When I bought my new American Tele earlier this year everything seemed to be set up just nice. Then, a few weeks later, the B string sounded dead when played unfretted. I narrowed the cause down to the nut. Tried sanding the groove to widen it a tad but that didn't help. Then I inserted a waffer-thin piece of paper in the nut groove under the string and this has helped by effectively raising the nut groove height and allowing the string to ring again (it's better but not perfect).
Then I changed the strings last week and also lowered the action a tad at the bridge on all strings. Then the darned D string went dead on me when unfrettted. Again, another waffer-thin piece of paper in the nut groove has improved the situation by effectively raising the nut groove height.
Is there a better fix than this? Will lowering the action at the bridge have caused my D string to deaden out? I realise that the nut groove heights are too low. Should I take it to a tech? I've seen people recommend a mix of bicarb and super glue to add to the groove. Sounds messy.
Comments
Also, how old are the strings on the guitar? Have you changed from 010-048 to bigger/heavier gauges or down-tuned lower than standard EADGBE?
Before you cut, file or replace anything, check the neck relief. The truss rod may need slacking off very slightly.
Not changed gauge, strings are now 4 weeks old.
Neck relief is not thing here. It's two strings in the nut unfretted. Fretted, they're OK.
Lowering the action could deaden a string if it's a nut issue, as the underside of the string could now be touching the lower edge of the nut where it contacts the neck, but unless you lowered it a lot, it's quite uncommon - you're more likely to be coming in contact with something further up the neck, like a high fret or a hump in the neck. How do the D and G strings sound at every fret?
Edit / could also be the nut slots are cut at an angle sloping downward and the string is hitting the bottom edge of the nut.
Was it new when purchased ? - as you probably still have a warranty available to you, in particular based on a 2017 purchase date
It might be possible to get a new nut from Fender fitted - whilst such a new nut will be roughly cut correctly, under tech should be able to fine tune as required - dealer might not have the correct one in stock but can obtain it from Fender in a few days
It might be the tech/dealer repairs the issue with what is general acceptable as a valid repair with Superglue - you can look at this option yourself but you will need a dedicated fret file - effectively remove strings - place masking tape either side of the nut - pour superglue in the nut slot - only a touch required and sometimes I'll use an old top E string to rub over the glue and slot to ensure it is now seating low in the slot - Now leave for a day so it is rock hard - then re-cut accordingly with nut files - If you know what you are doing then this fine - If you don't then you might get lucky or end up frustrated, hence a visit to a tech/dealer
Nothing wrong with a Superglue repair and chances are the glue is harder than the nut material and done correctly you'll never see it
Not a DIY job unless you are confident in your abilities. Setting to with a junior hacksaw blade will inevitably make matters worse.
If two slots need doing - and especially if any of the other strings are borderline - I would probably replace the nut rather than fix it, on a modern guitar where there is no issue with "originality". If it's under warranty the shop should do this for you.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
To check appropriate height - fret the string on the 3rd fret and you should effectively have close to zero height above the 1st fret - To high and it is wrong - To low and it will probably buzz on an open string - Cut the nut slot back at slight angle- so imagine it is going down hill from the fingerboard to the headstock
In the end, I used an old D string and put that in the slot, rubbing back and forth.
Tell you what, baking soda and superglue is frickin' hard.
I've fixed the nut slots, and it's all fixed. Those two strings sound perfect now. Prior to doing this, the B string was muted and the D string sounded like a sitar. Now, they ring clear as a bell. I guess I got lucky. :-)