Shimming a vintage bone nut by adding more bone

This 1956 Telecaster was just refretted. That calls for a new taller nut, but Dan Erlewine just didn’t have the heart to throw out it’s beautifully aged original nut. So he came up with a clever solution!
Unbleached Bone Nuts
www.stewmac.com/item/6001-V
StewMac Super Glue
www.stewmac.com/item/0020
3M Stikit Gold Sandpaper
www.stewmac.com/item/m5766
Snapfile Leveling System
www.stewmac.com/item/2256
Nut Slotting Gauge
www.stewmac.com/item/2003
Mini Clamps for Linings
www.stewmac.com/item/3712
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[@anthonysilva5312]

A workman works until the customer is satisfied; a craftsman works until HE is satisfied .

[@radop2459]

And I do as we are both satisfied :)

[@icepick859]

A workman? is that even a word

[@dobrodave123]

Next step, finding an old tuner bushing !

[@rogerhundley9490]

Yeah that bugged the heck out of me also.

[@AdmiralQuality]

Yep. What's even holding that post in the middle of the hole?

[@mantas68]

Me too! That missing tuner grommet/bushing is making me piss-ass nuts - lol!!! :)

[@dm9151]

It would be a work of art to relic a bushing for that

[@Pgcmoore]

nut surprised if it shows up in a future video ;)

[@numb41]

Is there anything that Dan can't do? My only complaint is that Stewmac's videos aren't long enough!

[@jonathanmartin3375]

And not frequent enough either. We need 1/day at least!

[@78tag]

..and their mark-up is too high $$$$!

[@ronlevenberg2985]

@@78tag I wish StewMac would reduce their very high shipping cost. I wanted to buy a fret end dressing file for $15 and they wanted $10 for shipping. It's a great outfit, otherwise, and Dan Erlewine's videos are great.

[@peterw1878]

It is so nice to see craftmanship and caring on display. Thanks Dan, our plug and play world needs reminders of what talented luthiers can still achieve.

[@stewmac]

Thanks for your nice comments!

[@geetarislife2843]

the Bob Ross of guitar working

[@sakadabara]

Bob Ross was a pseudo-artist, whilst Dan is a real one

[@deasnutz4ever]

Fossa Poplitea except the guys name is dan. You’re a bit full of it.

[@geetarislife2843]

I meant like Mr. Erlewine is very calm and when you first watch him it looks like he is doing something completely crazy but then you keep watching and it becomes epically beautiful

[@tempuramonster]

@@sakadabara if Bob Ross is a a pseudo-artist, then you're a fucking genius.

[@Tunkkis]

@@tempuramonster Don't feed his delusion.

[@madmannolen]

Dan makes everything look so damn easy... if i glue 2 nuts together ill end up with my fingers glued to my nuts ahahaha

[@Pgcmoore]

..or cut my finger off on the band saw ;)

"Instructions unclear... ☝🏼"

[@sahiljagtiani]

Dan you really are a true master & KZbin has helped us all become better at maintaining our axes with your videos. Never stop cause you have no idea where your influence may reach out! You have shown me personally never to give up on a project & have the patience to see through even a tedious nut job like this one just to achieve guitar perfection. Lovely stuff & that Tele is simply gorgeous.

[@GERARDO1343]

That's a beautiful nut I like how you kept the vintage original look 🎸

[@Lucas55987]

I'm really impressed with how you love what you do. Congrats.

[@chrispile3878]

Well done, Dan. You are right - that is a lot of work, and I've done similar jobs on various vintage axes down through the decades. Thanks for your continuing inspiration!

[@Fabiano.Bittencourt]

Great work! It's a pleasure to watch the Master in his craft

[@bjmccoy5638]

Oh my gosh. I'd love to try that guitar. That distance between the neck and strings is perfect.

[@PrinceWesterburg]

Bless you Dan, thats made my Christmas just that bit better - Hope you're still on KZbin in a decade! :o)

[@jamesmalamute7874]

Is it wrong to say "Dan, I love you" ? ♥ I bought your book years ago in the early 90s. I am so grateful to you, and your friends for teaching us all the trade secrets to guitar repair.You are the nicest guy, and your patience , and demeanor in explaining everything is so helpful. Thanks a million.

