Guitar Repair Question

[JLT]

LGM FAM - A friend of mine who found his Grand dad's old Silvertone Guitar in the garage wanted me to to get it in working order for him. I figured this would be a great opportunity for me to learn about the guitar and it's various components, so I said sure. So far everything is going well but there is one thing I cannot quite figure out.

The guitar is missing the nut at the head stock of the guitar. I went to GC last weekend but they only had one with no pre-cuts in them. My questions are as follows:

1.) What tool to you use to properly measure the correct nut size? (Especially since it's a Silvertone)
2.) Are there any websites or other places I can go to find pre-cut nuts for the strings to go into?
3.)Shouldn't the nut just fit in without using glue?

Again keep in mind this is being done without a professional set-up although I will recommend it to him. He really just wants to have it working so he can just tinker around with it, nothing serious.

As always, appreciate the input.

[JLT]

also I failed to mention that this is an Electric Guitar with a Fender style body.

Thanks...

[Gibby]

This is a question for Jay or Jivejong...

[Sonar]

You should search at StewMac (aka Stewart-MacDonald)
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Nuts,_saddles/String_nuts.html

Also look at this site for hints, tips and tricks for installing a nut. Also lots of tools...like files (not cheap). Understand that you might find lots of info and ideas here, but StewMac has a $30 mininum order. 

Also look at these sites:
http://www.bryankimsey.com/nuts/
http://frettech.com/nutz/index.html

Nuts aren't generally pre-slotted for the strings because every guitar is different and they don't know what strings are being used. The string slotting is done with a set of fine files.

The problem is that without a set of files, you're hard pressed to do a halfway decent job even after you determine the correct nut blank.
This means ending up at a guitar repair place for $60+/- to have it done even after you fooled around with it.


There ARE some pre-slotted nuts that you'd find by simply Googling "pre-slotted gutar nuts"...but getting the correct size is the issue . Just measure the nut space with a small rule to get a rough idea what you're looking for.


You sound like you're about to put more money, time & trouble into a guitar than it's worth. We're living in to golden age of cheap guitars for beginners...and most would probably be a better bet.

Probably not worth the problem UNLESS this is a cool old Silvertone guitar in the style of the early DanElectro models. And even then you should know that those used a ALUMINUM METAL NUT.


BUT, if you're real handy, you could always cut a nut blank out of bone (beef works) and mess around for laughs. Do you know a butcher? Have him get it generally in shape some blanks for you and whittle them down with files and sandpaper. That's what I'd do if stuck on a desert island....with a cow I didn't like.

Seriously, my luthier carves his own nuts often from ostridge bone because it's so dense. He picked up some ostridge bone at a NAMM Show in LA from a guy that lives in Australia and had to fly home with all these bones. He said the Homeland Security luggage inspection was sort of strange trying to explain all the dried bones in his baggage. 

In answer to another of your questions, the nut needs to be glued in so it won't move side to side.

[jlynnb1]

http://www.stewmac.com/

everything you could ever want to repair a guitar there. i'm sure there are others, but that is one of the more well-known sites.

[JLT]

This definitely helps. Thanks fellas..

[MarlyLew]

I know I'm super late, mainly because I just joined this site.  But for any *future* projects, http://www.warmoth.com is a GREAT custom site!  They sell all sorts of parts and stuff!