Nut Slot Depth Anyone Can Do

No need to fear when it comes to lowering the depth of your string slots at the nut. This method is so easy even a child can do it!
BTW, these are not files. These are jeweler's piercing saw blades. You can find them on Amazon by searching: GERMAN STYLE JEWELERS SAW FRAME with 144 ASSORTED JEWELERS SAW BLADES
Too, this video may help:
• Overcut Nut Slot? A Fi...

[@jeremy.thejeweler]

Jeweler here, those are saw blades and I have a trillion of them in every size. You just saved me hundreds of dollars on nut slot files. Thank you. I had always wondered if this would work.

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Thank you for your valuable comment. Agreed....I really have an issue buying expensive nut files for occasional minimal use!

[@azcharlie2009]

I don't think I'd let this guy touch my guitar....

[@christineblack4654]

why. have you seen other vids from luthiers on this. they are wayyy worse. this is the best vid I have seen so far and ive been looking for daysss. I like this way mre than all of the others.

[@guitarhowtos2148]

I have NO INTEREST in touching your guitar. That part is up to you.

[@user-jl9kw9gn3m]

@@guitarhowtos2148 I wouldn't, he probably plays naked

[@davidharris2210]

I agree!!

[@soulstrafer]

The tape part is an amazing hack... thank you for this! :D

[@idiotburns]

friggin genius

[@zoksss5323]

This is actually amazing trick. I had my electric for quite sometime (around 1 year) and high nut always bothered me. It was hard pressing on strings near nut, notes would go out of tune and action was high. I watched this video few weeks ago and today I decided to give it a chance. I was always scared of messing it up but still, grabed tools and get to work. I used homemade files that were made of things that you mesure heights of sth. And when I was done, It was like new guitar. I still went just a bit above first freth to be safe, and now its perfect. Probbably the best technique I have seen so far. Thanks man.

[@fingerfret8645]

Great to know of your success! 😀

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Thank you for your pleasant and honest comment! 🙂

[@rozone7]

Thank for this. Have transformed 3 of my guitars so far. Very pleased. 👍🏼😁

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Glad to know of your success! Thanks!

[@brianjoyce4435]

Thanks for this. I used your tape trick tonight. Worked like a charm. 👍👍🎸

[@Chance-ry1hq]

As soon as watched a few minute of this video, I went to the comments. I wasn’t disappointed.😂

[@michael_caz_nyc]

Fantastic Info. I am learning to do all my own maintenance, set-ups and repairs, on my Guitars and Bass. Enjoyed your informative video. oNe LovE from NYC

[@miguelangelvacaheredia8230]

Great video!! the best method I have found on internet on how to cut down the nut slots while following the fretboard radius..... you are a gennius mate!

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Thank you!

[@KCAugustine]

Thank you so much for the video and painters tape trick. You saved a guitar build from the scrap heap. Slot depth has been a struggle in my repai knowledge, love this method!

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Very welcome!

[@stevesnider4251]

Excellent idea and video. Some critics here seem to miss the point that you are demonstrating a method. Thanks!

[@gregghome3339]

Hey thanks for the awesome vid! This made me realize just how much more I had to go trying to use those torch cleaners!! A lot better than shaving a bit off, retuning, detuning, shaving more off over and over again. Cheers

[@danmooney6015]

The trick is to let the file do the work and apply a very light pressure. You don’t want to feel like you have to help it out. Great video! Very informative! ❤

[@fomofreddy7306]

I’ve seen a bunch of videos on this, this is the best technique. Thanks

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Thank you! Much thanks!

[@Rjhorning]

Hey man, just wanted to say thank you for this video. This helped me out alot.

[@guitarhowtos2148]

You're welcome! Thanks for letting me know!

[@giulioluzzardi7632]

I broke the nut on my Guitar(335) and some-one had shown me years ago how to repair it using superglue and baking soda to create a new piece....it's lasted years and sounds the same(top E).Raising the top E a bit put some bicarb in the gap and then dropped 1 drop of superglue on top let it harden then filed down and sanded.

[@Echo3_]

If you half a pencil long ways you can put it on the fret and draw the fret height on the nut

[@guitarhowtos2148]

As well, one layer of painter's tape across the first few frets will add slightly more height, which is effectively the same height as shown in the vid.

[@johnsaldivar2619]

Thank a million! Great info and help, even for classical and flamenco as well!

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Thank you, John! Glad this helped. 🙂

[@johnsaldivar2619]

@@guitarhowtos2148 absolutely! The jewelry files . I need to get those ! I also recommend a Swiss watchmakers micrometer.

[@BenEller]

That’s a cool method! Will try :) thanks!

[@angrybuzzy]

Great information and demonstration, sir. Thanks for posting!

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Thank you!

[@MR_Robbers]

Great video man...and beautiful chord progression at the end! I listened a few times over. Cheers

[@grwuk]

Thanks for taking the time to do this. Ckear and very easy to understand 👌

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Glad it was helpful!

[@costasarantidis4499]

Thank you for this! It works great, every time.

[@guitarhowtos2148]

You're welcome!

