Flippin' Gibson U.S.A......I'm GOOCHED!

[BradinPCB]

I got a Steinberger ZT3 from a guitar store (via online) who shall remain nameless as I'm not looking to flame/blame anyone (yet).  It's not something I checked and so I accept the responsibility of overlooking that.  Anyway, I LOVE this guitar and have always wanted one since the 80's.  As usual, in the course of time it's needed tweaking.  It developed a slight buzz at the 1st fret that's been tolerable so I've not troubled with correcting it, being the lazy procrastinator that I am. 

So I finally get around to checking it out and the neck is as straight as an arrow.  No problem, one little turn for a bit of relief and I'll be sitting pretty, the buzz should be gone and all's well. 

BZZZZZZZ.....it appears they sold it to me with a stripped truss rod barrel nut.  I've not touched it, nor needed to since purchase so it definitely came that way.   

No great big deal - one quick call to Gibson for a new part and a bit of labor and I'll fix it.

They don't sale the part and recommend I call an authorized Steinberger dealer.  I say Guitar Center and they say that'll do. 

Well, GC don't readily carry that so they contact their Gibson rep. to get it. 

The voicemail back from GC says Gibson was "actually very unhelpful when asked about the part, basically said to call a 3rd party dealer".  Stew-Mac doesn't carry it.  They also recommended All Parts but he checked with them as they are a GC supplier and they don't have it. 

I've called Gibson three times to ask about it and yeah, they're very unhelpful and don't care to lift a finger to support a guitar they manufacture.  I'm waiting on a call back from one of their repair guys who isn't in (and I quote) "customer service".  I'm gonna beg and plead with him to help me in any way that he can and hope he takes some pity on me but thus far their reps could care less about "customer service". 

I'm afraid the end result will be to pack this thing up and ship it to their "restoration department" in order to replace a flippin' barrel nut.  An eighth or a half a turn is likely all I need (for now at least). 

Anyone got any advice???  Thoughts???  Anyone know what specs I need to look for to replace a Steinberger truss rod barrel nut?  Stew-Mac may carry it if I can get the specs. from Gibson but as Diamond Dave once sang, "they ain't talkin'". 

*whimper*

Oh, and I now officially LOATH Gibson U.S.A. and will not knowingly buy their products again.  Or any of their subsidiaries.  GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.......

 

[DaveT]

It's just a nut, probably metric.
A nice man with a lathe can make you one.
It _might_ be possible to use a helicoil or other thread saver inside the nut. It depends on the thickness of the parent metal. You can do that youself if you have access to a drill press.
Visit a motorcycle shop. Tell them it is from a 1928 Nimbus if they ask what's it for. They will almost certainly know the aforementioned nice man with a lathe.
As it is a small nut some model-makers will have the small size lathe needed.

If all else fails try Ed Roman guitars.

 

[mayfly]

Yes I'm 90% certain that you can use an off the shelf nut there.  Try an industrial fastener supply.  If there are no local ones try http://www.mcmaster.com/#

If not, then I'm 100% certain that your local vintage motorcycle/car shop will know a guy who can make one.

 

[ihavenothingprofoundtosay]

I add to the above advice by saying: find a good local luthier, not just an "official authorized Steinberger repair center" or whatever.  Someone who knows what they're doing should have an idea of what to do, at the very least be able to find a substitute part that will work.

[insert disparaging remarks about Gibson's lack of support for subsidiary products here.]

 

[sixstringsamurai]

edit: (Spam posts are best reported with the report to moderator link. the post has been removed. Thanks --Mr. Z)