Nut types and opinions please

Norman86

So, im looking at replacing my nut on my strat...

The following are what im considering:

Vintage Look Bone Nut
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Nuts,_saddles/String_nuts/Vintage_Bone_Nuts.html

Tusq Nut
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Nuts,_saddles/String_nuts/Tusq_Nuts.html

Black Tusq XL Nut
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Nuts,_saddles/String_nuts/Black_Tusq_XL_Nut.html

What nut type should i be looking at?
Im leaning toward the XL to be honest, the whole slippery teflon thing!
sure, its doesnt matter once the string is fretted, but i would still like to replace the cyclovac nut currently on my strat, as its slightly off centre!
The only thing im worried about is by getting the pre slotted nut, that it wont fit and it will be too small?!

I will be getting someone to replace the nut, so do not think i'll be doing it myself! but if i can make the job easier for the person working on my strat, then i would like to do that!

opinions, advice etc would be greatly appreciated!

Wizard

I bought the black tusq XL and it works great for me.
It really is pretty damn slippery stuff.

Norman86

Wizard wrote I bought the black tusq XL and it works great for me.
It really is pretty damn slippery stuff.

Is that for your cort m200?

did you use the fender profile? pre slotted? and did it just fit?

Thanks!

Wizard

Norman86 wrote Is that for your cort m200?

did you use the fender profile? pre slotted? and did it just fit?

No. I used it for the Strat I built / assembled.
I got the pre-slotted version.
I did just drop it in and use it (I haven't even glued it in)

It does require some trimming, which I must get around to:
- it's slider wider than the neck; needs some trimming off the ends
- it's a little too high, causing some tuning issues; needs some sanding off the bottom.

They are near impossible to find locally and are quite cheap from StewMac ... in hindsight I should have bought a whole bunch.

Norman86

Wizard wrote No. I used it for the Strat I built / assembled.
I got the pre-slotted version.
I did just drop it in and use it (I haven't even glued it in)

It does require some trimming, which I must get around to:
- it's slider wider than the neck; needs some trimming off the ends
- it's a little too high, causing some tuning issues; needs some sanding off the bottom.

They are near impossible to find locally and are quite cheap from StewMac ... in hindsight I should have bought a whole bunch.

well, you really are convincing me to get the xl nut! and it'll look cool on the maple neck too!
might get 2... just in case! lol!

the only thing worrying me is that its for the 7.25" radius... was that a problem for you?

otherwise, i should get a preslotted one, as well as an unslotted blank... just in case...

Ray

why dont you get the cheaper nuts?

Norman86

Ray wrote why dont you get the cheaper nuts?

The only problem with the cheaper nuts is that they are unslotted!

so i think i will get the xl nut! i also think the black nut on my aged neck will look awesome!

AlanRatcliffe

I'm a big fan of the Black Tusq nuts.

If you're getting a tech to do it then a blank should be OK. The slotted only give you a guide to where you cut - they are rarely at the perfect height, so need more cutting anyway (and trimming the bottom of a nut can be tricky, to say the least).

Also on a narrower nut width guitar, the slots may not be placed optimally - especially on the vintage style narrow necks. The slots end up closer to the edges of the fingerboard and particularly coupled with the wider vintage bridge spacing, the strings end up way too close to the edge of the board, letting you "fall off" easily.