CHEAP NUT FIX for your CHEAP GUITAR NUT - This is how I do it, what do you do?

The cheapest version of the tool I could find on amazon: amzn.to/3sQuXOv
The Guitar: amzn.to/49KraD7
My favorite tuner: sweetwater.sjv.io/3eMPPr
Shallow cut nuts are a common problem on affordable guitars, sometimes you don't love the guitar enough to deal with it so you send it back or throw it into the local volcano. But If you do love the guitar you might want to quickly fix that cheap nut for cheap, in those unique cases this is what I do.
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[@joeyskar]

I think you should wax pot the pickups and see how it helps them. That's the true budget way to handle this instrument.

[@theozonechamber5122]

Feeling grateful that you adjusted your G-String off camera.

[@mslush47]

LOL!!!

[@bouzoukiman5000]

Use painters tape on the headstock below your files so you avoid scratches

[@allentkatch1762]

You can also use a string clipping with a piece of sandpaper folded over it. Use an A string with sandpaper on the low E slot, a D string with sandpaper on the A slot, and so on, and just folded sandpaper on the high E slot.

[@iainjohnston4070]

Pot the pickups in the bodgiest way possible. Like melt the wax from your kids old broken crayons and old scented candles

[@otherGuise]

I bring this up all the time when setting up guitars. A lot of techs will not touch the nut, intonate to open and 12th, then hand it back with a setup fee. The cowboy chords sound horrible and the player just thinks the guitar is awful. Intonating the first 4-5 frets by intonating the nut can make those cowboy chords shine.

[@67goat]

Wait a minute,,, are you telling me the second cut is the deepest?

[@GG-jy8sb]

Baby, I know!

[@TylerJohnstonGuitar]

This gave me such a violent flashback to being in a car seat while my mother took me to the supermarket. Ouch.

[@67goat]

@@TylerJohnstonGuitar 🤣

[@marions.120]

I thought The First Cut was the deepest?🤣

[@ryangilby]

YEAH it’s been a long time since we had the funky time-lapse music!

[@AIIZreviews]

I'm pretty sure they've updated some of the issues. The pickups that came on mine are fine and aren't microphonic, the finish is perfect, and tone out very good on my Peterson Strobo Pluc HDC

[@ewm416]

Thanks for pointing out this hack. Very timely for home build that has run out of budget.

[@antico.2757]

Thanks!! I bought 3 of these guitars before they sold out the first time. Noticed this issue way more on the Bumblebee than the other 2 colors I got. Tool ordered and ready to dig in. Really looking forward to the pickup video too! Much appreciated dood!

[@jcooper306]

It may not be film, or video, however I watch and I listen, and I enjoy your channel. Thanks for this!

[@jacobbockover1628]

Thats cool i always used an assortment of butter knives n stuff from the kitchen

[@60CycleHumcast]

leave a little butter on there as string lubricant

[@summersleepmusic]

Wild! I use guitar nut files to butter bread.

[@Randy-jz9ox]

🤣

[@rhysking9441]

You should check out iron gear pickups, theyre pretty cheap and sound great 😁

[@TheElectricfishmusic]

Very useful post! Thanks for sharing.

[@MartinBlasick]

I just bought that same tool on Temu for $2. That was really helpful. I’ve got some guitars that need nut filing.

[@ewm416]

The savings of using these tools vs nut files is nuts!

[@kanahmal]

Another cheap tool you can use is a feeler gauge, use a dremel or a hack saw or maybe tin snips to cut serrations in the sides of the guage widths you need.

[@60CycleHumcast]

thats clever

[@BootyCollins-gf5er]

And def the way to go if you want to widen the slots, otherwise you will go nuts with those tip cleaners​@@60CycleHumcast

[@harvey785]

I did exactly this on my Sire S7... made a HUGE difference!

[@fontcrimes2022]

I definitely dig this method! Thanks dude

[@rick00770]

Thanks, great idea iv had this problem with a few guitars, had no idea thier was a tool like that, going to get one.

[@SavageImprint]

I fabricated a steel nut from a bracket type thing I got at the hardware store and I did it with one of those welding torch files. It was a total pain in the ass but it is doable. Love that Westcreek, it reminds me of an SG and a Mosrite combined.

[@tostrmofo6686]

I've used the welding tip cleaners before, but at some point in time I treated myself to a set of Ibanez Prestige nut files in 10-46 (which I of course also use for 9-42.) Those were 115 Euros but I love them. I is just very comforable and if you can afford it and are working on your own guitars from time to time I would suggest getting a set. I have to say I also refret guitars so I have to cut nuts from time to time.

