[jck_strw]

How much would you expect to pay to replace this on a guitar? We're talking a beater-like guitar, not a Martin.

Thanks.

[KCJones]

I wouldn't pay anybody. This is a very easy do-it-yourself repair/replacement. Find the correct replacement with pre-cut string grooves from a place like Graphtec (Tusq) or Stew Mac and your set. Otherwise I guess someone would charge ya $50-75 maybe, to install a $10 part.

http://www.graphtech.com/
See the "how to find a part" page

http://www.graphtech.com/tusq_install.php

[jck_strw]

Thanks for the link.

I checked that page and this jumped out at me. Cracked me up.

it is a good idea to wipe the nut channel with a damp cloth

[milobender]

I think there may be a little more to it than that... I've made and cut a dozen nuts... It depends on how you like your action. If you get a pre-cut nut, you will get a generic string height, which may or may not suit you. If you want to adjust/cut your own grooves, you really need some special tools/files do do a decent job. Those cost about the same as taking it to someone else to do the job, but then you have them to use in the future. It depends too on your experience with working with tools like that. I get my tools from stewmac.com One of the main problems with this job, making it a not so "very easy do-it-yourself job" is the real possibility that the old nut doesn't come out easily, or more inportantly, cleanly. If there is any glue or etc left in the groove your new nut won't seat properly. And if you try to clean it out, and don't leave it completely flat and clean, say you over file one side, or spot, you'll have a real mess to clean up. Anyway, just my .02. It may not be as easy as it would seem.

Brian

[dpmphoto]

Very easy do it yourself cmon man. I've installed many nuts after the do it yourselfers f it all up. The nut is one of the most important parts of a guitar and is not easy to make or install properly.As a matter of fact I love it when people work on their own guitars cause after they fuck it all up I make more fixing it properly

[jck_strw]

Ok, so it's not as simple as a DIY. The nut is already off. It fell off years ago. It's my buddies guitar and I figured it would be better for him to fix the nut than for me to bring a guitar from low humidity to high humidity (and the extra hassle of flying with it).

So it's something not best handled at home. But I'm looking at like a +/-$60 charge?

[KCJones]

Very easy do it yourself cmon man. I've installed many nuts after the do it yourselfers f it all up. As a matter of fact I love it when people work on their own guitars cause after they fuck it all up I make more fixing it properly

Let me guess, you were born a professional perfect luthier requireing no practice or training, and you replaced your first nut perfectly. Thats awsome! Cool that some people don't have to go through the DIY phase to become a master like you. You have a great sense of humor too, mocking the guy that tries but fails; but heck, you make more money that way, cool!

Fact is, a preslotted nut, matched to your string spacing, which is easy to match and buy, isn't so hard to "fuck up" as the master ubove stated. A little care and patience and you'd be surprised how easy and good of a job you can do.

[Mick]

Let's think, a beater guitar where the nut already fell off, does this sound like the kind of guitar that we should screw around with and learn on? No, of course not. Old beater guitars have way too much historical value to be handled by anyone less than a true expert. The placing of a new nut on that guitar is a job whose delicateness cannot be overstated. Don't be silly man, an old guitar with pieces falling off of it is EXACTLY the kind of guitar one should bring to a professional straight away. In fact, maybe we should see if Doug Irwin can have a look at your beater. I mean, I don't actually know the man, but I could make some calls for you......

[jck_strw]

Let's think, a beater guitar where the nut already fell off, does this sound like the kind of guitar that we should screw around with and learn on? No, of course not. Old beater guitars have way too much historical value to be handled by anyone less than a true expert. The placing of a new nut on that guitar is a job whose delicateness cannot be overstated. Don't be silly man, an old guitar with pieces falling off of it is EXACTLY the kind of guitar one should bring to a professional straight away. In fact, maybe we should see if Doug Irwin can have a look at your beater. I mean, I don't actually know the man, but I could make some calls for you......

Mick--thank you for taking this in its proper context. Historical value should be preserved at all costs. Granted, this guitar probably cost about $150 (and this was back when the dollar was actually worth something!) 7 years ago, but I'm sure the collectability of a guitar like this has increased the guitar about 10-20x its original value.

In fact, the guitar once touched a Martin and _almost_ touched a Taylor in its illustrious history. The fact that it helped put out a fire, only adds to its mystery.

:)