[@rebeccaabraham8652]

The tape idea is one I hadn't thought of... and I might give it a try - although I've just got a set of feelers and I think they'll be more reliable! Also - Ali sell boxed sets of nut files and they're 'inexpensive' - I certainly wouldn't go near a but with a saw blade and hack backwards and forwards on it! As for putting petroleum jelly in the nut slots....? - that's insane - grab a pencil and put a layer of graphite in there like everyone else does. As said - great video idea - but some of the methods and materials will give me nightmares! If the job's worth doing - it's worth doing right!

[@qua7771]

The convetionial method is easy, and accurate enough. Why mess with success? When you deviate from proven methods, you usuall create other challanges.

[@sixtiesman4080]

Thank you for posting your method. It has worked for me. My intention here is to leave my experience for anyone about to do this. I have benefitted greatly by reading others' postings. So. I did consider the stacking the feeler guages. Could damage the feeler guages? How do you hold the guages in place and file? The feeler guage won't bend round the fretboard radius to give the same height at every point? I considerd the filing the bottom of the nut. This has got to be a contender. But, mine is a brand new Gibson SG with lots of lovely gloss around the base of the nut. It would look messy when I glue it back? So, I opted for the method posted here. I accept the critique that the 16 layers of masking tape are soft and spongy. But I used them as an indicator, not cutting into them. I was careful putting the tape in place, took my time, got it straight. Each layer with no creases. I had no trouble with the tools. I bought the Stewmac ones! £££. Hope they last! If you get it wrong, there's always a new nut, not £££! I found the whole thing straight forward and I am very pleased with the result. Thanks for posting this video.

[@wncelectricalservice7346]

Great video! Very helpful! 💪🤘🙏🎸

[@Starman2440]

Very clever method lower slot depths. I also like how you carefully mask to prevent damaging the guitar finish. Most of the "How To" don't do so. It takes one slip to damage the finish that was so easily preventable. It is a real shame that slot files cost so dang much. They do make this a bit easier to do as the files are stiffer than the jewelers files--for better control, especially for a DIY.

[@jsd8981]

Brilliant idea with tape,,never seen it done that way before , as I'm about to replace the nut on my strat ...thank you

[@guitarhowtos2148]

No problem 👍

[@barantopal8278]

wish i was smart enough to come up with this technique. wouldve felt insane haha. really appreciate your effort mate

[@lisaayers1975]

Thanks I ordered these.Also thanks for the tape tip and video.

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Hi Lisa: the important thing is to pile the tape up just ABOVE level with first fret - usually 14 to 15 pieces - but each guitar may be slightly different. Good Luck!!

[@lisaayers1975]

@@guitarhowtos2148 Okay thanks.

[@gilpi552]

I know your intentions are good but the tape thing is not the way to go. Actually, with strings on, loosen one, move it over, "lightly" file, put the string back and check the height and move on to the next string and repeat. Another way is using something like a wide feeler gage of the proper height you are looking for rather than tape.

[@guitarhowtos2148]

All well said. Thank you. I still prefer to use tape, but others may want to use other materials that you mention. Thanks again!

[@chrishyde1216]

How about maybe a couple of layers of tape each side of the nut to protect the neck but not for checking the height, and move the string back to check the height as recommended by gilpi552? Would need some feeler guages to check the height.

[@wyattsdad8561]

@@guitarhowtos2148 yeah, dude, this is a really nice idea on doing this.

[@davidclark3603]

That was a good video that. Good playing at the end. I like the atmosphere!

[@twangmeister]

Lots of negative responses to this, but I've just tried it and it worked for me. I have a cheap Asian made, solid top acoustic which needed a new nut as the plastic one had cracked. I bought a cheap bone nut from ebay and sanded the bottom to try and set the nut action. It was ok on the bass strings, but still too high on the treble strings. The jewellers saw blades worked great and the masking tape worked well as a guide. Proceed slowly, check often and I can't see why it wouldn't work for anyone else.

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Thank you your comment. Seems most who comment negatively don't even try this method. They likely just want to voice their ignorance. Too, they may be threatened luthiers who rather charge folks big bucks for this simple task - or who may be selling expensive nut files. If using tape 'bothers' folks then use other materials like plastic or feeler gauges. BTW, tape is NOT spongy as some non-tryers claim. Again, thank for your encouraging remarks...much appreciated!

[@ramencurry6672]

I’m sure it’s not that hard but personally I just take it to a good repairman. I’m fortunate to have easy access to highly skilled guys who do this all the time.

[@screaminggoatcheese-ml1hd]

This worked great for me. I have a Sterling Ray34 that I couldn't lower the action on any further. I just couldn't get my pops to ring off the frets when slapping and popping. Took my time following the instructions and used some crappy nut files I had from amazon and it turned out very well. A very minor tweak resulted in a marked improvement.

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Glad it helped

[@cdk3law]

Although I'm okay with the tape hack, isn't the width of the nut slot also important...so that the string doesn't get pinched at the bottom of the slot? and thus why there are different size files for each string. I'm not saying that a jewelers file/saw won't work...just seems like the possibility of it not going right on at least one of the strings is high.

[@christineblack4654]

move around as you wish. take a bigger one if you want it wider. use a old string in the end to round of the bottom. use you brain it will work fine.

[@dennismullin3052]

Thank you. Your videos are always some of the best ones on You Tube. I have used your taping technique before. I just need to get better Nut Files. Been using a set I got on Amazon. Pretty crappy. 😊 I look forward to your next tutorial!🎸

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Hi Dennis! Thank you for your thoughtful kind words. For me, the tape works every time...perfectly. Too, the jeweler's files work well.

