Sonics first build JMA-1: ShoeGazer MK1

[Andy40]

Hi Sonic, sorry just caught up with this build diary, you've been ripping through it.
First, that Is a great kit. the two toned fretboard is very unique.
Second, as Simon says if the humbucker tests fine there wont be any issue. I've got a few humbys spare if its no good as I am sure a number of us in Brisbane do.
Third, the grain is great, but if its a solid colour you want, its your baby no one elses.

What colour is that? I dig it

[Sonic Mountain]

Thanks Andy. The blue is actually the hi fill primer. But I agree, it does look pretty nice. I'm going for a mica, pastel mint green for the top coats.

[Sonic Mountain]

Question time. I ordered some new Graphtech nuts for the guitars I currently have in pieces. I measured a couple of time and settled on the strat style ones - that seemed most logical. So the black nut is off my Washburn and the replacement one (middle) is perfect - correct height and string spacing.



The white nut here is off the JMA neck. Its quite a bit taller (I think this is normal though for adjustment??) and is just slightly wider with ever so slightly wider string spacing. I don't think it will be a problem, there is maybe .75mm overhang either side of the fret board, but it looks like the strings will still locate over the board. Is this normal? Or is there a particular nut that isn't the strat style I should have ordered?

I feel like I might end up having to put a shim under it -obviously a little way away from being able to check that properly....

I also ordered a new one for my bass, that looks like it'll need a slight shim as well, I will probably be able to have a proper look at that this afternoon.

[Andy40]

Hey Sonic, some time you should grab a bunch of chinese bone nut blanks and outlay for some nut slotting files...well worth the practice

[Sonic Mountain]

Um yep, I probably will. For now I'm just going to trim and shim this one as I can't work out what the replacement I should have ordered is, and these ones weren't exactly cheap.

[king casey]

I recently ordered a Camel bone nut off ebay.
There was an option for either flat bottom or convex.
Seems like it should have been an option in this case.

cheers, Mark.

[Sonic Mountain]

I just went back and checked, no option for the flat base. I got these from Australian Luthier Supplies.

I measured the existing one with my verniers and this was the only one I could find that even came close. Previously I've gone into somewhere like Bandland with the old nut and matched it up. But I wanted to try these TUSQ versions and not just put another plastic one on.

Just seems odd that it is a perfect replacement for my Washburn nut, but not the JMA one - the size difference in negligible, but noticeable. I was actually fully expecting to have to file it down, not shim it up.

Anyway, I'll see whats what after I've done some more finishing work. I think it can be made to work. I was just wondering if someone knew exactly what I should have been looking for as a direct replacement in something other than plastic. Bone is fine, but I have a graphite nut on my Hagstrom and its just so nice to fine tune as the strings slide through it so well, I wanted similar on my other guitars.

[Andy40]

I always assumed that you only removed the tag in the middle if it wasn't flat, but otherwise the tag was for a flat channel?

[Simon Barden]

The bottom of a Fender-style nut all depends on whether you've got a 'slab' (flat bottomed) or 'veneer' (curved base) fingerboard.



The nut base follows the fingerboard profile. On most (but not all) veneer-style necks, the truss rod channel is exposed at the bottom of the nut slot, and the tab on the curved-bottom nut fits in the slot to help locate it. You don't need the tab in order to glue a curved nut in place, and a lot of replacement nuts do come without the tab.

If you've got a curved nut slot but no exposed truss rod slot (especially if it's a thick fretboard so the nut slot doesn't go all the way through), then you need to remove the tab or the nut won't fit.

[Sonic Mountain]

The issue is not the curved base. As Andy said, it has a tang at the bottom so could be used for either.

What is puzzling me is the difference in width and string spacing and the question I am asking is what should I have ordered if these are not a fender strat style nut?