[@RussShirley1]

Dan, you are just too cool, thanks for all you do, and with such style too.

[@sandrawinkler8965]

Love the busted E-string tied in a knot! I tried that once, but I knew absolutely nothing at all about knots, so suffice to say, I was literally stuck, until the music stores opened the next day, every since then, I made sure I have at least one full set of Strings on hand! ...one of life's many lessons!

[@billntel]

Again, great job Dan!

[@telecasterbear]

Great job on a beautiful piece.

[@StMoritzGuitars]

Great job Dan, As usual !

[@econohound]

Lovely job !

[@mjallenuk]

There's no other word for it ... Perfect!

[@davidshaw5979]

Great Video as always. Have a happy and prosperous new year.

[@markodardanis5667]

Master Dan. Much love.

[@CosminNeagu]

Very nice, I also dig the songs in the back

[@lancelaprarie6128]

Pure craftsman

[@JeffStarr]

I love these videos. I wish this was a weekly series with 30 min long episodes.

[@walman16]

Dan is the man!

[@nickfanzo]

Ugh such a perfect guitar.

[@Slovy_]

I use the same gage to check dent depths on aluminum sheet metal skins on helicopters at work to decide to hammer them out or make a repair for the skin. oh and not to mention that’s the best way to have raised that nut in my opinion. Leave the original if all possible. Looks great!

[@theryanthiggins]

Instead of gluing two nuts together so I have something to hold on to, I use double sided scotch tape to tape the nut blank to a scrap piece of masonite or thin plywood. This gives me plenty to hold on to while I cut the nut profile on the band saw without wasting a nut blank.

[@00LAH00]

They want you to buy more nut blanks after all. This seems to be the north American way, why bother with a better idea if you can buy more of stuff.

[@Winterfell1066]

You are so awesome. A pleasure and a treasure.

[@fenderlead1]

I have done this before but using ivroid binding. You can the colour to match and more importantly you can you can bend it to match the correct radius. It is easier to cut the right width and trim to length.

[@maxsalasr]

I love his videos

[@michaelinglis8516]

Great ideas

[@stephenquail3168]

Dan the man .always.

[@firefist8511]

Dan is like everyone's grandpa, I know if he offered to tell me a story about a guitar he worked on in the past, I'd sit and listen. I think anyone would

[@presidenttrump7470]

I have to agree Dan , it just fits .

[@danialm8122]

love your hat..

[@FriskyOG]

Dan knows his way around nuts

[@deasnutz4ever]

Bone and nut expert

[@Officialshayne]

@1:49 wow at that age?

[@bjmccoy5638]

i cracked a laugh too boe. haha🤣

[@efstratiosdiakoniarakis9517]

I always appreciate your excellent work .....but in this case I have some different opinion !!! I play the Greek bouzouki professional over 43 years , I have 6 bouzoukia all special order and 3 of them cost me almost 6 thousand $ each !!! Now as a bouzouki player I play always the solo part of the band and that's a lot hours almost every night !!! I want my frets on the fretboard to be as lower possible ...sanded very low until not to buzz !!!...That's make my playability so much easier !!! In this 1956 Telecaster I thing the frets are way too high !!!...That's my opinion !! I have to say that I watch a lot of your repair work and is AMAZING !!!.......Thanks for your beautiful videos !!!

[@RecoveringMusicAddict]

Have a great 2019! U the real og!

[@GeraltinWoW]

Nothing puts me to sleep better than these Stew Mac videos. So relaxing

[@MrBryanGatwood]

03:28 "A nut too complicated fix" :))

[@ahf5471]

This requires incredible slight of hand.

[@ellisdugg]

Never clicked a video so fast love dans videos🤘❤

[@wikeytgw]

Just need similar but for a bridge saddle !!

[@livergen]

Thank You Dan, You were so very kind to keep that vintage nut ,,, it's like a good marrige you might say .....

