I just installed a Tusq XL nut on my Strat - highly recommended!

[SoCalSteve]

I picked up a nice MIM HSS Strat at Christmas and the nut had a fine crack in it as well as some of the open strings seemed to somewhat muted, not ringing out clearly.

Local tech wants $50 to install a bone nut so i figured I buy a pre-slotted Graph Tech for around $11 shipped from ebay and do it myself.

It was a breeze - basically dropped right in. The measurements of the new nut were perfect.

I'm blown away how much I can use the whammy bar and the thing stays in tune. This alone is worth it. No string binding at all.

Next up I have a DiMarzio 36th PAF for the bridge on the way to replace the Super Distortion currently in it and I have some Callaham saddles to put on it at that time. The stock saddles have tiny grooves exposing copper underneath.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: I just installed a Tusq XL nut on my Strat - highly recommended!

Yep! Best mod you can do on any guitar!

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: I just installed a Tusq XL nut on my Strat - highly recommended!

Is Tusq XL the black material or the white material?

What was the bottom of the nut slot like on your MIM Strat? Curved or straight?

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: I just installed a Tusq XL nut on my Strat - highly recommended!

I've been considering those for a while now.

Thanks for the good report. I may just have to bite the bullet and try one myself.

 

[SoCalSteve]

Re: I just installed a Tusq XL nut on my Strat - highly recommended!

Is Tusq XL the black material or the white material?

What was the bottom of the nut slot like on your MIM Strat? Curved or straight?

I got white, but I think you can get black.

I bought the curved bottom, the same as the stock nut.

I've been considering those for a while now.

Thanks for the good report. I may just have to bite the bullet and try one myself.

Yeah, like every first-time project there was that slight apprehension, but I scored around the nut with a razor blade and tapped it out from the side with a small slotted screwdriver and no damage was done!

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: I just installed a Tusq XL nut on my Strat - highly recommended!

Thanks.

I was concerned that the curved bottom wouldn't match the radius of the MIM fretboard I have.

 

[IanBallard]

Re: I just installed a Tusq XL nut on my Strat - highly recommended!

Absolutely love them. I honestly wish I kept my neck stock when I put the Floyd on and not installed a locking nut. I'm probably going to go neck hunting soon anyway. Carvin makes a lot of Floyd bridge guitars with a Tusq nut and locking tuners, too.

I'm getting one for my acoustic guitar too.

 

[SoCalSteve]

Re: I just installed a Tusq XL nut on my Strat - highly recommended!

Thanks.

I was concerned that the curved bottom wouldn't match the radius of the MIM fretboard I have.

BTW, evidently some nut slots are flat and some curved. You can get the curved one and take off the notch on bottom if need be.

From the Graph Tech site

Why is there a little tab on the bottom of the PQL-5000-00 nut?

With the spacer tab in, the PT-5000 fits many Strat and Tele styles guitars that have a flat-bottomed nut slot. By removing the spacer (by filing, grinding or cutting) it will fit original Fender, G&L-style curved bottomed nut slots. We also have a nut with the same specs but a flat bottom: the PT-5010-00.

The nut on mine had a curved bottom so I just put in the same type. I didn't remove the tab in the middle because the nut slot had a channel that it fit into. Heck, maybe I was supposed to remove it, IDK, but it works!

 

[SoCalSteve]

Re: I just installed a Tusq XL nut on my Strat - highly recommended!

Absolutely love them. I honestly wish I kept my neck stock when I put the Floyd on and not installed a locking nut. I'm probably going to go neck hunting soon anyway. Carvin makes a lot of Floyd bridge guitars with a Tusq nut and locking tuners, too.

I'm getting one for my acoustic guitar too.

Yeah, the thing stays in tune nearly as well as a Floyd. I'm doing dive bombs with Pitchblack pedal tuner on and the strings are staying within the green "in tune" area.