[@markspurgin8225]

I bought one of these guitars 🎸 I have another Westcreek that I changed pick ups in and I like it 👌 😎

[@MotorRoseMusic]

I bought one of those for some of the cheapos I got. Works great!

[@ChrisRash]

I didn't think you were supposed to have videos like this in November.

[@MikeBall-sz2jf]

Thanks mango!!! Easy to use... cheap and smart!!!

[@fernalicious]

Awesome, thanks for sharing!

[@stoatystoat174]

Thanks for brilliant tip files files tip. My Guitar is only just more expensive than the Stew Mac files so i had to adjust new nut by taking it off and sanding down the flat side of it (kinda works but doesn't treat the strings as individuals) Video is the best word for Video in my opinion, From the root vide of Latin videō (“I see”) (edit: cut and paste off wiki dictionary, i got none latin)

[@edwinstovall3334]

Ryan, I have the king of all tuning stability problems, courtesy of my Jackson JS22's hockey stick headstock. The JS22s have 2-point non-locking bridges and Gibson-style non-locking string nuts, which can't help the string's resist the headstock's tendency to pull the strings out of tune as a Floyd Rose's locking nut can do. I am working very slowly on this problem with a focus on shaping away the corner of each string's slot where the string can bind against the nut. (It's taking this long because I keep forgetting to do more, not caution; sue me -- I'm 65!👴)

[@Skullskalle]

I have the exact same files. Works very well.

[@richardcramp2850]

Well I watch the entire video cuz I have a set of those and I'm mostly put my fingers with him I've only got a couple of Stew Mac files can't afford them now but they work still

[@BrentAdams]

Yep, I've had a few guitars (one, in fact, was just added to me Tool Box) with nut slots that were not cut deep enough. I had a small Guitar Shop years ago, and did purchase a set of Stew Mac nut files, so I'm covered there. Your method is great and probably "safer" for anyone that hasn't done this type of thing before. As to the pickup swap.... how about Guitar Fetish pickups? About $35.00 ea. for classic style uncovered humbuckers! I have one guitar with a set of their "gold foil" type humbuckers that sound pretty good (The guitar was purchased used & someone had installed them ... the guitar is a Cort CL1500 Hollowbody, think L.P. Style but an actual small Hollow Body design.).

[@theshadowoftruth7561]

When in doubt go P90s! Guitar Fetish has humbucker sized P90s! I want this guitar ! I have a set of P90s on the Shelf that are crying out to me every night.

[@LarsonGuitarPlayer]

Great tip!

[@rindred]

As for pickup replacement suggestions, it's like this. I know you're more a single-coil guy like I am. My first suggestion is finding some humbucker-sized P-90s; sure they're going to hum and probably still be microphonic, but at least they'll be jangly! The second option would be buying some humbucker-to-single coil adapters and your choice of Strat singles. There's a danger that this might give you Epiphone SL flashbacks, but at least the rest of the guitar doesn't suck! Finally, if you decide to stick with humbuckers, you can find some with Gretsch-y covers and add a bit of class to the look. They're probably also going to be microphonic, but at least they'll look neat.

[@immy4104]

Had a set of cheapie chrome cover HB size P90s and they were awesome, sounded soooo good. Nice and thick sounding, good output but didn't lose the top end and jangle. $15 for a set too, absolutely amazing for the price. I really shouldn't have given them away lol

[@dreibel]

When I worked at a Home Hardware in Canada, I found an excellent budget set of needle files for $9.99 CDN. I've used them a few times to adjust the nuts on a couple of builds and my bass when I had to replace the nut. As you said, go slow. I can echo all the requests for dropping GFS pickups in that - I've used these on a number of my budget guitars. Gold foil single coil sized in a Squier Strat Mini, a set of Brighton Rocks & its plug-in harness and pick guard for a Brian May themed Strat. That SG would look great with a set of open-faced humbuckers with zebra bobbins. But also look at the P-90 wound humbucker style stuff, and also their FilterTron style, I'd always been curious what the Liverpool model would sound like.

[@MotttheHoople2010]

I had a Vintage brand cheap PRS copy that was only good for playing 'Paper Sun' by Traffic,(if you don't know it guys, then check it out), coz I had to keep bending the strings one way and another to stay in tune on double runs! Ashamed to say that I cut the plastic nut with hot needles!... As we Brits might put it: It bloody worked tho, dinnit? ;) Great video, as always, Ryan. Now here's the challenge... Put a Bigsby on it and see what a good job you've done! :)

[@BeauregardHall]

I do love your videos - keeping it simple for dolts like me.

