How much do you pay to get a new nut made?

L

LogicallyInsane

New member
Looking for the average cost of getting a nut replaced. I got a quote from a local luthier, and it's a lot more than I was expecting... Especially considering I had one made a few years ago at a 1/4 of the price..

I know this topic is pretty vague, and there's no right answer from state to state, but I just wanna see how far off my expectations are... lol
 
Re: How much do you pay to get a new nut made?

I charge $100. That includes new strings and a complete set-up as well.
Remember, I'm in NY where everything costs more.

PC (lol)
 
Re: How much do you pay to get a new nut made?

$40 to $70 here in L.A. The best guy at it (IME) charges $68.
 
Re: How much do you pay to get a new nut made?

Buy a blank. Make your own.
 
Re: How much do you pay to get a new nut made?

I paid ~$40 for a 12-string nut for a Rickenbacker once. For 6-strings, I get out my calipers, precision files, measure against a good nut, and cut my own. Measure twice, cut once. Try it out while held in with just string pressure first. If it's ok, then two dots of Titebond and string pressure for 24 hours will hold it in place for the next 10 years or more.
 
Re: How much do you pay to get a new nut made?

It's about $75 here depending on material. Bone costs more from the couple really good guys I know. I've been learning how to do it myself and have a few files and ruler from Stew Mac to get the slots marked.
 
Re: How much do you pay to get a new nut made?

Well hell, I guess the quote wasn't as bad as I initially thought. It was $75 for a bone nut..

It's for my first guitar, which is a low level Epiphone guitar (LP Special II).. I guess that's my biggest issue paying that much.. I let a semi pro do one on it (believe it cost $15 tops..lol), and it worked great for a while, but starting chinging out.. I bought a tusq pre slotted one, and attempted to do it myself, but it still isn't right... I may rip that one off and try it one more time before shelling out the cash...

Thanks guys, I just wanted to see how reasonable the price was before really flying off the handle.. lol
 
Re: How much do you pay to get a new nut made?

That's the issue with these ultra cheap import guitars, you lose perspective on what an actual musical instrument should cost, along with the associated repair costs. With an Epi Special II or Squier Affinity, does it ever make sense financially to have a new nut cut, a refret or even a full setup? A professional refret would literally cost as much as the guitar.

If you were talking a $3000 Gibson, the ratios would seem to make more sense, but in the end what is an unplayable guitar? Basically firewood, right? I guess the good thing about cheap guitars is that you can use them to learn a new skill like fret leveling or nut replacement without total fear of ruining an expensive instrument.
 
Re: How much do you pay to get a new nut made?

This makes me feel old, and I'm only 32, last time I had one done it was $30. That was probably 17 or 18 years ago though.
 
Re: How much do you pay to get a new nut made?

On your guitar, it makes no sense at all to put in a $75 nut. Your guitar (used) is only worth that much.

I would definitely do it myself starting with a bone blank that will cost you about $5. A good learning experience and in the long run could save you many hundreds of dollars.
 
Re: How much do you pay to get a new nut made?

Last time I know someone payed for one, my brother had one professionally done on his Stingray for $60. And that was 3 years ago or so.
 
Re: How much do you pay to get a new nut made?

Could you see if the luthier would refit the Tusq nut you bought? You may only need some minor adjusting to make it right. If you've tried to deepen/widen the slots, and screwed those up, then it's probably not an option.
 
Re: How much do you pay to get a new nut made?

You should be able to do the work on the Tusq nut or have the guy do it , very easy thing to do.
 
Re: How much do you pay to get a new nut made?

The biggest reason I was even considering it was because my niece has recently started playing, and I'm a little picky about her picking up my more expensive guitars... (She might be 15, but she has klutzy tendencies... lol)

The biggest issue is the nut sits too high.. Not horribly high, but high enough that it screws with the intonation and chording proper sounding chords...
I may give myself a weekend project of fixing it up the right way.. I've learned a lot more, and researched a lot more since it was done a while back..

I just figured it'd be less hassle to let a pro do it.. But like the gentleman up there said, for a hundred dollar guitar, paying $75 is a bit ridiculous.. lol

I'm get myself a feeler gauge and start sanding the thing down soon!

And no sanding was done on the wood of the guitar as far as I know anyways...

Thanks again for the response guys!
 
Re: How much do you pay to get a new nut made?

If the nut is too tall you just need to lay it flat on some sandpaper up against a solid object and move it back and forth. Put some tape on it for a handle on the top,press against the block and bottom squarely and slowly sand it down a little bit at a time. Just check it often , you can always sand it a little more. Use some 120 grit sandpaper or 220.
 
Re: How much do you pay to get a new nut made?

Oinkus said:
If the nut is too tall you just need to lay it flat on some sandpaper up against a solid object and move it back and forth. Put some tape on it for a handle on the top,press against the block and bottom squarely and slowly sand it down a little bit at a time. Just check it often , you can always sand it a little more. Use some 120 grit sandpaper or 220.
Click to expand...

This. If the nut is too tall, a little sanding will fix 'er right up.
 
Re: How much do you pay to get a new nut made?

Last time I needed one, I called the local guy, he said $100! So I ordered one and made it myself. Saved myself 75 bucks and learned how to do it. Win-win.
 
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