[@fingerfret8645]

Jeweler's Piercing Saws.

[@dennismullin3052]

@@guitarhowtos2148 I just watched a couple of your videos again! Besides learning SO MUCH I just get a BIG KICK out of listening to you. Your camera work is the best on You Tube, Mike Pachelli and Ivor Sorefingers comes to mind also, and I can tell that you really have taken your time to make sure the camera angles are clear and easy to SEE. Really, you just don't cut any corners when it comes to explanations and camera "shots". Thanks again and I want you to know that I have highly recommended your Channel to many friends who want to learn these great ideas. P.S. As a former pro musician and teacher, I am willing to bet that you make one fine Guitar Teacher and performer as well. Stay well, Brother.

[@dynamn]

Great video, thanks! my tele neck is new and without a nut slot yet, the tusq nut that Im installing is 5.71mm in height, how deep shall I file the slot on neck to start with please?

[@joefzd4040]

I like it! It goes to show there's more than one way to skin a cat (so my grandad would say). I've played and fixed guitars since the 1960's and could never afford good tools. I'd make up nut files from hacksaw blades, hammering and grinding them to the size needed. With care and practice they worked fine. Of course you screw up all the time and learn from your mistakes, that's how it works. I wouldn't go near a vintage Fender or Gibson until I knew I was capable of doing a good job and if I screwed the nut up I could make cut and fit a new one that was identical or better. Eventually I got round to buying sets of Hosko files which are great but you can still screw up just the same . The difference between perfection and disaster are just a few light finishing strokes! It's a bit like Zen and the art of Motorcycle maintenance, sometimes a tin can will do just fine.

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Loved your comment! Thank you.! Good book too. One of my favorites. Robert Pirsig.

[@user-lo1kw8yl3i]

Frickin genius ! thanks !

[@cobar5342]

Thank you for a helpful video

[@CaptainRon1913]

wtf is this guy doing?.. lol

[@ramencurry6672]

What if he was your dentist?

[@stanwest3529]

It's not April 1st is it ....unbelievable

[@AlanThomas-hp3fn]

I use an old Sam club card. Slide it tight against the nut. Gets close, then uses a feeler gage if needed. Yours is a good method also

[@summersendband]

Nice tone!

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Thank you!

[@33bockbock]

I find it interesting that this video was posted 2 years ago and most of these comments are very recent.

[@MaxDev]

Yea Ik right?

[@user-jl9kw9gn3m]

It's like everyone just turned 10 years old

[@ramencurry6672]

Back in the old days, people didn’t know what a nut was. Times have changed

[@fomofreddy7306]

Interesting take, I’ve watched a couple different videos recently that had the same take.

[@markcummings1319]

What a trick what a trick what a trick!

[@gentelmanjunkie542]

great idea. simple, effective and equally important CHEAP.

[@mackk123]

piercing saws, nice.

[@johannesdebeer]

I use Music Nomad's setup guide with feeler guages checking string height at the first fret. The danger is going too low or too wide - new nut incoming.

[@runningwithscissors0911]

That is one mighty fine sounding Squire! Original PuPs - ? No expensive nut files needed and no groobars! Thanks!!

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Pickups are Seymour Duncan Classic Stack.

[@christineblack4654]

how many tapes was that, higher than the fret? 3? by the way the tapes looks higher than the groove of the nut. very bad angle to see it. would have been great to see that before you started sawing.

[@al271987]

Is it bad that I just eyeballed things and went at my Classic Vibe with a butter knife the other day? It worked out pretty good as far as I can tell.

[@christineblack4654]

hahaha nice.

[@rodnyg7952]

looks like a bunch of unnecessary steps to me

[@guitarslim56]

I think a better method would be to stack some feeler gauges, instead of using tape. When you use tape, the file easily cuts though the tape, and you can file too far, and ruin the nut. But with the metal feeler gauges, the file stops at the metal.

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Or place one feeler gauge on top of the tape. Different methods can work.

[@xaphan8581]

You would have to be a moron to start digging threw the tape and not realize your hitting the fret lol

[@bobparsonsartist564]

I've used the feeler guage method and find it cumbersome. This method i really like -- just used it on my Zager ZAD80. Super fast and easy. The only thing i could add is to use straight-edged files so with 1 layer of tape over frets 1-4 you can lay your file in the slot to be cut and see the gap that needs to be diminished.

[@bobparsonsartist564]

I've used the feeler guage method and find it cumbersome. This method i really like -- just used it on my Zager ZAD80. Super fast and easy. The only thing i could add is to use straight-edged files so with 1 layer of tape over frets 1-4 you can lay your file in the slot to be cut and see the gap that needs to be diminished.

[@GallowayJesse]

Problem is you have to hold the feeler gauges to make them conform to the radius which is a huge pita

[@alfonz7863]

Good thing it is a Fender Squier.

[@gibfen1235]

Your nut should be sloted to the heigth of your frets. Think about it. When you capo your are using the copo's fret AS a nut. And guess how high this "nut" is. It is the height of the fret. So you can measure your fret. Make a spacer the same thickness and place against you nut and file DOWN to your spacer. Great video. Takes the mystery out of doing this.

