On switching nuts...

[rapfohl09]

Hey everyone, I want to replace the nut on my gibson SG, its really the only thing I cant stand on that guitar. I feel like its plastic and worse that the crap on my squier. I want to get a graphtec nut and they come pre-slotted and fitted for my neck size and stuff, so thats no problem. How do I get the nut off and replace it? Are they glued in or what?

 

[tfarny]

YMMV but generally you just take off the strings, then grab the nut with a pair of pliers, pull gently back and forth, etc. It should be held by just a drop of superglue. The graphtech nuts that stew mac sells are pretty good but you should be prepared to do a bit of filing of the slots, and also take some height off the top. I just replaced the plastic nut on our singer's Ibanez acoustic with one of those and it worked great, and didn't need too much tweaking.

 

[Watershed]

One thing I'd add is to score around the nut with a sharp blade, cutting any paint covering the nut.
Don't want a chunk of paint coming off with the nut.

If there is no paint on the nut, it's moot point.
I think with some of the Gibsons, the paint covers the side of the nut though.

 

[runtfan]

From StewMac/Dan Erlewine:

"By tapping the side of the old nut, you can dislodge it. Before you do, use a sharp blade to score a line on the finish around the nut. This way, the nut will break out of the finish on your scored lines, and chipping the finish will be kept to a minimum.

Nuts tap out easily on old guitars, but not on new heavily-finished ones; sometimes you’ll need to saw through the nut to get it out. To do this, cut it lengthwise (across the string slots), stopping when you’re almost down to the bottom. Now you can collapse the nut inward on itself and remove the pieces."

http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/Nuts,_saddles/a-nuts.html

Dan also says that you only need a few drops of Titebond for the new nut, although I read an interview (posted in this forum) with Richard Stanley who says he never glues nuts on...

 

[-CB-]

Tightbond is ok, or any of the yellow wood glue.  I'd personally not use superglue.

After you score it really well... give it a whack from the low E towards the high E... it should pop right out.  Use a small punch and a really light hammer and presto.  Do it in that direction and any "chip" will be on the low E side, not visible from the top.  You make the finish repair after its all and together.  Also, the pre-slotted nuts from graphtech can be a pain in the wizzwazz to install.  Be prepared to do a lot of sanding.  The come a bit wider, a bit longer, and a bit taller than you'll ever need.  Sanding seems to work better than filing on those.  Files seem to skid off, while sandpaper will actually cut the material.  Use a 220 grit then a 320 to fine fit, and 400 to "polish" it out after that.  Fit the width, then the elevation, then fit the length (low and high E edges).  I've done it that way with them... no issues, except to get the elevation right, its a lot of sanding.

 

[tfarny]

CB I had pretty much the same experience with the two graphites I did, but compared to filing genuine bone nuts from a straight blank, they seemed like a walk in the park.

 

[Funky Phil]

Removing the nut on a Gibson can be very difficult.
You must score around the sides with a very sharp blade.
In addition, score behind the nut (headstock face).
Try tapping it out using a wooden block and hammer...
Very often, gibson use a lot of very tough glue, so you run the risk of damaging the headstock overlay...
If it doesn't show any signs of coming away with the hammer, then sawing in half is the way to go.
You can use a junior hacksaw for this.
Be very careful as you get towards the bottom...it's all too easy to saw into the wood!!!
When have sawn it in half, pinch the two parts together, and it should come away pretty much ok.
Often you will have to clean up the excess glue (and quite possibly bits of nut) using a small chisel.

 

[-CB-]

I've never had to saw a Gibson (but I've only done three).  There is a file made especially for the nut slot cleanup - and its worth EVERY PENNY

 

[blue313]

Therein lies the caveat.  Most nuts come out easy-peasy.  Once in awhile you come across one where some jerk used too much glue....and the damn thing comes out kicking and screaming the whole way.

There is a file made especially for the nut slot cleanup - and its worth EVERY PENNY

+1000.  When its called for, that thing is just gold.

 

[-CB-]

Just about always called for, since its the right size.  I use the front edge for getting those (inevitable) little bits of glue out with a nudge or light scrape.  Then just a quick slot cleanup and in goes the new nut.  They're golden.  Get one.