tusq pre slotted nuts

[Rick Hoey]

In my repair business I often have occasion to make nuts. Sometimes if a customer requests I will make one using the Tusq blanks. When doing fender necks it would be useful and time saving to use the pre slotted nuts as they seem to line up well most of the time. I have used the pre-slotted ones with a radiused nut slot since they fit well after removing the little block they preform for flat bottomed slots. I was wondering if any of my repairment brethern have used these for a flatbottomed slot. It seems to me to leave only three points of contact and a lot of air under the nut. I'm thinking this is a poor design. I'm trying to come up with a quick way to fill that space and still make the nut useable. Maybe epoxy or super glue with some kind of filler or tiny little rosewood or maple wedges. It just struck me as a poor design. Any opinions?

[Donald A. Fortune]

Hi Rick first off let me extend the best to you in the new year--
I used a TUSQ nut like you are talking about on a strat not too long ago and the it didnt seem to change a thing... I dont realy think there is snough pressure at that end of the neck to make any differance anyway (correction requested)...
I had to adjust the slots a lil but thats expected I think ..
Hope this info helps-- Be sfae...
Donald

[FRANK]

I WOULD NOT USE THE PRE RADIUS ED PRE SLOTTED NUT IN THE LONG RUN SPEED WILL KILL YOU CAUSE ITS YOUR NAME YOU WANT TO BE RECOGNIZED TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME DO IT BY HAND THE OUT COME WILL BE SATISFYING FOR YOU AND THE CUSTOMER AND FUTURE CUSTOMERS... ALSO A BIT OF ADVICE DO NOT SUPPER GLUE OF EPOXY ANY NUT IN IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO EXTRACT IN CASE OF FUTURE REFRET JOBS WHEN THE NUT COMES OUT IT TENDS TO COME OUT IN PIECES RATHER IN ONE CHUNK IT TAKES MORE TIME RUNNING THE RISK OF MARKING THE INSTRUMENT ELSE WEAR PUT A SMALL DAB OF TIGHT BOND /ELMERS/ALIPHATIC RESIN THIS IS WHAT RV TEACHES AS WELL AS FRANK FORD SET UP THE NEXT LUTHIER FOR SUCCESS OR HE WILL CUSS YOU THE ONLY TIME I USE SUPPER GLUE OR EPOXY IS FOR FRETS S/G AND INLAY S/G // EPOXY

[Rick Hoey]

Thanks for the response Paul. I never use anything but tightbond to glue in nuts and I alway try for a press fit using no glue when possible. The only time I use Tusq nuts, preslotted or blanks, is when the customer requests it. That being said, I have found that the preslotted nuts often work just fine when the slotting lines up. I always prefer to make the nuts from scratch. The only thing I really don't like about the Tusq fender style nuts is the open space under the nut when using them in a flat bottomed slot.

[Tom Krebs]

I don't like that tab thing either. Radius a piece of 1/8 inch maple. File out that little tab on the nut. Glue the maple to the nut with CA. Cut-file-sand the joined pieces for the slot and install.

[Rick Hoey]

thanks Tom. Simple and good. I should have come up with that. Must be getting old.

[FRANK]

ANY TYPE OF SHIM IS NOT GOOD FOR TONE.....RADIUS NUTS ON A FLAT BOTTOM FOR GET IT ..NO GOOD ONLY 2 POINTS OF CONTACT I WOULD PASS TALK TO THE CUSTOMER SO THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SITUATION IS LIKE

[Donald A. Fortune]

Hi Paul sounds to me like you are a purest when it comes to repair, and that has its place Im sure, however, the repair that I did with the TUSQ nut was a qik fix so that the costomer could sell the axxe,and not locally... I agree if the costromer is going to keep the guitar and it will be played often then "do it rite or dont touch it."
I prefer using bone for nuts, and when it calls for it, the saddles too.

[Darren]

Hi, I believe that Graphtech supply a flat bottomed strat nut!