[@Chance-ry1hq]

I hope your workmanship isn’t as sloppy as your writing. I had to read this comment 3 times to figure out what you were saying.

[@keithburnett-i7f]

What mystery?

[@gibfen1235]

@Chance-ry1hq Thanks. Needed my wife to prook read for me. I did go back and attempt to correct.

[@gilpi552]

Same height as the frets???

[@triax7006]

That would create a zero fret on the 1st fret if you cut the slots the same as the 1st fret.

[@kimholland9316]

I think I'll give it a miss

[@deandee8082]

also the comment about the frets being loosened with oil is incorrect, what does water do to wood? makes it swell right? so if you soak your fretboard with oil the wood will swell creating a clamping effect, if a guy is worried about the glue getting in and loosening frets then your frets need to be reinstalled with proper glue thats chemical resistant, no glue will touch the fret tang properly glued with proper glue.. however soaking the fingerboard with oil will cause it to swell ever so slightly, clamping down on the tang and glue, which in turn increases sustain and resonance and keeps frets put.. if you have a budget guitar it may behoove you to tape/dam up the ends of your frets, then run glue into your fret slots under the frets, use a catalyzer, a light wax on the fingerboard prevents the glue from soaking into fingerboard surface.. use a q-tip to apply alight coat of light wax about a quarter inch out on both sides of each fret, use an applicator tip not a tube of crazy glue to apply cyanoacrylate, capillary action will fill the slot to the tang, then hit with catalyzer... stewmac so forth have glue, applicator tips, catalyst all this stuff to do it proper.. remove wax and clean board thoroughly, then oil, I soak boards 24 hours on high end guitars, I soak until the fingerboard stops soaking the oil in.. a slight topical coating does nothing, its gone in a few days and you again have bare wood, oil is nothing new to woods, naturally when growing they have oils, water, chemicals, glucose, so this is nothing new for wood.. its conditioning the wood to insure it doesn't dry up and get brittle, decay, splinter and weaken, and condensate.. do this ESPECIALLY if you live in arid dry regions, if you live in florida not so crucial but beware of salt build up, so keep CLEAN and oil to keep SALT OUT, if you sweat a lot OIL UNTIL IT STOPS TAKING OIL! oil is a waterproofing agent for wood as well as a conditioner, so it will prevent humidity from entering and changing pitch so forth.. just a light layer on top will do nothing regarding this dynamic, load it up with oil, tune and humidity will have a harder time entering and changing things if you gig a lot and sweat a lot like say angus young you will have to do this weekly, clean, and re-oil, you can see what sweat did to his earlier guitar when he wasn't hip to oiling fingerboards as often, he struggled with pitch moving from region to region, remember rosewood isn't lacquered like maple so its bare wood, going from climate to climate moves the wood, changing pitch, the only way to lessen this is to OIL the fugg out of your fingerboard and bring the lacquer right up the side, sealit as good as possible, glue up any areas prone to water leaching in.. or oil well, like nut slots so forth.. glue in your nut then apply oil it will soak in capillary and seal, a lil messy but well worth it, dam it up with tape if you must.. rather than leaving your nut slot bare wood so it can draw moisture, or dry out, pushing or pulling the nut around, notice how angus doesn't struggle with tuning as much these days? he figured it out, he can go from the jungle to las vegas and his guitar is still in tune.. all about seasoning that neck fingerboard completely sealed off..

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Hi Dean! Wow! Thanks for your input. I appreciate your commentary. BTW, the "too much oil on the fretboard" originates from a guitar tech friend of mine who has done a lot of guitar work for quite famous people. Just sayin'.

[@skxj]

Yep I live in a dry climate and do exactly this with my fret boards. I use the same oil as Gibson and Martin guitars, 3n1 oil you can buy almost anywhere.

[@SongSecretsMomNeverTaughtYou]

What brand of files are those? All the jeweller files I see are a lot bigger

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Search Amazon for German STYLE JEWELERS SAW FRAME with 144 ASSORTED JEWELERS SAW BLADES. The brand is MegaCast.

[@christineblack4654]

your petrolium jelly. what is that. can I use normal vaseline? and you say to never put oil on the fretboard? then what do you use? so it dont get super dry over the years? anything will be some type of liquid.

[@JimRaymond-bk1mv]

boiled linseed oil,(unfinished bare wood only),or mineral oil,or lemon oil

[@troybarker2433]

Great tip. Very nice sound. Are you just using a little delay?

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Thanks! Delay followed by reverb.

[@FF-so3su]

Great

[@HollisCKoon]

Each measures approximately 5 1/4" (133 mm) long. Blade Size: 0/3 B & S Guage : 27 50 Teeth Per Inch Steel Material 12 Dozen Bundles Fits to 6" saw. Is this correct sir ? Or do I need Mutiple sizes to cut the nut.. And what sizes? Thank you.

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Hi Hollis! I bought a pack that contains multiple sizes...enough to last a lifetime! I am most concerned with the high E string so I use the thin blade. You may want to search Amazon for Jeweler's Piercing Saws Blades.

[@navjotsingh7360]

Mine is little low. A string keeps buzzing. I altered everything I could. Saddle adjustments, Action setting. You name it. I will have to get my nut replaced. But until then any suggestions.

