A question for those of you who build:
My first (and still main) guitar's nut is in sad shape - most notably the G slot is much deeper that the others. Grandson Rudy (I suspect with some help & advice from Dad....) got me a Stew-Mac gift certificate for my b-day, so (along with new tuners for my classical & under-string radius gauges for setting up the Tele & Strat) I got a ZeroGlide nut for it; figured "Hey, no slot filing & the same tonality on open & fretted strings! Why not?" I had assumed that the zero frets (they include a selection so you can find the height you need) would be the same width as the nut. Guess again; 3/8" longer at least.
So, short of spending hundreds on tools and instructional vids to teach my self actual fret work; how can I cut & dress it?
Thanks in advance,
Peter (who does, in fact, now realize he misspelled the subject line)
I snipped it close and then used files to get it flush and smooth. I really like the Zer0 Glide nuts.
Bill, tgo
What did you snip with, Bill; and what grit files?
Peter
I'd use an end cutter and fairly fine files, a 2 cut maybe...Tony
I used a fret cutter from Stewmac and med-fine to fine files, then polished with super fine paper. I use a micro mesh set that goes to 3000 grit.
Bill, tgo
A guy on another of the guitar fora I frequent has offered to send me a spare crowning file, and a quick Google showed me not only Stew-Mac's fret-end nipper for $38, but one from a place called Bitterroot (new one on me) for $16. A few days & I'll be set!
Thanks, all
Peter
Peter, you shouldn't need to use a crowning file on the Zer0 Glide nut. Never heard of Bitterroot before. Good source! Anther good source for guitar tools and parts is Philadelphia Luthier Tools.
Bill, tgo
Just planning to smooth off the cut & round the corners of the ends very slightly. I'm hip to PLS (someday I'm going to have them make an Epi-loge TRC for my Sheraton; I don't think an Epiphone-original model should have a TRC that says "Gibson" - be proud of what you are, guitar!).
Bitterroot has much better prices than S-M on most stuff, but their inventory is extremely limited; e.g. they have fret nippers but not fret hammers.
Peter
Here's the fret end dressing file I use. Reasonably priced, even from stewmac.
Bill, tgo
https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/types-of-tools/files/fret-end-dressing-file.html (https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/types-of-tools/files/fret-end-dressing-file.html)
Yeah, that's cheap for them - but the one I'm getting is at The Best Of All Possible Prices.
Peter