 10's stock. I had the strings binding especially G. Switched to 9s and never been happier. Crazy 2-full tone bends on high E and G no more binding.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Any tips before I ruin my Tusq XL nut? Strings binding.

Without spending money you can use a butter knife or a hack saw. The hack saw is actually pretty good since it's wide. If you want to be a cheap skate you can order these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/GeetarGizmo...180112?hash=item1e851b5610:g:Dk8AAOSw3xJVX3y-
but they suck they bend and they wear out. You should really quit being a cheapskate and just get the real file set. You'll always have them to use on any guitar you need: http://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Types_of_Tools/Files/Double-edge_Nut_Files.html

 

[wynn]

Re: Any tips before I ruin my Tusq XL nut? Strings binding.

Try a set of welding nozzle cleaners, they are very cheap and don't cut much but are great for just opening a slot out.


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[Darg1911]

Re: Any tips before I ruin my Tusq XL nut? Strings binding.

You can always take it back to the tech/luth and have him open up the slots a little bit. I doubt it would cost much compared to the initial job, especially if he had to cut the stock Gibson nut out. For smoothing up a slot or opening it up just a little bit I use abrasive cord. I have some in several sizes. I'll follow that up with some finer paper if need be. I'm going to break down eventually and buy a decent set of slotting files. They wont get used much but sometimes I wish I had them. Although, it may be a blessing that I don't. Less chance of me fubar-ing a nut.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Any tips before I ruin my Tusq XL nut? Strings binding.

The nut installation was not done properly. The D string has no clearance over the first fret *at all* when pressed at the third string.

I will take the guitar back to the store today to see how they'll respond. I have done nothing except change strings.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Any tips before I ruin my Tusq XL nut? Strings binding.

Ahhh so the tech fubar-ed the nut! I use feeler gagues to measure my nut axion. The measurements that I like personally are .020" at the low E to .016" at the high e. It's low enough that open chords are perfectly in tune, but it has a little bit of push to it and it doesn't buzz.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Any tips before I ruin my Tusq XL nut? Strings binding.

Received a little push back today from the tech when I took my guitar to the store. He asked why I didn't say anything sooner and asked what I had done with the guitar

As if a month of guitar playing could wear a nut that has obviously not been tampered with.

Gotta love that old fashioned customer service mindset... it takes nothing to be nice about a situation even if you are not at fault.


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[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Any tips before I ruin my Tusq XL nut? Strings binding.

There's no clearance over the 1st fret when fretted at the 3rd? Is there supposed to be? I mean, by fretting, you essentially negate the string between your finger and the nut, so I'm not seeing how this is even an issue.

As for altering the slots: always get the nut set up to the highest gauge of strings you will use. You can always go down a size, but a good nut job takes into account the exact gauge you'll be using on it. If you do have to file the slots, don't touch the depth, only the width. Thicker strings are thicker all the way around, so a deeper slot is going to put them closer to the frets than they already are due to their thickness. By widening the slot, you give the string more room to slide and stretch, which is what you want here.

If you're confident in your abilities to follow the slot angle, you can take an old string of the size you're going up to and run it back and forth through the slot to widen it. You'll need a firm grip on it, which means wrapping it up like you intend to choke someone to death with it. Might want to look into a small hand saw that has clamps to hold the blade in, and clamp the string ends. Or modify one with a pair of tuners on the ends for just this purpose.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Any tips before I ruin my Tusq XL nut? Strings binding.

Dag blast it I went and fubar-ed my nut. I cut the g too low, it doesn't buzz but it is staggered below the rest. So I'm going to super glue it for now. Are those Tusq xl nuts good? I might get one.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Any tips before I ruin my Tusq XL nut? Strings binding.

Dag blast it I went and fubar-ed my nut. I cut the g too low, it doesn't buzz but it is staggered below the rest. So I'm going to super glue it for now. Are those Tusq xl nuts good? I might get one.

I have TUSQ-XL nuts on my SG & 335 and they're awesome. I also have a Bigsby on both guitars and have zero tuning issues.

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[Clint 55]

Re: Any tips before I ruin my Tusq XL nut? Strings binding.

Awesome