[@mr.giggles4995]

You can add a drop of super glue to the slot on the nut, some people add baking soda too, and then re-file the slot to the correct depth. I'd tape things off and have a towel handy to prevent glue from getting on anything unwanted. There's multiple videos on KZbin.

[@JoeDartV1]

Tighten neck bolts

[@timbailey2173]

I shimmed. Aluminum tape. Bottom of the nut on the adhesive side and trace around with a razor. You can do multiple layers if you need.

[@gersh1642]

Really useful method, nice one!!

[@BaconatorJames]

If you get a Graphtech (or any aftermarket) nut, what are the chances its depths aren't perfect & would need filing before the install's done? Most nut installs using aftermarket pre-filed nuts seem to be perfect in most of the YTube vids I've seen. I could see if you use really light or really heavy gauge strings, but strings from say .9 to .11, the string depths always seem to be spot-on. Unless this is more of a purist's approach & I'm talking out of my arse lol. I'm about to do this for the first time with my two best guitars (Gibson ES-339 & Fender Tele Deluxe) to improve tune stability due to a Duesenberg Trem install on each so I'm taking all the advice I can get before I start hammering away on them.

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Hi BJ! Generally I check the nut depths during a set up - even with new nuts and new guitars. The tape must be ABOVE (in height) the first fret. 14 or 15 layers is common, but may be slightly different from one guitar to another.

[@BaconatorJames]

@@guitarhowtos2148 Thank you, and my next order of business is to determine the correct string clearance from the 1st & second frets once the nut is positioned (before gluing) in case I need to file down the bottom of the nut. An easy job perhaps, but a lot of work if you're doing it correctly. As long as I don't do any damage to my best guitars, I can always take it to my local tech to have it done.

[@guitarhowtos2148]

@@BaconatorJames Sounds like you are on the right track! Personally, I usually glue quite lightly so future removal is easier. Good luck!! :-)

[@joeking433]

I've never seen a nut be right on a new guitar! The strings are always too high over the first fret out of the box!

[@johnbuell8035]

You can’t expect any aftermarket nut to fit a specific guitar without adjustment. The frets are going to be a different height on different guitars, and the nut must be adjusted accordingly. There are many different sizes of fretwire, and even two guitars fitted with the same fretwire will have frets of different height due to wear from playing. Therefore you must always expect to adjust a new nut to make the guitar play properly.

[@carmelopolizzi8079]

thats not a file its a scroll saw blade

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Jewelers piecing saw blade

[@Bixll09]

FYI, a business card of quality stock is almost the perfect height..

[@christineblack4654]

lol your kidding right? you do know that different guitars have different fret hights??

[@jamesallen1164]

that's all fine and great advise of how to make you nut better but for me if I'm going to take the strings off then I'm gonna go ahead and change the nut to bone and also give my frets a quik polish and lemon oil wipe . 15 bucks for a new nut , just sayin each to there own but a good tip .

[@bonzey1171]

I like that tone. What kind of amp are you using?

[@guitarhowtos2148]

A Joyo Bantamp (the Vox one), an SGX 2000, several reverbs and several delays, several types of small speakers and outdoor speakers (not designed for guitar).

[@walther9161]

Great method!! Thanks for posting

[@intoitreviews]

Where do you get the files at?

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Search for Jeweler's Saws. I found my set on Amazon.

[@fingerfret8645]

@@guitarhowtos2148 look for Jeweler's piercing saws

[@2000SkyView]

Where do you find a set of files like that?

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Amazon. Jewelers piercing saw blades.

[@gm-lb9oe]

They arent files at all. They are saw blades, the kind you would use for inlay work. Your better off getting the proper files. Or you can make your own by filing fine teeth into feeler gauges and make you you round over the edge first before filing in the teeth. I did it to a whole set of feeler gauges and it really didn't take me a long time to do it. Then you have 30 diffrent ones to choose from.

[@TheCleaner6969]

You're idea of the tape is good but you really should make feeler gauge files instead & then use torch tip cleaning tool to clean up. You'll get the right width for each slot. You are causing a problem as the slot for each string is not going to be the right size for the string & also the bottom of the slot isn't round. The slot should be filed at the rear on an angle so the take off at the front is correct. You can get fret buzz if the slot are to wide.

[@christineblack4654]

nope. this is better!! he did angle bud. there are 2 tapes on one side and 14 on the other. watch and learn correctly!

[@JohnAdams-xc5yk]

I have a set of music nomad files work good, but not for a professional who would be doing a lot of nuts

[@oldstone1035]

No way, this cant be serious.

[@flylippfantom8425]

Wow

[@musicdreamerish]

Why go through the pickup positions, they have nothing to do with the nut. You didn't change pickups in this vid, so that had me wondering what that had to do with the nut work. I like your method, I had not seen that before. I have all the nut tools and files and such, but I will have to give your method a try next time I put a new nut on.. When I buy a pre-slotted nut, the easy thing I do is simply sand the underside of the nut to good thickness before I do the final gluing. Good video, thanks for this tip.

[@b476816]

I’ll stick with Groovbars

[@rodparker4514]

Those are not files , they are metal cutting blades .

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Jeweler’s Piercing Saw Blade

[@christineblack4654]

ya so.

[@generalawareness101]

How do you round the bottom of the slot especially in those upper string slots?

