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I've done a little looking and am having a hard time finding a nut file for a low B string on a 6-string bass (or 5-string). 0.135 For those of you who have built a 5-6 stringer, what have you used?

One thing you can do for bass nuts, because strings are quite large... You can begin the slot with some file (I like triangle one, it's precise). File till maybe a 64th before you desired depth. Then, take 1'' or 2 from a string of the desired gauge, then glue it (CA) on a wood stick. You have a cheap file, exactly the size you need. It don't cut that much, but it's perfect to do the final slot shaping.

Francis

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Francis Richer, Montréal
Les Guitares F&M Guitars

I use a .120 and roll it in the slot.

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Old growth, shmold growth!

Or, use a round tapered jewelers file,
and stop when it's the same as the string gauge.
I like the other ideas too!