Raising a nut?

Crazyblue1779

In my ongoing quest to learn the basics of guitar repair I bought a new Tusq nut for my LTD EC256 as I’m putting lighter strings on it. 

I got the old nut off ok but the new one (pre cut) is slightly too low and the strings hit the first fret. To be fair the frets are pretty chunky on LTDs though. 

I tried shimming it with a slice of credit card but it was too high. I’ve currently stuck a couple of thin bits of cardboard underneath which has raise it to what seems an appropriate height, but obviously this isn’t a permanent solution. 

Is there any (easily available) material that’s recommended for this type of thing?

RaymondLin

Put a TINY bit of tin foil into the grove and then add some nut sauce or graphite into it.

WezV

you can either shim from underneath with something suitably hard.  a piece of hardwood veneer works well,  or fill the slot with baking powder and super glue.   As with all nut work, expect to do some adjustments 

SteveRobinson

Super glue doesn't stick very well to Tusq in my experience, better user a thin shim underneath. Paper soaked in super glue works.

Alterlifeson

Sorry to piggy back on your thread, but does anyone have a method of raising the height of 1 slot? I have a cheap SG copy where the G string slot has been cut a fraction too low and it buzzes all over the place.

longjaw

Alterlifeson said:

Sorry to piggy back on your thread, but does anyone have a method of raising the height of 1 slot? I have a cheap SG copy where the G string slot has been cut a fraction too low and it buzzes all over the place.

Superglue and baking soda works well, apparently.
https://hazeguitars.com/blog/repairing-nuts-with-superglue-and-baking-soda

Crazyblue1779

So I’m thinking the best way would be to raise it from the bottom. I’ve no experience in filing nuts and no files!

I think maybe the paper and super glue idea might work best and I could gradually build the layers up until it’s just right. 

Is there a recommended string height for the first fret? I currently have the low E at just over 2mm on the 12th fret but with the credit card shim the action felt too high all down the neck so I’m hoping to lower it a bit. 

axisus

longjaw said:

Alterlifeson said:

Sorry to piggy back on your thread, but does anyone have a method of raising the height of 1 slot? I have a cheap SG copy where the G string slot has been cut a fraction too low and it buzzes all over the place.

Superglue and baking soda works well, apparently.
https://hazeguitars.com/blog/repairing-nuts-with-superglue-and-baking-soda

I did this a couple of months ago and it worked very well!

WezV

Crazyblue1779 said:

So I’m thinking the best way would be to raise it from the bottom. I’ve no experience in filing nuts and no files!

I think maybe the paper and super glue idea might work best and I could gradually build the layers up until it’s just right. 

Is there a recommended string height for the first fret? I currently have the low E at just over 2mm on the 12th fret but with the credit card shim the action felt too high all down the neck so I’m hoping to lower it a bit. 

nut files are essential to getting this right I'm afraid, but you will get close by doing a layer of paper and glue at a time.

The nut slot is the correct height when the string just clears the first fret by a knat's whisker, when fretted at the 3rd.  

You should set the nut height totally independent of any other set-up measurements. Do the nut first, then neck relief ... then bridge/saddle height to set your action

Yulaw

Small piece of card suck in the nut slot did the trick on my Gibson, can't hear any difference in tone or sustain.

NPP

WezV said:

The nut slot is the correct height when the string just clears the first fret by a knat's whisker, when fretted at the 3rd.  

You should set the nut height totally independent of any other set-up measurements. Do the nut first, then neck relief ... then bridge/saddle height to set your action

ah finally a clear set of instructions, thanks!

Redlester

Raising a nut? I think Stanley Johnson might be the expert on that.