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Hi GA! Thanks for your question. Although not shown here, carefully filing a U-shape works. However, one must decide if a square slot would really make a significant performance difference as it seems to be the sides and the bottom of the slots that really matter.

[@generalawareness101]

@@guitarhowtos2148 Not sure as I see so many sites say one or the other so it is very confusing to say the least.

[@joeking433]

I don't think it matters. For one, you just don't play open strings all that much and when you do they are going to sound different than the fretted strings. And I never see any difference between square bottom nut slots and round bottom nut slots.

[@generalawareness101]

@@joeking433 As a beginner that is all I play is open chords. With them being open chords we strum between two and four open strings depending on the chord played.

[@joeking433]

@@generalawareness101 Yeah, a mix of plastic (or bone) and metal sounds. Not what you would really want. And if I were beginning again I would go right to the barre chords. E major, A major, E minor, A minor barre chords. Then add the 7ths. It will put you years ahead of someone playing only cowboy chords.

[@deandee8082]

another nut where the slots are way too deep, file the top off so 50% of the strings are exposed, they only require a slot to sit in like a saddle, not covered with high walls

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Hi Dean! No argument from me. Often times these types of nuts need to be filed or cut down to accomplish what you state.

[@joeking433]

Why do that? I don't think it matters.

[@daviddigital6887]

@@joeking433 only reason I could imagine is if your having intonation issues on the first few frets, which is usually the nut, but then again that should be solved by sanding off the bottom to lower it. I think 50% is correct.

[@joeking433]

@@daviddigital6887 How can there be intonation issues caused by the nut unless the nut is not cut at the correct angle? Nut issues are almost always on Gibson style headstocks rather than Fender headstocks because of the headstock angle and the string angle coming off the nut. Would saddles rather than walls help a Gibson headstock?

[@Fotosaurus56]

My 1990 Fender Strat Plus has a roller nut made of stainless steel which I wish I had on all my guitars. No fuss.

[@Iazzaboyce]

I would advise taking guitars to a good repair person for 'set up' which will include nut slots adjustment for the following reasons. 1) There may be other issues such as saddle height, neck adjustment, irregular frets. 2) The correct files which are the only way to make the perfect slot for each string are very expensive. 3) If you make a mistake - you're going to need a new nut.

[@alsmith7316]

Yep, I agree with you. This looks like a good way to screw stuff up. That tape is not going to hold the proper height with the file running across it. A set of feeler gauges can be had for dirt cheap and would be a much better option. Saw blades are not going to leave a smooth groove for the string to rest in. The more I watch this the worse it gets. I recommend nobody follow this tutorial.

[@jeffreystayman375]

@@alsmith7316 and yet it worked out fine

[@christineblack4654]

lol they are NOT always any good. this is excellent work.

[@kazeyphoto]

Agreed filing nut slots may not always be the best place to *start* with guitar adjustments (OP didn't claim that it is), but he hit the important points ... tape a little higher than first fret, stop at tape level, ramp the backside, lube after filing ... that make this doable prior to setup, as nut slot depth to first fret height should be consistent regardless. That said, I'd want my nut slots at the proper depth before I adjust my action or intonation or I'd just have to do those again after I file the slots. Most peeps watching this advanced vid - considering nut adjustments - probably have some experience with setups, are trying to level up, &/or looking to solve ongoing problems (1st fret sharpness, like me) that setups didn't resolve. Unfortunately these days with "a good repair person", "good" is relative, and he/she is usually just a fellow guitarist that's self-taught at setting up & parts swapping that happens to work at a music store, rather than a trained or certified tech. The old saying, "if you want something done right, do it yourself" has worked better for me (that's just me). So yep, I too am one of those self-taught setter-upper people after paying for too many failed guitar repairs or crappy setups & hearing too many horror stories from fellow guitarists that had the same if not worse experiences, but I'm also not claiming to be a pro repair person nor working on others' guitars. All that said, I personally like the tape technique. It makes sense to me. I'm definitely going to try it. But one tweak I'll make (for my own paranoia) is to sandwich in a flimsy piece of aluminum or single feeler gauge under the tape so I don't inadvertently file too deeply & also to avoid tape compression, which could affect filing depth. Cheers.

[@x12are12x]

I use this method after leveling/crowning frets. I’ve had a harder time with the fret leveling learning curve but this worked just fine on my first attempt. People saying other issues such as fret height etc can be issues should fix those issues first anyway.

[@uptownphotography]

Great idea with those jeweler's files. My only problem is I can't seem to find that type of file. Any suggestions where to buy them? Thanks. Phil

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Hi Uptown! I believe I found these on Amazon. If not, try a search for piercing jewelers saw blades.

[@writheinthedeepfry3859]

They aren't files, they are jewelers coping saw blades.

[@jonathanhandsmusic]

I’ve found that it’s very tricky to file nut slots. I’ve wrecked so many that now I’m buying them in bulk from china. It’s a skill that takes time to learn.

[@justinpaquette224]

How does that blade make the bottom of the fret slot rounded like the string that is resting in it? Also how do you get them the right size for each different strings? I would just by quality nut slotting files, as I've found that not slotting files are the last thing that should be cheaped out on. Gauged files with a rounded filing edges it a must imo.

