New Nut for Japanese And Fender Deluxe.

cain

Hey guys

Would you guys recommend that i put a graphite nut on my my 2 fenders. The japanese strat already has graphite saddles. As for the deluxe it still has its original hardware but it was filed a tad too low so it needs to be filled up so that the string hight can be readjusted a bit higher or should i just put in a graphite nut as well.

AlanRatcliffe

The Graph Tech Trem Nuts? I use them on everything aside from acoustics (where I use the Tusq). Even though I don't use the trem, they help a lot with tuning stability - even my electric 12-string keeps tuning a lot better with one. If you do use the trem, they are a godsend. Especially if you use the Graph Tech string trees and locking too, there is no better way to stay in tune without resorting to a locking trem and lock nut.

There is a slight difference in the tone over a good bone nut. It's not a bad sound by any means, still bright, but more balanced frequency wise, and more tonal consistency from nut to nut. If you are a total vintage tone hound, they may not be for you because of the tone difference. I for one couldn't be happier.

Side note: There is no graphite in a Graph Tech nut! The Tusq nuts are something called boron polytrinate, and the Trem Nuts are the same stuff with 5% Teflon added for the low friction - apparently many times more slippery than graphite.

cain

Hehe yeah i know that hehe. Im not a vintage tone hound by any means. I like consistency and i do use my tremelos on my guitar. Ive never seen the strings trees in any shops ?

AlanRatcliffe

Specialist Guitars should have them - they were the local distributor last time I looked. Two to a pack and not expensive.

Does your Deluxe have staggered Sperzel tuners? No need for string trees with a staggered locking tuner. I have noticed that the Fender branded Sperzel sets you buy are not staggered (??) the way the Sperzel branded ones are, so I'm not sure if the sets they fit to guitars in the factory are staggered or not.

cain

Ill check it. Both my strats has default tuners with the hole on top. Not locking, i need some of those tuners that fit inside the smaller holes in the headstock. Both the strats have non american standard holes.

AlanRatcliffe

The slotted vintage tuners actually hold tuning very well anyway, but you get a Gotoh version with locking posts that is a direct retrofit at Stewart MacDonald Not staggered unfortunately.

Otherwise the Schaller Locking tuners are also staggered - and it's an easy conversion. I have these on a Fender and they are great.

cain

I bought some schaller ones but they didnt fit through the holes in the headstock ?

AlanRatcliffe

Most modern tuners use 10mm holes (schaller, Gotoh, Grover, Sperzel, Planet Waves).

No problem:

It doesn't always end in this y'know:

NorioDS

I think I would cry!

What a way to go :-[

cain

☹ Allan just had to show that .... No i feel very reassured.

Well i sent in both strats to have graphtec fitted. Getting them sometime this week YAY

AlanRatcliffe

Aside from a chip or two, I've only ever seen major damage from drilling out machine tuner once.

A Japanese Fender Strat. I don't know how he did it (maybe I do - he's a bit ...um ...mental health challenged, used to bring his latest medications to the shop to show me), but he started at the 6th string hole with a hand drill and not only managed to break the headstock into three pieces, but also snapped the neck in two in a diagonal line from the 5th string slot in the nut to the 5th fret.

I sold him a new neck, and when I had lots of time did some jigsaw puzzling. Took about a month. There were bits missing but I made new bits. Very proud of myself, I was. Used that neck for years on a parts-built high strung guitar and eventually slapped it on another Jap Strat and sold it. NOTHING is irreparable - just not always worth the effort.

cain

Its not something i would attempt to do myself. You need the right drill bits to do something like that i think. And take time to do it.

cain

Allan, Do you know where i can get a piezo saddle replacement. I just need to replace that one, the guy that has to replace it does not get back to me and i want it fixed bad.

AlanRatcliffe

T.O.M.S. are the local distributors. 011-403-4105. Try them to see if they keep stock or can get. I know when I was repairing for AA Terry (the old Fishman distributor), they kept them in stock 'cos they were always breaking. That's why I still have a bunch of the old Wilkinson style handy.

What you could also do is get a set of the Graph Tech GHOST saddles (about $120) and have them fitted to replace the stock Fishmans - that's what I did with my Sanox, which has the hardtail Fishman PowerBridge. I've had the same set of saddles on there for 10 years or so now with only one problematic saddle in all that time (and I beat the HELL out of the bridge). If you order a seven string set of saddles, you can keep the extra for a spare.

NorioDS

Alan Ratcliffe wroteIf you order a seven string set of saddles, you can keep the extra for a spare.

Now THERE's something I would NEVER have thought of. Great suggestion, Alan. Thanks ?

cain

Just phoned them, they dont have any. They said i must phone paul bothner music. SIGH.

cain

Allan, if i cant get one, can i buy one of you when i come to cape town december ?

AlanRatcliffe

They said i must phone paul bothner music.

??? ...but they are the distributors! If they don't have, no retailer will, and if they don't have in stock they should get from Fishman. Bothner's doesn't even stock the Powerbridge stuff.

My older Powerbridge saddles won't fit your bridge. I'm not a retailer, so I can't just order. I

can

get stuff from Graph Tech directly though.

Actually, I've just had a thought. Do me a favour and measure the width of the saddles on that bridge, maybe also the string spread (from 1st to middle of the 6th at the saddles). I may have something that will work, and if so, won't cost you anything other than getting someone to install.

cain

Ag, ill get my bro to buy me one in the UK and mail it down by air. Should take quickly.

cain

Ok so matts music orgranised with fender in cape town to get me one. They are flying in a bunch so i should have one soon!!! YAY