[@SuriSanJose]

Now I'm relaxed

[@ekirenrut]

This man has shimmed alotta nuts!

[@00LAH00]

This reminds me of how everyone rants about getting the string slot depths "right" on the nut. Look at these slots, all the strings except the low E is burried deep in the nut. Makes me regret my builds, there was no "right" way after all as long as it plays right.

[@vrvretro]

I suppose that the missing tuner bushing at the end could be a good clue as to the ownership.

[@bobdeluxeandtheideals1356]

thanks

[@mell3109]

Great job! What was the story on the E tuner, missing the collet,

[@Ibaneddie76]

Lets here it!

[@bernhardnizynski4403]

I like the new frets. I'm sure one of the new bone nuts would have looked OK?

[@hastyberford]

I thought you would sand enough off the bottom to avoid the dust fill, but then I'm hardly the seasoned pro lol.

[@ronstickle4694]

what fret wire gauge did you use ? looks great!

[@ThatMusicGuyAu]

I was always under the impression Fender used nylon for their nuts like Gibson were on the Les Pauls of the era.

[@chrisdrayton-dekker757]

I don't think so. Fairly sure Fender used bone... at least in the beginning. I remember someone was telling me Gibson's use of nylon was 'revolutionary' at the time and it was seen as some kind of wonder, owing to its durability and relatively good lubrication. Could be talking out of my ass here, though.

[@3rdshiftpaulf178]

I used some Stew Mac wax paper.

[@dancutler7418]

I really enjoy your repair videos. I was wondering if you and your cousin, Mark are related to May Erlewine, the very talented singer from Big Rapids.

[@btlxguitars7606]

The missing tuner bush on the low-E must be causing tuning stability issues, no?

[@PrinceWesterburg]

Completely overlooked the missing ferrule onthe 6th string tuner - Sorry Dan! XD

[@Pgcmoore]

is there a direct fit set of replacement grover (or any other) locking machine heads for a squire strat that someone could recommend? i want to get some for my son's birthday gift and i don't know much about them

[@mallanac]

What about the tuning peg bushing? Oh, please fix it with a "patina'ed" bushing.

[@Pgcmoore]

funutking genius!!!

[@JunkyardTailgate]

I have a 1965 Fender Mustang that needs similar work....

[@davidfriesen7748]

Dan do you regularly hold sandpaper over the 15thish fret to get the curve. Cheers raveondave

[@zombiedude6543]

My guitarist has a Squire strat and the high E slips out of the nut. Best way tk easily fix this? BTW love your videos!

[@tatoler38]

String tree

[@DenDenBMX]

I love the thug tilt on his cap

[@flamencoprof]

Thoughtful and respectful action. (Pun intended:-)

[@chikara3344]

Hey team, I am having a hard time removing super glue from my acoustic guitar with a finished surface... Any recommendations?

[@Davepurington]

I guess the beauty is in the eye of the beholder.. I have a guitar I got new in 1975, I played the s*** out of it and it is still just as beautiful as it was in 1975..

[@davetone2106]

Out of curiosity what did you charge the customer for this work, refret and nut mod? Very nice save. Love this!

[@GK44789]

A grip

[@magicdaveable]

Very interesting repair. That 7 1/2" radius is why I thought Fender guitars were garbage when I was a youngster. They were difficult to play. 10" is okay. 12" is better. Compound 10"-16" is even better yet. You might have guessed that I am nit a fan of the really early Fender guitars. I have a Mexican Strat that has a reshaped neck profile and polished frets. It doesn't feel like a bargain basement club now. I chose a profile similar to my Music Man Silhouette.

[@Riverdeepnwide]

David Bennett, and interesting comment too. I appreciate hearing guitarists preferences and likes about the variable features of the instruments. Would you tell us please how the flatter radius fretboards work best for you? Personally, the original 7-1/4"r vintage Fender necks still work best for my hands as I find anything more than 9-1/2"r brings on cramps. And that was from the start back in the late '50's so it wasn't simply a matter of me being used to one or the other. I desperately wanted to love the Gibsons as much as the Fenders but just couldn't play them for any length of time. 🎸 Play On! 🎸

[@johnsweda2999]

How does it sound bone paired to plastic

[@Badhands55]

I have to ask- what happened to the tuner bushings?