[@joeking433]

You can get good nut slot files from Stewmac but they're just killing you on the price all of a sudden! They're over $22 a piece now. A whole set of 6 is like $130! Hosco is the other brand of good nut files. You can get 9 for $100.

[@hkguitar1984]

@@joeking433 Good tools have always been costly, the Stew Mac Nut Slotting Files are manufactured in Japan using quality steel. My set of the Stew Mac files has lasted me decades and pair for themselves the first year I owned them. To each their own.

[@hkguitar1984]

@@joeking433 I agree about Stew Mac's prices. For myself it has proven to be a great one-stop shopping. In the past I've had issue with some of their products (very minor blemish issues), I feel they went above and beyond to take care of me and make it right. I suppose I could save a little money shopping around, no doubt about that, at the end of the day I guess I'm just a happy, loyal customer. LOL, I placed my first order with them back in the 1980s, back then I would call the order in, get the price and mail off a money order. After establishing an account they accepted personal checks. Looking back seems strange compared to how we instantly purchase items online!

[@christineblack4654]

omg no one is answering his question correctly. dude you can use anything thats round. I put a little more tape and after your done sawing down use a string and finish the job with that. hopes this helps.

[@MaVieEnImages]

We use feeler gauges in conjunction with Stewmac’s neck caul in the shop. Use proper tools for a perfect job. Accuracy and precision are paramount in this business.

[@deandee8082]

you can use a feeler for the top layer(s) double sticky tape it down to the tape stack, so stack your tap the height of the fret, then use double sided tape to adhere a feeler gauge the depth of what you want your string height to be.. you can stack feeler gauges too.. a guy doesn't need a lot of high dollar tooling to cut a nut accurately

[@MaVieEnImages]

@@deandee8082 use the right tools for the job is what I’m saying. I do this for a living and I work at a busy shop. I do between 3 and 5 guitars a day on average. These tools are not that expensive and pay for themselves after one or two jobs. You know how much dentistry tools cost? Mechanic tools? And so forth. Also tape goes right in the trash afterwards, I use it sparingly. Sorry to rain on your parade man, I just wouldn’t recommend this “cheap” way of slotting a nut. Not disliking your vid, maybe for some diy people it might be good enough, just not for me:)

[@ourclarioncall]

@@MaVieEnImages how do you attach the rectangle piece of felt stuff to the safe slot? Or is it supposed to be loose ? I just got one but can’t figure out if the back of the felt padding stuff has a sticky surface under the white backing

[@joeking433]

I used Stewmac's neck caul and somehow cut the high E string too deep. There has to be a better way. I'm going to rig up a feeler gauge blade and glue a couple popsicle sticks to hold a Stewmac file and run them over the frets to get the right action. You would think there would be something on the market like that unless I'm missing something.

[@christineblack4654]

lol your wrong! this is a supper great method. mesuring tool are moved around with your hands anyway. can be wrong if you move up or down. next is you eyes you look to see humm is this stuppid tool touching the string. is it moving it up even. or is there light going under or not. hummmm not sure. lol yaaa right that's better. nope it's not!! I love this method better than any I have seen on youtube and Ive been looking for days. THIS is the way I did 2 guitars an man it's fast and perfect!!!

[@peterharoldjanakjr2078]

Each slot Width shoujd correspond to the string size or a tad larger. You find a string size you like. Then you stick with it on that one guitar. If you'd like to also have a guitar that houses a different size range of strings. You need either a nut you can just drop in or you need another guitar. If you use the former option. You'll also have to do a complete setup to acvomudate the difference sized strings.

[@jeffreystayman375]

What a nutty idea for the average player to never change string guage on a guitar, because...reasons. It'll be fine, just change string gauge if you want to. You don't need a whole new guitar. Done it plenty, on electric and acoustic, never a problem in my life.

[@ericpiteau50]

You’d be better off doing it with stacked feeler gauges. The problem with your method is that the tape is not firm enough to guard/keep you from going too far. You can figure out the height of frets with stacked gauges and a straight edge ruler between first and second frets. Then stack that height plus .010 (to give you wiggle room) up against the nut as a guard and file away at proper angle. Go slow and keep checking your work. Ppl can buy a automotive feeler gauge set for $5 or so at a hardware/auto supplies store.

[@mikebob7184]

??? Should wtf be first, then, the question marks...

[@jeffreystayman375]

The tape is fine. YOu don't push down on the tape hard enough to compress it; once the files starts touching it, you're done. Why would you keep pressing down and filing away at that point?

[@christineblack4654]

nope your wrong.

[@valjatriogina228]

This aint rocket science! Just check the clearance with strings on by pressing down on 3rd fret. If the clearance between string and 1st fretwire is too high, loosen the string and file down the slot. Just repeat until your ok! By the way. Why not replacing the plastic sh.. nut with a bone one?

[@vitaliistep]

If you cut too low, you can check 100 hundred times after that. It won't raise, so then only super glue with bone/plastic dust or baking soda will help or you would need to install a new nut. With this method it's almost impossible to cut too low. See, there are some benefits :)

[@Stratisfied22]

I would invest in some good Hosco(made in Japan) nut files before attempting any nut work on a decent guitar. Stay away from those yellow Music Nomad files and the cheap Hosco/Stewmac knockoffs.

