Slotting a guitar's string nut using gauged files

It just makes sense to cut the string slots to match the string gauges! With this set of gauged files, your work is fast and accurate too.
More Info:
www.stewmac.com/shop/Nuts,_sad...
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[@murrmac]

To all the posters below complaining about the deep slots ... obviously the nut will get filed down after the strings have been fitted, but please get rid of the hoary old myth about deep slots affecting the performance of the string ... the string only makes contact with the nut for half its diameter ...anything above that doesn't have any impact whatsoever on how the string behaves.... the slot could be half an inch high, it wouldn't affect the string one iota. I agree that deep slots do not look good, however, and for aesthetic reasons should be only as high as necessary.

[@Larry-Art179]

( regarding the astounding negative comments ) Isn't it obvious he hasn't finished shaping the nut - it couldn't be more evident that he just got the string depth right first as you would do .

[@inkey2]

@randomtwit The price of the files will be paid off in like 3 nut repairs. I have a set of these and use them constantly.....had them for at least 5 years

[@micahwatz1148]

Just invested in them. Was gonna get the amazon files and just said screw that. Hopefully they are well worth the money.

[@Edgardo1978Music]

HOLY COW!!! Clark Kent works for Stewart Mcdonald... That is SUPER!!!

[@moosaidtech]

I would suggest that this video is about using the nut files to make the slots in the nut, not the actual making/finishing the nut. the next step is to file/shape down the top of the nut so that the strings aren't buried. Dan Erlewine has a good nut making video showing the whole process.

[@telecasterbear]

Today the post officer delivered my first order from stewmac. Light gauge nut files. I have been 'making due' with some small files since 1976. I recently bought a 1975 telecaster and the nut slots were not deep enough. I treated myself to the order of nut files, and just used them today. Having the right tool for the job has never made more sense. Happy Telecaster =Happy Bear.

[@christianboddum8783]

Guys come on! he's not finished with the job, give him a break please!

[@Steinstra-vj7wl]

Why are nut slot files all square edged? Wouldn't one round side / edge not be much better so the bottom of the slots can always be made round, just like strings are round ?

[@FiddleSticks800]

These files are half round.

[@garymitchell5899]

Well yeah - if you fiddle about with a needle file and don't press down properly, then it won't cut a slot, will it?

[@hanten10]

That is the very best files for nut job but it's not cheap and a little difficult to find in music shop at least you buy directly from them

[@einfussganger]

These are good files - worth the money. I wasted $30 on a "set" of Amazon nut files made of pot metal from China. They were prehistoric. No seriously, crude AF. My only problem with these files are the very narrow ones are very flexible. 5 of the 6 slots I cut were perfect, but my high E (0.010) sting binds. Maybe I need an 11 for a 10.

[@twelthstring]

Are the files rounded on the file side?

[@Rainy78]

How about filing saddles to neck radius and string height? Have you ever done this?

[@TheVergile]

in his defense: its not unusual to shape the nut after having set the correct string heigth. Its only a question of removing the material - it makes working with the file harder though

[@jimnardo8177]

How to we find the sequel or completion video for this process? Dan? ;) So, if there is a better option please point to it or......?

[@Drblooter99]

I have a nice new bone nut ready to put on my bass guitar and file -- but the factory nut is missing, and someone put a nut on with the notches too close together, making intonation bad. Do you determine correct nut notches in ratio to bridge saddle grooves, neck length and width, or what? Thanks

[@sumahama1981]

I use 13-56 gauge strings on my guitar. Should I use 13-56 files or larger?

[@hunkydorian]

If you use files that are the size of the strings, the strings will bind in the slots and you will be unhappy. I have to re-buy an expensive set of files because of this. Get files that are a couple few mile larger than the strings.

[@thinkaboutthis572]

This is just an advertisement video for the nut files. And peeps complain about unfinished work.. Smh

[@yoheff988]

Bought a set very similar to this one, the dam thing breaks like dry chips.

[@deandee8082]

do they file a radius or flat slot? I need a radius edged set for electric

[@FiddleSticks800]

These are radius files.

[@SlavSquatSenpai]

Amateur luthiers be like "AHG, SLOTS SO DEEP". It's called shaving the top. If you shave the bottom to lower the nut height, stop.

[@Davesintexas]

Why do you bury these strings? Ive been told to have a percentage of the string actually above the top of the nut for better sustain, etc.

[@johnbee1069]

Depth of the slot is irrelevant unless it's choking the slot - which would have nothing to do with depth if you think about it

[@RobertLandrum13]

I thought the files were directional?

[@demotester3095]

hm ... the file is not well rounded compared to other files, so this is not a rounded slot but more a slot in square form. For this amount of money, I would have expected more!

[@inkey2]

@Davesintexas you are correct....ideally you should have the strings only deep enough to keep them from popping out of the slot. Deep cuts in a nut can mute the strings giving them a pinched or choked sound. However if the player is a real hard strummer you may have to go with deep slots

[@Darrenmccarthymusica]

Why is Stewmac so expensive? Their is some things i would love to buy from them, but i just simply can't afford it! Even their most basic lutherie tools are so expensive! $27 each for one nut slotting file!!, just 3 of these would cost me $75!! well i live in Ireland so it would cost me €66 plus €37 delivery., a total of €103!! for 3 little nut slotting files! Their tools are not realistically priced in my opinion, and i bet they would have 10 times as many customers if the prices were fair!