[@Blodtann]

I have had issues with string spacing as well on more affordable guitars so I bought some Hosco fret files which weren't too expensive, definitely cheaper than going to a tech every time.

[@oldcrackadated]

I bought one after your video , I got lucky mine came with no issues ,it has become my favorite guitar , the only adjustment one turn on lower side of bridge ,never got a guitar with that little work

[@johncollins5552]

It's great that you show it's not rocket science to make some adjustments that transform playability without big bucks. I made a belly cut for.my tele with an electric sander. Just do it with care.

[@RsSquier51]

Great idea Ryan. I might have 1 of those in my tool box.

[@picksalot1]

I have something almost identical to that set of files, and they work great. Just find the file that matches the string diameter (or slightly larger) and take your time.

[@manonbassguitar]

How about dip the stock pups in paraffin to see if they are decent once they’re wax potted? See how good it can get stock.🤘🏼maybe upgrade the pots & Jack first if anything

[@ewetoo]

That's very useful! I can do some DIY on some of my dodgier setups now.

[@deyoseb22]

I had that issue with an Epiphone Power Players Les Paul. I paid for a set of Music Nomad nut files on Amazon which didn't cost as much as Stew Mac. But I would have tried your way to save more money if I had known about it back then.

[@johnsenior2566]

Thanks for that. Useful. Get some budget pick ups.

[@lunarpollen]

Those tools come in limited ranges of sizes... e.g., the cheap one linked has files in 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.5, and 1.6 mm sizes, which correspond to approximate string gauges .016, .020, .024, .028, .032, .036, .040, .044, .048, .055, .059, and .063. it's probably OK for any string of .016 or larger, but for the B and high E you'd likely want something thinner... the nut slot files sold on sites like Stew Mac are available in .010 and .013 (I think they are like $17 apiece separately). The cheap multi tool might be able to handle the D and G for bass nuts, but for the E and A bass slots you'll need bigger files (again, available separately for like $19 apiece)

[@green.room.guitars]

This is a great way for someone who's not super experienced to improve their instrument fairly safely and easily.. If you go too far, I'll fix your guitar ;)

[@gringogreen4719]

GFS Surf 90s. They will look even better than the stock pickups on here. Don't forget a budget Les Trem too!😉👍✨

[@summersleepmusic]

The words Surf and P90 have me sold on this idea. Good find!

[@gringogreen4719]

@@summersleepmusic It's definitely its own thing and worth getting. I have three guitars with them in it. I can definitely recommend them. I use 250k pots on all of them so it may sound a little different with other valued pots.🤔

[@jameshocking1188]

Just an idea and you did such a great job showing us the welding tip cleaner trick, which I have done personally myself and had great results! Why not remove the pickup covers and wax dip them yourself?......

[@gringogreen4719]

@@jameshocking1188 So many places can or will do this but it's a bit tricky to do at home. First of all you have to have the right ratio of paraffin to beeswax to mix and then you need a specific temperature setting which usually means a crock pot or a hot plate type of system where you can SPECIFICALLY REGULATE the temperature of the wax. When I took a pickup making class years ago with Jason Lollar we used a crockpot with a voltage regulator device between the crockpot and the wall to dial in the temperature. You can pot the pickup (new or repotting an existing pickup) in the wax and to make sure that it gets in everywhere in the pickup you can either do a vacuum pressure or you can jiggle the pickup in the wax. The issue with doing existing pickups is that the wax ratio by the OEM parts supplier may be different, it may be partially wax dipped or the construction of the pickup can be funky. I have some really cheap pickups from modern, budget, Import guitar and the way they made those pickups are rather different than how Gibson, Fender, Seymour Duncan, etc... makes humbucking pickups here. The bobbins are physically smaller and they get away with fewer winds (copper is probably the most expensive part of the pickup) and a stronger ceramic magnet. So potting that may or may not give you desired results.🤔 For overseas made pickups, go with Duncan Designed ones as they are made all around better than cheapo OEM pickups. At least Seymour Duncan has the final say over how well the QC is one those pickups (also they are a mix of regular SD pickup models).😉

[@jameshocking1188]

@@gringogreen4719 I totally understand, and I agree Seymour Duncan make some of the finest pickups on the market. I've had the pleasure to be introduced to Mr. Duncan and toured his facility here in So. Cal. Many years ago and I totally agree on your comments! Still I've seen some great tutorials here on KZbin That address those issues and it would be interesting if not fun to try. A good set of Seymour Duncan pickups would just about equal the price of this guitar. It would be easier to swap out the pickups and no doubt the after market pickups would be better than the cheaper ones that are now residing in the guitar also you are correct in saying the copper wire is more expensive than the ceramic magnets that are used to compensate the difference in tone. Boy we can surely go down a rabbit hole if we start talking about the electronics. But I'm with you. If it were my guitar I'd probably modify the complete electronics portion from pickups to output jack. By the way would you go for 50's wiring or treble bleed? Or just keep it modern?

