What to do about a stripped truss rod nut?

[Justin]

Alrighty,

So I was wondering what some of you out there do about stripped truss rod nuts? I have an acoustic here that has a severely stripped nut that I'm having problems with. I do not run into many stripped nuts...I've only ran into a couple... all on Les Pauls which I was able to get out pretty easy...This guitar not so much..Anything suggestions would help.

Thanks

Justin
Aspiring luthier

[Tom Krebs]

What type of nut? Those gripper wrenches at stew mac are only about $10. I bought one for a Fender Hex nut and it worked well.

[Gregory Hites]

If you're talking about the allen key hole stripped? Then maybe if it's not too bad.... find the allen wrench that fits best, and wrap the end with just enough tape (masking, aluminum speed tape, duct tape, whatever works) to jam the wrench in and turn only in a loosening direction.

Or.... cut off a piece of the appropriate allen wrench to fit into the nut where it's long enough to gab it throught the sound hole with some vise-grips. Then with the strongest epoxie you can find, glue the wrench into the hole. Wait 24 hours then with the visegrips loosen the nut and replace the nut.

good luck,

Greg