Looking for advice on guitar nut repair

[iamthesnow]

I was fortunate enough to score a '64 mustang back when I was teen. After a few years of destroying the hell out of it, I finally got it all back together. The only problem is the d slot on the nut appears to be worn out and I get string buzz. I've tried raising the saddles but at the point where it goes away the string is sitting in a much higher position than the rest. I already adjusted the truss rod too, so no problems there... spent the morning googling and it seems like everybody suggests baking soda and super glue and some say use bone dust.

So before I go ahead and fuck anything up I'm wondering if anybody could chime in. I would like to avoid replacing the nut if I can but if it's my only option I'll definitely go that route instead. Some other factors in my problem are the fact that the closest guitar tech to me is about 175 miles away and my local guitar shop is now out of business.

[Mudfuzz]

I was fortunate enough to score a '64 mustang back when I was teen. After a few years of destroying the hell out of it, I finally got it all back together. The only problem is the d slot on the nut appears to be worn out and I get string buzz. I've tried raising the saddles but at the point where it goes away the string is sitting in a much higher position than the rest. I already adjusted the truss rod too, so no problems there... spent the morning googling and it seems like everybody suggests baking soda and super glue and some say use bone dust.

So before I go ahead and fuck anything up I'm wondering if anybody could chime in. I would like to avoid replacing the nut if I can but if it's my only option I'll definitely go that route instead. Some other factors in my problem are the fact that the closest guitar tech to me is about 175 miles away and my local guitar shop is now out of business.

Stuff you need:
guitar nut or bridge blank [get a bone one]
sand paper/file
MASKING TAPE
super glue
a tooth pick
a cutting off of a D string/ or a pimp-ass nut file

Step 1: take the strings off the guitar
Step 2: mask around the nut so that NO glue touches anything you don't want it to.
Step 3: make bone dusk, you might want a dust mask for this.. and bone smells nasty...
Step 4: mix bone dust with super glue - you want it to be the same consistency as normal epoxy
Step 5: with your tooth pick dab your mixture in the slot, just enough the raise the bottom of the slot a bit, no need to fill it unless you want to use lighter strings.
Step 6: let dry overnight
Step 7: carefully sand/file off any excess that is not in the slot, any on the front can possibly mess with intonation depending on how much there is.
Step 8: mark on the face of the nut the depth you want your nut slot to be.
Step 9: using a piece of the string size you intend to use [or a nut file if you have one] file the slot down to your mark [it is good to not go all the way and put a string on the guitar to see if it buzzes or is took high if you have never done this before. Also, you want to do this at a slight angle ramping from the headstock, a flat slot will buzz.
Step 10: string guitar, make sure your new slot is the right depth and rock on

[Decibill]

If you don't have experience doing this, or if you are concerned about doing the work, you can buy a pre-slotted nut. That way all you need to do is adjust the slots for the playing action required.

[KaosCill8r]

There is always the baking soda and super glue method. Never done it myself but it's the cheapest method that works and the materials you need are at the supermarket. Type "nut repair" into google and you will find Youtube vids showing how to do it.

[iamthesnow]

thanks muddy! i've got a nut on it's way to me now. I'm on vacation so it's one of the projects I wanted to tackle.

I have seen the pre-slotted nuts before but was trying to avoid modifying the whole thing. I also did google search and watched those videos but was trying to gather all the information I could. A few weeks before I saw a stewmac video that dismissed the baking soda method and that's what struck my curiosity. Of all things the neck made it out without any mods so I was trying to preserve it.