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Nut slots...How do you do it?
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Author:  WindyCityBluesBox [ Tue Dec 04, 2012 2:20 am ]
Post subject:  Nut slots...How do you do it?

Im curious as to what some other people's techniques for this are. I set my table saw at a low depth and use a crosscut fence to carry the fretboard across the saw blade and a 90 degree angle (after running a few test cuts of course). Im curious in particular about how some oh you do the non fender-style nut slot (like gibsons, acoustics, ect.) I cant think of a good way to do this other than a dremel with an end-milling bit and a dremel stand.

Author:  nyazzip [ Tue Dec 04, 2012 4:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Nut slots...How do you do it?

"gibsons, acoustics, etc" don't use a nut slot- they chop the fretboard off and the nut butts up against that terminus. most stringed instruments throughout the ages are that way

Author:  klooker [ Tue Dec 04, 2012 10:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Nut slots...How do you do it?

The peghead veneer will act as the other end of the slot.

I use a Japanese style saw to square up the peghead veneer then fine tune it with a chisel.

Kevin Looker

Author:  John Coloccia [ Wed Dec 05, 2012 7:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Nut slots...How do you do it?

I have a dummy nut that I was very careful to size to exactly .180", dead flat and square. When I glue on the fingerboard, I sandwich the nut between the fingerboard and the head plate. Instant nut slot.

Author:  theguitarwhisperer [ Thu Dec 06, 2012 12:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Nut slots...How do you do it?

Sometimes I cut the fretboard off at the nut ans use that as the nut slot in conjunction with the head plate. I use a fret slotting handsaw for this. For a fender style nut, after slotting the fretboard on my table saw, I make another kerf 1/8th past the zero fret kerf in the direction of the tuning keys and chisel the wood in between out with a sharp micro chisel.

Author:  Chris Pile [ Thu Dec 06, 2012 3:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Nut slots...How do you do it?

Quote:
I have a dummy nut that I was very careful to size to exactly .180", dead flat and square. When I glue on the fingerboard, I sandwich the nut between the fingerboard and the head plate. Instant nut slot.


Clever fellow.
I wonder if that's how Gibson does it on some of their stuff?

Author:  John Coloccia [ Thu Dec 06, 2012 7:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Nut slots...How do you do it?

Chris Pile wrote:
Quote:
I have a dummy nut that I was very careful to size to exactly .180", dead flat and square. When I glue on the fingerboard, I sandwich the nut between the fingerboard and the head plate. Instant nut slot.


Clever fellow.
I wonder if that's how Gibson does it on some of their stuff?


Don't know. I know that other builders do it like that, though no one ever seems to talk about it because I don't know anyone who "got" that from someone else. It always seems like it's something we just started doing one day out of laziness. When this batch of 2 guitars is done, I'm going to try dumping the nut slot entirely and just sticking the nut back there flat. The whole nut slot thing just kind of seems like a complete waste of time and energy, both for me and for whoever needs to replace the nut later.

Author:  Chris Pile [ Thu Dec 06, 2012 7:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Nut slots...How do you do it?

Quote:
It always seems like it's something we just started doing one day out of laziness.


Works for me.

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