Can you put a curved nut in a flat slot? (P-bass)

[vanstry]

Okay, the warmoth P-bass neck is made for a flat nut. Problem is, no one sells them for the P-bass they're all curved. So what happens if you put a curved one in there? I'm guessing it's a bad idea, but just thought I'd check to be sure.

 

[bagman67]

Under string tension, there's a decent chance you'll crack the nut.

What's the neck width?  What's the thickness of the channel?  Maybe you could take a five-string blank and see if you can file the b-string end off, assuming appropriate spacing for the other strings?  Just a thought. 

This Graphtech Tusq part might do the trick, if you're up to filing your own string slots: 

http://www.graphtech.com/products/brands/tusq/product-detail/pq-2200-00-tusq-nut-blank-flat-bottom?id=2e6ea003-39fe-434d-955b-8243b6a21687

I had prefab Graphtech Tusq guitar nut that was too thick for the nutslot and I just laid it face down on a piece of 320 sand paper and went at it until it would slide into the slot.  I seem to recall from your other thread on this that you described thickness as being an issue with your nut blank.  It's a pain in the neck because it's slow, but with fine paper, you won't end up knocking off too much thickness off.  If you're prepared to shape a new nut from a blank, seems like you are in for a penny, so might as well, right?

Anyway, hope this helps -

Bagman

 

[vanstry]

It looks like I'm going to be filing my own, whether I like it or not, because apparently no one makes a nut that fits the Warmoth P-Bass neck (it's non-standard). I'm -hoping- that the blanks I just bought from Warmoth fit when they get here, otherwise I'll just say 'screw it' and order a new neck. From Fender.
I did order one from Tusq (might have been a reseller) but they lied on the shipping, so I have no idea when the hell I'll get it, even though I paid for 2 day shipping and it was supposed to be here today. Right now they're talking about late some time next week.
Who knew that getting a nut would be such a problem? And with Monday being a holiday, well, I'm pretty much SOL on getting this thing finished anytime soon.

 

[AirCap]

Why not do like real luthiers have done since the dawn of time and make one from a bone blank?

 

[vanstry]

Cause I don't have access to any bone, and because I wanted it to be black.
Honestly, been thinking of just buying a piece of brass and making a custom one out of that, then at least it'll never need replacing.
Honestly, I've just never had so many problems trying to buy a nut before. Right now this is the most stressful thing in my life. It's bizarre.

 

[Cagey]

Maybe just look up the dimensions for that nut, then look for saddle stock to (roughly) match. Saddles are rarely cut/slotted, it's just raw material. Use that to make your own. I think most Fender nuts are 1/8" wide, height you'd need to check, and saddle stock is always gonna be substantially longer than you need. It's what I use on the rare occasion somebody wants a bone nut.

If you can't get the color you want, there's always RIT dye or india ink. Cheap and effective. Fab the thing up without gluing it in, then when you're happy, remove it and dye it.

 

[vanstry]

Well I'm currently waiting on three different nuts that I ordered, two of which are blanks. I've never cut a nut from a blank before, and honestly, I don't know if I want to go through all of the possible issues to cut one now. I guess it will come down to if they fit the neck when they get here.
If of course, they get here. It's like no one wants to ship them to me.

 

[AirCap]

Cause I don't have access to any bone, and because I wanted it to be black.

OK, ebony. All those violin makers can't be wrong.

 

[vanstry]

Cause I don't have access to any bone, and because I wanted it to be black.

OK, ebony. All those violin makers can't be wrong.

I thought about it, as well as that other hardwood they use (vitale or something like that). Problem with ebony is I'm told it wears out quickly. And again, I'm looking at everything that you're 'supposed' to do when cutting a nut from scratch (which I've never done before) and suddenly I'm thinking ordering a new neck is only 200 bucks and a hell of a lot easier. Plus I could get it a LOT faster than any of these nuts seem to be traveling.

