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I was tuning my wife's guitar last, it has a bone nut that I cut and slotted. I've made a bunch of nuts and adjusted slots in a bunch of instruments but I still get the occasional ping. I have the StewMAc nut files but that doesn't seem to be the whole answer. I cut the nut down to about half the string thickness and try to widen the peghead side to give the string a good path to the tuners. I don't use graphite, I don't think it should be necessary, I could be wrong.

So my question is, do you guys always get it right with no pings and if so, what do I need to do to step up my game?

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

I've had no problems since I’ve begun finishing my slots with Mitchell's abrasive cord. Highly recommended.

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Pierre Castonguay

What size and grit do you use?

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

For guitars, 54, 55S, 60S, and for basses 52. I get by with these four. You might skip the 60S if you’re not using 10s or smaller.

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Pierre Castonguay

You can get pings, if you use a StewMac 0.013" file for a 0.013" string and don't open up the sides by tilting the file a bit while working the slot. Most of the guitars I work on get used a lot (pros and serious amateurs) so I also put a little lube in the slot, mostly to minimize wear. I used to use trumpet slide oil (cause I had it) but recently started using D'Addario Friction Remover although Vaseline would probably work as well.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

This is an interesting tip. I have this stuff and would like to try it. Do you just floss a piece in the slots after you already have them as low as they will go? The cord isn't lowering the slot anymore?

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I know from my own misery that Vaseline can compromise the finish on some guitars. Maybe these other lubricants can, too.

Graphite is a better and less harmful lubricant for nuts. Just take a pencil and draw a couple of lines in the nut slots.

I'll typically stop just short of my target, just to be sure.


Envoyé de mon iPad en utilisant Tapatalk

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Pierre Castonguay

As far as lubrication goes we're talking very small amounts. It should never come close to the finish if done properly. Graphite is fine too.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"