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I was trying out some La Bella Jazz Tapes 14-67 strings on my Eastman this past year. The shop that installed them filed the nut slots wider; I believe they used a 70 bass file on the low E (67) string. I was thinking of trying some GHS Precision Flats next. Either 13-56 or 12-50. I was wondering if anyone else has tried this and if so, was that extra space in the slots ok? Since they used real nut slot files I assume the lowest portion of the nut slots are curved and wouldn't be as big of a deal as if someone used a cheap flat-bottomed saw type file. Just wondering if this would be guaranteed disaster without cutting a new nut, or putting in a filler and re-filing. I've not cut a nut from scratch before (I've done touch ups), and all the shops here would charge around $100 for a full setup to even file a single slot (I went through this with the jazz tapes already).
I do like the tapes for what they are but wanted to see how the flats feel and if they are possibly better for the occasional gypsy type strumming. If I'm jumping into full setup territory rather than just adjust the bridge intonation, I'll probably keep the tapes on.
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01-03-2020 09:32 AM
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I'll add - the reason I don't plan to just try it on a whim and put the tapes back on -
I asked the shop who installed the tapes to *not* cut them past the silk. And they did anyway, so I don't think there is any way to re-use these tapes as they will likely come un-done.
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Hard to say. Personally, I would try the slots as they are and see what I got. It might be fine, without issues. You might get some buzz, though, since the slots are 20 thou wider if they're .070 and you use .050 strings. The only way to find out is to try it. If you get unwanted noise from the strings, the easy way to fix it is with UV-cured adhesive. It's cheap on ebay, and it works really well. Get the kind that's advertised for making jewelry. You can get the right amount in the slots and clean up the excess, taking your time, because it doesn't start to cure until UV light hits it. You can buy a UV flashlight, or just put it out in direct sunlight, and it cures quickly. It seems to be as hard as bone, as close as I can tell, and it's the best way I've found for filling nut slots. If shops are charging $100 to fill one slot, they're ripping people off, and I'm glad I don't live there.
After a year, it's probably time to replace the tapes anyway. If you've been playing the guitar much, the frets have been taking their toll on the tape, so I suggest buying a set of flats you want to try, and if you don't like the result, put a new set of tapes on the guitar. Neither set of strings is a bank-breaking investment.
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Thanks for the advice - I didn't know there was a UV activated cure or the other items you mentioned! I was about to try baking soda and super glue until I read your reply.
Yes - I was upset about the shops here in Indianapolis. I had a used guitar and felt one of the slots was much higher than the others. I tried 5 guitar stores and a luthier. 2 shops said they don't do it, 3 shops said they only offer full setups. The luthier said he would need me to drop the guitar off and likely do a setup. And one other shop would do a setup cheaper ($60) but already cut one of my guitars uneven and even crooked, placing two strings closer together. That was my epiphone dot and it's just been sitting there ever since, so I'll plan to fix it as well. I didn't want to shell out the big bucks for real nut files that I'd use maybe 2-3 times. I'll probably get by with some cheap jewelry files and torch tip cleaners. I kind of get where some of the shops wouldn't want me coming back to complain about other things - but you'd think I could get someone to throw a file in a slot for a bit cheaper than that. I'm done ranting for now.
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Baking soda (or bone dust, for a bone nut) and super glue does work in a pinch.
When I bought a Warmoth neck for my tele and wanted to use a wound G, I had to widen the slot...and being my first time doing it, I of course got a little over zealous with the file. Did a quick fill and started over, and everything has been fine now, going on 8 years.
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Baking soda works on bone nuts, too.
Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
John
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Baking soda and cyanoacrylate do work, and I used that method for years. But after discovering uv cure resin, I abandoned it. I have some unopened cyanoacrylate bottles sitting on the shelf, and I may never open them.
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A Zero Glide nut might help
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