[@fearlessdiymusic]

Fearless DIY Music’s luthier approves 🤘

[@cnserviceuy]

I do the same thing with the cheapest nut files and It works

[@Randy-jz9ox]

This is a pretty fool proof method. Just what i need!

[@SquizbarDeAlienOfficial]

This is off the topic of the video but could you do a video/ possible series on how to play surf style guitar?

[@joellebrodeur1015]

My Ric 320 had intonation issues for years. It was addressed in June. The nut had to be recut and shaped.

[@jasfrt6384]

The torch cleaners work, but man, it's slooow going.

[@prime4sd32]

Hey Ryan, could you do a review of Tone Hatch pickups?

[@squib311]

I invested slightly more and have a quicker method than those files. I bought the three double-sided nut files from Temu, a feeler gauge set, and a cheap but accurate dial caliper all for about $25. I use the depth gauge on the caliper to measure the first fret height. I then add .018 inches to that number which is my preferred 1st fret action. I then find feeler gauges that match that total number and tape them together with a single layer of Scotch tape. I lay them across the fretboard next to the nut and then use the appropriate file until it hits the feelers. This method is quick and never let me down. The files are cheap, but good enough for the small amount of work that I do and have lasted so far. I would avoid the super cheap digital calipers. You notice they are "off" by unrepeatable results. I got the Pittsburgh calipers from Harbor Freight over a decade ago on sale for around $15. I think they are around $25 now, but well worth it.

[@rogersibilsky3786]

Dimarzio double humbuckers...open coil. Throw a 3rd in there too.

[@normbarrows]

Interesting to see that the ultra-cheap files actually do work. I put locknuts on almost all my builds. Only cut one nut ever, and that was for a 12 string. Use a fret pulling guard in the nut slot and across the first and second frets. When the guard just clears the first fret, your slot is at the correct height, just above the fret plane.

[@askilgeithuslaastad8728]

Tonerider pickups are budget friendly and really good.

[@mitchpalmer5116]

I would drop a set of EMGs in it but that's just me.

[@curtwuollet2912]

Yeah, I was gonna touch up the nut on my $200 IYV LP. Got the tip cleaner out, but I thought it would be smarter to get a Tusq nut to hack on. Got one, put it on, saving the original. Hooked up a tuner. Played some chords. It was as close as I could see on the tuner. So, I trimmed the ends flush and called it a day. Sounds great. But, what are the odds?

[@peterhicks6328]

dragonfire pickups have been popular among players. cheaper than semore duncan

[@FrankManhands]

That's pretty nuts.

[@robertayers1804]

Get some Dragonfire Humbucker Pickups, but find the in a yellow and black color, Bridge and Neck

[@George-xe5hp]

Artec pickups not bad.

[@user-xx3rv7bv5f]

Thanks!’n

[@ohmslaw-vh5zm]

Eh,go big and throw some TV Jones pickups in it. I threw something me TV Jones in a very budget guitar. A Squire 51.

[@jclebedev]

I would say GFS pickups, but they scare me off every time with their shipping price. Also, at harbor freight you can get a coping saw blade set that has thin blades that can work but they are much more aggressive than the torch cleaners. Also also, an old string with some relatively high grit (400 grit) sandpaper wrapped around it works.

[@BCarpenter2314]

I have never had success using sand paper wrapped around a string. The thickness of the sandpaper is too thick to get in the slots of all but the low e

[@marks9197]

How about a video on wax potting pickups?

[@StevenHess]

New Ephiphone SG in the rack with this problem.

[@paulcatarino2209]

For the next upgrade my vote goes to Humbucker sized P90's (Mean 90 - TRUE Alnico P90- FAT and Loud, Gloss Black) ... I just think every SG should come with P90

[@MindlessBanana]

Reminds me of ESP/LTD Viper, only reversed

[@markmccarron-fraser4160]

GFS bro! Put some Dream 180’s on it!

[@Clebardman]

Interesting. I had a guitar who went out of tune after a couple uses of the vibrato arm. A friend filed my nut's (...) grooves, giving them a nice V shape. Guitar is as stable as any perfectly tuned Floyd Rose now, it was mind-boggling. Turns out, the grooves were a bit too tight and the strings would just stay stuck sharp instead of sliding back in place, especially the... what's the english word, the wound ones?