[@lousekoya1803]

Thanks for your input ! I'll follow your tip

[@TheClavmeister]

What's wrong with the MUSIC Nomad files?I'm looking to notch an ABR Saddle

[@Stratisfied22]

They have a coating over them that wears off quickly just filing the nut so for sure you'll destroy it in a few minutes trying to notch a saddle. The Hosco's are real files that will last and are cheaper.@@TheClavmeister

[@PeterDowney-lf1ny]

I purchased nut files from the Lee Valley Luthier tool catalog and extremely impressed with there

[@christineblack4654]

these work the best ;)

[@RaptorV1USA]

How about a link to the files u used....? Aside from doing it for this demo...don't see why you'd file a plastic nut when a cpl of bone nut blanks are less than $15 on ebay even a cheap squire can use a proper bone nut ;-)

[@mackk123]

look up piercing saws. they have a strange sizing system but they range from 7 thou to I think 17.5 thou. Plastic cuts easier, bone sounds cooler, I've been meaning to cut a piece from bone using the OX tail when my mom makes stu, but I ended up buying a nut for the last two.

[@jackbandel]

how about using a package of sticky notes. just remove them until you reach the right height

[@Em-7Add11]

why not use hungarian prostitutes instead

[@Witcher58]

@@Em-7Add11 too sticky maybe?

[@fgoindarkg]

​@@Em-7Add11 And you have to pay them to leave when you're done.

[@christineblack4654]

ya sure use what you want.

[@keithburnett-i7f]

@@Em-7Add11🤣🤣🤣LMFAO!! Is that gonna work out cheaper or more expensive?

[@louissienna7437]

U dont find them to be of use for nuts because they are NOT NUT FILES those are NEEDLE FILES wich youd know if you would just read the packaging

[@guitarhowtos2148]

They are Jeweler's Piecing Saw Blades, actually.

[@katim.5091]

Which he said they were

[@triax7006]

@@guitarhowtos2148 I think the OP was referring to the pack of files with the handles. Yes the jewellers blades are the ones you used.

[@joeurbanowski321]

It seems to me ( probably incorrectly) that filing down to the height of the first fret would make the strings lay on the first fret..causing buzz and other issues.. Does the neck relief take care of those issues..? I imagine cutting even a mm lower would cause problems.? This is my first attempt at this.. so I really appreciate your help.!👍🏼

[@guitarhowtos2148]

You could add a layer or 2 more tape and work from there. You want the tape layers to be ABOVE the first fret.

[@joeurbanowski321]

@@guitarhowtos2148 .. Thank you..!👍🏼.. It’s really not very clear in the video.. I’m glad I waited.!👍🏼

[@Case_]

There's no issue as long as you make sure the nut slots are not filed any lower than the first fret. Anything equal to the first fret or higher should be fine. You have to remember that the nut is essentially just a larger "zero" fret (and some guitars do actually have a zero fret and the nut on those guitars is just there for string spacing). If you fret a string on the first fret (or any higher fret), you shouldn't get buzz if your frets are level and your guitar is set up properly, because the string is at a very slight angle and there's enough clearance over the next fret so that it doesn't buzz. And so if the nut slot places the string at exactly first fret height (but not any lower!), it shouldn't buzz either, because the whole thing would be equal to the string simply being fretted on "zero" fret. Hope I'm explaining it well enough. But it is indeed common to cut the nut slots so that the string sits just a hair higher than the height of the first fret, just to be on the safe side. You won't really feel the difference when playing anyway.

[@christineblack4654]

it's not the same hight it's higuer. watch the hole video you will understand.

[@billpholde4816]

Clever idea. This is how I measure the World because I can't do math.

[@thesimplegig]

What is the purpose of writing 14 on it?

[@itspeany4899]

14 layers of masking tape

[@keithburnett-i7f]

It’s the 14th nut he’s about to ruin!

[@theendoftimesministry]

Tape compresses. You’ll not get a fully accurate depth using tape. And if you say you’re going to replace the nut, why not just replace it?

[@TempleGuitars]

Easier to just sand a pencil in half and draw on the nut by passing it along the top of the frets.

[@theendoftimesministry]

@@TempleGuitars And that's a great tip too. Old school.

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Thank you for your comment, Temple. Personally I prefer to have one or two layers of tape above the first fret to assure first-fret clearance. This of course can be accomplished with this pencil method by putting such tape layers on the first few frets...then scribe. Thanks again.

[@guitarhowtos2148]

Thank you End Of Times for your comment. Tape works for me every time. Tape will not compress as you say as no pressure is put on it anyway. Cheers!

[@triax7006]

I mean you could use tape with a thin metal or plastic spacer (old credit card etc) or even card board until nearly the height & then a couple of layers of tape. I do think ppl can get too technical thinking it has to be ultra precise. Err on the safe side & restring & you will know the best method, clearly this works for the guy making this video & he is happy with it.

[@jaygorny]

This is all well and good, but I ordered the jeweler blades and they are about as wide as the B string slot. No thicker. Now what? 😳

[@Soccernz007]

Your nut has an existing slot? If yes you can file a larger existing slot with a small file but not the other way around.... so use your file for each slot..... or .... you can buy dedicated slot files from a music shop. I think the prupose of this video is to show the tapping technique....good luck :)

[@christineblack4654]

so what?? lol just move around with that blade. what's the problem?