[@bjmccoy5638]

what kind of bone is that? i heard that help notes last longer. my budy has a bone nut on his guibson an boy let me tell you the notes ring out longer. i need one on my tele.

[@waybackplayback1373]

Anyone have any experience dyeing or staining bone? I have a knifemaker friend who does it a lot. I'm gonna try my hand at antiquing some nuts and saddles.

[@Riverdeepnwide]

wayback playback I've seen guys soak the nuts in tea. Rubbing compound to wear the edges with tea grounds added in to accentuate the grooves etc.

[@martinmartin8871]

fret ends don't look uniform. Great nut shim though. looks so comfortable.

[@NapsterRulez]

Is it safe to not have a bushing for the tuner? Looks like the E string is missing one

[@oliverle8438]

NapsterRulez the bushing is really only there for extra support to prevent the tuner from stripping its set screw holes in the back of the headstock, it’s not unsafe to use the tuner without it, but it’s best to still use one

[@terrorent]

If the nut is glued in how to you remove it to begin with?

[@onpsxmember]

0:15 How do you leave the lacquer alone when you do a refret? I've got an old T60 here and want to do the same thing. First owner was a heavy smoker and I want to keep the look. Do you use thin superglue to protect the wood from humidity close to the frets/fretslots? I'd prefer that over a refinish cause I don't want to loose those special dots that are added on top. Thx a lot. Btw...Dan, you're the Man.

[@braderrick]

onpsxmember use a sharp razor knife to score the edges of the old frets before they are pulled to avoid most chips when removing them. Also some heat on the frets as they are removed.

[@radop2459]

Maybe you can ask on their web. They always have a pretty good answers.

[@onpsxmember]

@@braderrick The removal isn't the problem, it's more about the protection of the open wood. Some just use frets with wider crowns, but the wood is still exposed. I thought I'd use thin superglue as a protective coat like Dan used underneath that acoustic pickguard. Right next to the frets and in the slots. Any ideas besides that?

[@onpsxmember]

@@radop2459 I'll look around their repair articles.

[@radop2459]

@@onpsxmember Yes, there are many great hints and practices. But when I solved a serious problem I wrote in Questions and Answers. I received a private email with instructions. I really appreciate them.

[@stevepercival4774]

How long does super glue last in a repair, permanent or a few years?

[@CorinaMorrison]

My husband likes that hat, with the pencil holder. Can you tell me where I can find one for my hubby?

[@Iazzaboyce]

Ape&Bird make caps like that - they have a logo on the front, but Dan might have removed this to avoid advertising.

[@GIBKEL]

This may be the wrong approach but can you build up an old rosewood bridge that’s been sanded down at some point to avoid a neck reset? I can partly see the reasoning and at the same time think that this is a ridiculous fix.

[@frantisekgizela6337]

how its called tool on 3:19?

[@DogsaladSalad]

nut too complicated

[@mortensen1961]

I saw what you did there. . . .

[@stratman103]

Can I please have him mentor me?

[@hpodell]

At $10.35 for what appeared to be a 7 1/4" radiused nut blank from stewmac to use as a handle I'd of glued it to a scrap of wood

[@dalgguitars]

Dan is a national treasure. He belongs in the Smithsonian! ;-)

[@italianguitargarage708]

Please be my grandpa!

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Is it me of those frets look very big and the nut kind of high

[@mootorpaat]

Looks to me like it's nut an easy task.

[@iwillnevergetone5]

looks like a missing low E bushing

[@markdearborn1828]

Why not replace the missing tuner ferrell while you had the strings off Dan? By not replacing it the gear will wear and the tuner will not function properly if it has not happened already.

[@x1ic1x]

*NUT*

[@TimTranGuitar]

Bring a guitar back from a cremetory and dan stll can fix it

[@ericmelvin10]

Why not make a new one?

[@cletussea-ray944]

Deez