Guitarfrenzy Posted July 16, 2003 Report Share Posted July 16, 2003 Do I really need to shell out over one hundred dollars for the ones at Stew Mac.. or does anyone know of a good alternative... I don't mind paying for them If they are the best ones and only ones I can get to do the job right.. Thanks... Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F1sh Posted July 17, 2003 Report Share Posted July 17, 2003 buy yourself one of those feeler guage sets. that have like, 50 different thicknesses. Take one (I'd suggest slightly smaller than the string guage for that slot) and put it in a vise. take a rough file and grind the edge of it until it's rough. there ya go, unlimited nut files for about $4usd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarfrenzy Posted July 17, 2003 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2003 Very nice tip.. I'm gonna try that out tomorrow.. thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryeisnotcool2 Posted July 17, 2003 Report Share Posted July 17, 2003 i bought thier nut slotting saws instead, a tip i read somewhere,wich i dont think will work for every type of material but you can glue a piece of guitar string on a popsicle stick on the edge length wise, and use that as a file, then it is excactly the righ width for the strings you plan to use. but depending on the material you are using it might not work as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGM Guitars Posted July 17, 2003 Report Share Posted July 17, 2003 I have a .010" wide saw blade, and a .030" wide one. I cut the first 3 slots with the .010" and the last 3 with the .030", then I take a 6" piece of guitar string, put it in my inlay saw, and use that to get the right width and a perfect seat at the bottom for the string. Total cost, about $25 for any size nut slots you need Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGM Guitars Posted July 17, 2003 Report Share Posted July 17, 2003 buy yourself one of those feeler guage sets. that have like, 50 different thicknesses. Take one (I'd suggest slightly smaller than the string guage for that slot) and put it in a vise. take a rough file and grind the edge of it until it's rough. there ya go, unlimited nut files for about $4usd. The only problem with this (and not everone see's it as a problem) is that it leaves a square bottom in the nut slot, I prefer a nice rounded seat for the string to sit in properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryeisnotcool2 Posted July 17, 2003 Report Share Posted July 17, 2003 lgm, great tip!! i will have to try my saw next time, screw eating all them popsicles! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarfrenzy Posted July 19, 2003 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2003 I just got the book Make Your Own Electric Guitar a couple of days ago... And he uses a small needle file to slot the nut on page 181.... does anyone know where to get one of these files... also... what kinda saw blades are you talking about LGM? Where can I find those.. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strings to the Max Posted July 19, 2003 Report Share Posted July 19, 2003 I shaped my first Bone Nut with a Dremal ........ man it smelled like the Dentist office when they give you a root canal any other Idea's? Got my file set from "Calvert Guitars" Pretty cheep! They work Great!! Max! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F1sh Posted July 20, 2003 Report Share Posted July 20, 2003 you can shape the feeler guage if you put a bit more time into it. rough the edge, then take some fine sandpaper and clean it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strings to the Max Posted July 20, 2003 Report Share Posted July 20, 2003 I must say the feeler gauge Idea! is F_cking bad ass!! Max! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGM Guitars Posted July 20, 2003 Report Share Posted July 20, 2003 what I like about the guitar string idea is, you can guage the proper depth because you are using an actual string, the bottom is going to be a perfect seat since you are cutting with the string, and the supply is endless and free (everytime you change strings you end up with an offcut right?) I just use a Zona razor saw, you can get different sized blades, the small fine tooth is about .010" and the largest one I've found is .030". All you need is a groove narrower than the string you are going to use. Then the guitar string in your inlay saw will open it to the correct width. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarfrenzy Posted July 20, 2003 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2003 I just bought a set of Nicholson Hobby files... they work pretty good.. but I think I'm gonna do like Dan Erlwine said and just buy 3 good ones from StewMac .. like the 1st string file.. and use it on the 2nd string by angling it some both ways.. and making the slot bigger.. etc. etc.. .. so basically buy 3 files for the 1st string, 3rd string and 5th string and use them to make the next size slot with them also... maybe that will save a bit of money.. and if that don't work.. buy the other 3 later.. lol.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strings to the Max Posted July 20, 2003 Report Share Posted July 20, 2003 Have you guy's ever heard of a solid brass nut ?? and is bone the best for tone or is grafite Max! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGM Guitars Posted July 20, 2003 Report Share Posted July 20, 2003 Purists will say Bone is the best, personally I like the graphite best simply for tuning stability. There is a new material being made by Graphtech called Tusq. Basically it's a synthetic ivory, but with the lubricating quality of graphite. I like the graphite also because it doesnt' smell horrible like bone does, that is my biggest complaint with bone is the smell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryeisnotcool2 Posted July 21, 2003 Report Share Posted July 21, 2003 i like corian, i only have it in white, but you can get it in any color you want, plus its close to the same density as bone but it doesnt smell like bone at all. the color thing is cool cause then you could match the body for a little more "custom"look. it easy to work with also Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strings to the Max Posted July 21, 2003 Report Share Posted July 21, 2003 Did Gibson Really make a Brass Nut I would think it would absorb sustain rather than Reflect ?? Dude on E-bay had one said it was custom hard to find ?? Max!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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