[@Mullewarp]

I would take the nut out, sand the bottom down and glue it back in. On gibson type necks it's not that difficult.

[@Phatzo1000]

Wilkinson do some good pick ups for not too many dollars.

[@Mr.Monster1313]

I have that same. Nutfile lol. Had it for years..im cheap..😊 it works tho..safe tho.

[@zloboslav_]

this guitar looks badass though!!!

[@TranscendentBen]

This is one of the most frustrating things about a guitar. The "zero fret" is a perfectly fine solution as it can be set to the same height as the other frets when leveling, but it got a bad reputation from being on cheap guitars of the 1960s.

[@picksalot1]

If "all" the strings are too high (more than the thickness of a sheet of paper, ~1/64 inch) from the bottom of the string to the top of the 1st fret when depressing the string at the 3rd fret, and under full string tension, this is the method I use. I file the slots that are too high so they are even in depth with the other slots. The strings should still be too high at this point, maybe 1/32 inch or even higher, but all even above the 1st fret. Then I file/sand the "bottom" of the Nut to lower all the string heights at the same time. This maintains their even depths in the sting slots, but lowers them all evenly. The final result should be about 1/64th of an inch, possible lower, but if the strings touches the 1st fret when depressing the string on the 2nd fret, you could get some buzzing. Remember, to angle the slots slightly downward , away from the front of the Nut. This is so the string leaves the very front of the Nut, and that will help with intonation, and avoiding the string buzzing in the Nut. Regarding changing the microphonic pickups, why not try "wax potting" them yourself. What have you got to lose if they are currently useless?

[@joeyskar]

Wax potting was my vote as well.

[@pacoysusguitarras]

put EMGs! Black! to match with the black-line!

[@spamboli]

guitarfetish p'ups? and get a whiggle stick too! on the subject of video...it IS video. SD cards & tape are just the storage medium. video is a range of analog or digital recording formats for moving pictures. the main analog formats were NTSC (US, Canada, Japan, etc.), PAL (Europe, Asia, Australia, etc.), & SECAM (France, Russia, parts of Africa etc.); but nowadays Digital rules the house.

[@onlyusernameleft2]

Sometimes you can end up with a slot so deep that open strings sound dull like they're being palm muted. Can you shave material from the top?

[@patrickkeenan6331]

One thing I'd like to point out on the "slow" work of the files--the axe you worked on in the video supposedly has a bone nut, which is a super hard material. Most inexpensive guitars have a plastic nut, and those files may cut through a lot faster, so BE CAREFUL!

[@DaedStarr]

The nut on that is plastic.

[@jasonmast1982]

thats pretty funny , yeah roll SD card

[@He8MyHand]

I do this with the guitar string

[@Snarkyone1965]

Same. It doesn't get any cheaper than using an old A string or something.

[@Crispy_Music_2024]

Using the link in the video description, those welding tip cleaner file things are only $9 for 4. 😮

[@60CycleHumcast]

Yeah they are super cheap.

[@mikesyria1787]

Just got mine. I think the pickups have 4 wires. It is a nice guitar, can't believe it is only $220.00

[@raulvillanada91]

Sime cheap things can be a heck of a gem, brother..

[@richardcramp2850]

Lol poked my fingers with them

[@thevagabond8978]

What about removing the covers to address the microphonics first? That would be the cheapest option

[@60CycleHumcast]

A lot of times cheap humbuckers are flooded with wax making them super messy to pull the covers off of. The manufacturers try to “wax pot” but they do it incorrectly.

[@BryanClark-gk6ie]

Cheap guitars are made to be played out of tune' that's the purpose of them and the fun part of playing them. As far as the torrch tip cleaners' they have an intended purpose also' you should start a series of welding videos instead of trying to mix the 2 into1 video!

[@TheAlaskanFlondr]

Put some p90 humbuckers in it

[@Realroyrogers]

What goes on on a Sitar? I know not so I got stumped right there

[@60CycleHumcast]

Sitar bridges have a super shallow break angle so the string intentionally vibrates and rattles against it.

[@THEQUIETKID6666]

The thumbnail 💀

[@frankbennett3075]

Are you going to give that offset SG a custom paint job?

[@60CycleHumcast]

Lol nope. I like the yellow.

[@scientificuppercut]

zebra humbuckers!

[@inthestudy]

KZbin did not like links, so I just emailed my comment. Then I tried to find bee themed fretmarker stickers and I cannot. RAGE.

[@oldcrackadated]

Have things become more difficult for you since you have learned to play drums