How To Repair Guitar Nut Slot

Introduction

Nosotros cannot overemphasise the importance of a guitar'south top nut. Most players assume that petty strip of plastic, bone or brass is just there to keep the strings in the correct place. There'due south more to it than that.

A poorly cutting and set up-up pinnacle nut tin can cause bad intonation, string buzz and touch on the playability of the beginning few frets of your guitar.

So, while there are other possible causes of string rattle, we're going to concentrate on possible nut problems in our guide. Let's get on the case.

one. Introduction to nuts

If you're a guitar maintenance novice, the top nut sits at the acme of the fingerboard at the headstock end of your guitar (shown above). Nut 'slots' are the gaps that each string fits into.

2. Nut inspection

Inspect the superlative nut. The nut slots should be high enough to permit the cord to clear the 1st fret when played open, simply depression enough to make the string easy to fret.

three. Low means rattle

If any of the nut slots are as well low, allowing the string to rattle on the 1st fret, you will either have to supercede the nut or rebuild and recut the slots (see step 8).

4. Avoid pinching

Nut slots should hold a guitar cord firmly in place without 'pinching' it. If the slot is too narrow information technology can cause tuning bug. If it's too big it can cause open up strings to buzz.

5. Cheque for rattles

To check if a cord is rattling in its slot, button the string sideways behind the nut with ane hand and so pluck it open with the other. If the buzz disappears, you've constitute the trouble.

vi. Fissure checks

Check for cracks in your meridian nut. Detune the strings and lift them out of their slots, and wait for any cracks in the nut. If you detect any, the nut will have to be replaced.

7. Check the bottom slots

With the strings out of the way, look at the lesser of the slots. They should be smooth and level. If they look crude, make clean them up with a nut file or a piece of lite sandpaper.

viii. Superglue time

If the slots in your nut are likewise large or cut likewise low, you tin fill them in with superglue and recut them.

This takes a steady hand and lots of patience. Get your safety goggles set up…

9. Mask it up

The first step in rebuilding the slots in your nut is to protect the guitar'south finish. Cover the areas effectually the height nut with a suitable masking tape, as shown above.

10. Dip dry

Dip the border of a slice of newspaper into some superglue and then carefully feed information technology into the nut slot. Allow the glue to dry then repeat the process until the slot is filled. You can at present re-cutting the nut slots.

11. Nut files

You need nut files to cut the slots properly. At well-nigh £100 a set they're not cheap, merely they will give you a pro event. We got ours from Stewart-MacDonald.

12. Filing system

Advisedly cutting the slot using your nut file. Pop the cord dorsum in frequently until you get the right pinnacle and brand sure the bottom of each slot is flat to prevent buzzing.