One guy offered to make and install a new one for me already, and he wanted over 200 dollars. I thought that sounded a bit much, but then I have no idea what the going rate is.

 

[Cagey]

Making a good nut is not as easy as it looks, but it ain't no $200 job. For guitar, your typical Guitar Center type place might charge $25, but they're just popping off the old nut and gluing on a new pre-slotted one. Takes 10 minutes if you goof around while doing it. But, there's usually a 1/2 hour to an hour of fine-tuning needed to make it right, so a regular pro shop is more likely to charge $50 to $75 for a new nut. I don't know why it would be any different for a bass.

 

[vanstry]

Well the biggest problem seems to be that there isn't a pre-slotted one made for this bass. The warmoth P-bass neck is non-standard. The slotted one I ordered, if I read things right, won't fit, it'll need to be sanded thinner. Then it'll be too high and will need to be sanded down to make it a lot shorter.
Then the string grooves will need to be filed to fit the strings. IF any of the places around here had regular P-bass nuts, I think I might just fill the nut lot in with epoxy and turn it from a flat one to a curved one like the typical P-bass. But oddly nobody in town had them. Guitar center told me they don't even carry them and they had no idea why corporate didn't order them.
I guess P-basses don't get much love  :dontknow:

 

[AirCap]

Problem with ebony is I'm told it wears out quickly.

AGAIN - see my post above about violin makers. Do you think they would have stuck with violins for HUNDREDS of years if it "wears out quickly"?

I don't know how long Cagey has been at it, but I've been working on and building guitars for over 40 years now. I've worked in the big music stores for a long time, was an authorized Fender and Gibson tech for a number of years, and have published over 50 "how to" articles in luthier publications starting in the 80's. Not trying to brag, but I know WTH I am talking about. In other words, I won't lie to you.

I can't get your job done for you this weekend, sorry - but if you're going to be working guitars on a regular basis, get some tools, some supplies, and some training. StewMac is a great place to start. There's always Luthiers Mercantile, Philadelphia Luthier Supply, etc. Jump in with both feet.

 

[vanstry]

Aircap. Yeah I went and got some ebony this morning, and it's all your fault 

Yes, I spend the last 3 hours making a nut out of ebony. I think it goes to show how OCD and stuck on things I can get that I found a place that had ebony (woodcraft, great place) and which was open today. Then I spent way too much time using the wrong tools for the job because I haven't done any real woodworking in so long, most of them have grown legs and wandered off.

I will put the details and picture under the work in progress page.

 

[AirCap]

Woodcraft... good place. Spent a number of nickles and dime with them over the years.

Ready for pix when you are....

 

[vanstry]

pics of the nut

 

[AirCap]

Looks good from here. Aren't you glad you made the effort?

 

[vanstry]

Looks good from here. Aren't you glad you made the effort?

I refuse to answer on the advice of my attorney!

Honestly, I wish I hadn't screwed it up in the first place. Or that I could have found a replacement. I guess my OCD is getting worse with age, cause I just couldn't stand to not have it done and wait a week for parts. I'm just happy Woodcraft sells ebony. Yeah, I'm very happy with the way it came out on the first try, or I'd have had to do it again. I actually figured I would be doing it again, and cut multiple blanks.

Also, it looks better now that I took some Teak oil to it. It's nice and dark again on the sanded surfaces. I am wondering if I improved the sound with the ebony, especially as it's not glued in, it's pressed in. I also now have a bunch of ebony blanks if I ever need to make another one.

 

[mayfly]

I agree - looks pretty damn good from here. 

And now you have a story to tell around this instrument!

 

[timezon3]

I think making a nut from scratch is something every guitar tinkerer should try sometime.  It'll be the last time you complain about paying someone $75 to do it for you.  :laughing11: Seriously, I did it on my last neck, and it was a great learning process, and I'll probably never do it again.

TZ

 

[vanstry]

I agree - looks pretty damn good from here. 

And now you have a story to tell around this instrument!

This instrument already has too many stories.