[@mrfester42]

You are exactly right. StewMac are thieves. I understand having a corner on the market but their prices are simply outrageous AND it seems most of their customers think they are getting a good deal. They are taken in by the customer service and the comments people leave on their web sight. Customer service is very poor with most companies these days but StewMacs customer service stands out by contrast. It is really nothing special if you are over 50 years old. That's how customer service used to be it's just that most people have nothing to compare it with. When you give your money to a business that should be a given! There is a whole interesting psychology that goes along with the fact that you can leave comments on your purchase. MOST people wont leave a negative comment even if they are inclined to do so. Either they wont leave a comment or they will "kiss up" and say something nice even if they don't mean it. This is NOT supposition. It is a fact. I recently heard of a study regarding businesses that allow customers to leave comments that can be seen by other customers and the fact is that most people wont say anything negative. This leaves the impression that the company is great and their products are superior and fairly priced which is not necessarily true. StewMac certainly does NOT have reasonable prices. The items that they sell that can be found elsewhere are often 3 and 4 times the price and trade specific tools and special tools are ridiculous. They charge more than a premium. They charge a double and triple "premium"!

[@Darrenmccarthymusica]

Well said Mrfester42! Stew Mac do indeed have excellent customer service (compared to the rubbish service from most companies these days) but it certainly doesn't justify the scandalous prices that they are charging people. If I reluctantly purchase an over priced tool from them in the future I will be sure to let them know in their public tool review section of my dissatisfaction with their greedy prices and think everyone who feels the same should do the same. Prices will only continue to go up if they think they can get away with it!

[@mrfester42]

Thanks for the support. The psychology of "Customer comment forums" like StewMac has is interesting. It's almost like people are afraid to say anything negative because they unconsciously perceive the company as an authority figure like a boss or a school teacher or the like. It's almost like they feel the company will respond in some way to make their life more difficult. Even the occasional comment I see where a customer points out how extremely expensive they are, they always soften the criticism by saying how great the customer service is or something like that. It's a real juvenile response. I agree with you that everyone should voice their dissatisfaction but most people wont!

[@johnbee1069]

Don't hold your breath - the market is filled with business models that work this way. - there's just no reasoning with money

[@dba4292]

Ebay is your friend. I used to be a "China Sceptic", but I gave up and tried some luthier products that actually came recommended via other Ebayers reviews. I was more than pleasantly surprised. Those products are 1/4th of the price of Stemac's and with free shipping. And they are probably made in the same country too, or similar. None of Stewmac's prodcut are Made In USA, so the price do not justify their products. Give made in china a try. I won't ever give them a penny of mine with their outrageous prices. I am not a stupid idiot.

[@Satchmoeddie1]

If he was doing a classical for someone using gut or nylagut strings it would be a disater. You need to slightly chamfer the slot openings on the nut toward the fret board side or they will saw the strings apart. Even Mitchell cord does a so so job of this. That is the one job torch cleaning tips do work well for, or a round needle file. A small rounded chamfer and you are golden, too much and intonation and tone suffers. Even steel strings will suffer from a poorly made nut.

[@tonymahoeney]

you look like steve jobs building an iGuitar

[@yoheff988]

Don’t throw your money away, Yeah great files, but will break like an egg shell..... Faster than you can blink.

[@NapoleanXV]

@randomtwit Their everything is too expensive

[@TheVergile]

im much more concerned by the angle of the string slot actually

[@TheLivingDeadOne]

Why did I just see advertised 13.75? Is that each? I thought that was a set of file. Heres an idea. Take some automotive feeler guages, and cut teeth into the edges.

[@R4F4ELLO]

TheLivingDeadOne I was even able to cut the nut with no teeth feelers, just using the fact that they edgdes was a bit rough. :) I have to admit that it was cheap plastic nut.

[@TheLivingDeadOne]

R4F4ELLO Was that from my idea? I thought of the feeler guages at the time I wrote my original comment.

[@R4F4ELLO]

this idea came to me independently. I had done that nut before I read your post. But nice to see that I'm not the only one.

[@IamtheActionman]

Holy deep slots...yikes

[@LUSEJA]

why so deep?

[@kilgoretrout321]

First you get the slots to the proper depths, then you shape the nut and beautify it. It's not rocket science

[@poppacooter]

ouch that price !!!!!!

[@johnbee1069]

Way overpriced imo. I'll keep using the old/ slower method thx

[@Neilrrc37]

I don't like what this guy is doing, those cuts are much too deep. The string should protrude half way out from the top of the nut. Maybe he needs new glasses, cause he just destroyed the nut in the video.

[@lottox8807]

Non le comprero' mai...costano uno sproposito,basta comprare gli spessimetri da meccanico poi e' sufficiente fare qualche piccola incisione sul taglio e il gioco e' fatto....spesa dalle 4 alle 8 euro!!!