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So the high E string touches the first fret to the point it just goes thunk and the low E and A string rattle on the first fret a bit which I think I can fix enough by raising the action a little bit.
I reshaped the bottom of the nut to make it fit closer up the the fretboard, as there was a bit of a gap, as in the nut was leaning back a bit, touching at the bottom but not at the top. In doing so I've obviously lowered where the strings sit.
I was originally going to shim or replace the nut, but i'm thinking of trying the super glue and baking soda trick.
Has anyone tried this or an I wasting my time?
Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.
Thanks, Robbo
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Super glue and baking soda (or bone filings) works. Fill the string slot, let it set, and then re-cut it. But, it sounds a bit like the whole nut may have been taken down too far. How are the other strings/slots and is it in tune over the first few frets? Pics would be good too to show how the nut is actually sitting.
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The D-G-B strings aren't too bad, tuning is fine, intonation is fine, so I'll have a tinker tonight and grab some pics and maybe a video tonight to help explain a bit.
Thanks, Robbo
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1 Attachment(s)
I have taken a photo and made a few short videos to show the rattles in the strings, mostly the high E.
I have raised the saddle on the low E side a bit but could maybe go a little more if necessary.
The photo doesn't show too much
Attachment 19826
I can take more if necessary.
Hopefully these clips help (sorry about the face I plulled, playing doesn't come naturally to me )
https://youtu.be/kByspADoGMw
https://youtu.be/Vh2r-1R7trk
https://youtu.be/9d9-TOvRw6A
Do I need to replace the nut or should I try the baking soda trick?
Thanks all.
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Nice work. Just a shame about the nut but I'm always taking nut slots too low and having to repair or replace.
It's a new guitar, so I'd replace the nut rather than try and fix it. Superglue and baking soda can work well, but I find it a bit hit-or-miss as to whether it goes hard all the way through, even when using the thin glue, and when filing down again you can hit a patch of unglued baking powder. It's also not as easy to polish the slots and keep the strings from sticking. These days I've ordered a lot of cheap Chinese bone nuts from eBay and have them waiting in case I need to replace a nut. It's almost as quick to do so than it is to repair a slot.
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Hey mate, you can hear that high E hitting one of the frets. It only needs to be a horses hair above the first fret when depressed at the 3rd and you would be right.
If that is a plastic nut, it has no business being on your awesome build anyway. I'd knock that out and replace it with a bone nut
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Thanks lads, been away a while getting some skin cancers removed.
I will replace the nut because the guitar has turned out better than expected.
I won't use bone though (I'm one of those vegan weirdos) so I might track done a Graphtec one and start from scratch.
Thanks again... :)
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Suggest buying pre cut ones otherwise you may need to buy a few whilst you practice getting the right string slot depth.
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Wise words Waz, but they had no preslotted ones in stock and I assume you still need to massage them anyway, as each fretboard would be different thicknesses etc.
At around $30 delivered (I did get the one impregnated with PTFE) I'll sneak up on it real slow like :)
It's all good practice for when I fully handmade a guitar.
I am going to order a new kit some time this week. I've had it picked for a while but now I'm second guessing myself.
Cheers, Robbo
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Hi Robbo, know what you mean. I stalked the PBG site for months before placing my first order and the choices have only increased since then. Are you thinking another funky shape or something more conventional?
