Butchered nut slot

[123davido]

Can anybody advise on the best method to repair a butchered nut slot on a 'no name' bass. The old nut was glued in with P.U. glue and once I got it out I found the slot very over sized and out of square. Its almost through the fret board and down to the neck wood as well.
I thought to glue in shims until I get a tight fit, then file back to snug. Now Im thinking maybe its better to rout the whole lot out oversize,glue in a solid block and start again.
Words of wisdom appreciated. Thanks

[JonWint]

Post photos if you want pertinent recommendations.

[canyongargon]

Photos would be helpful. I think the recommendation will be to get it square and flat and, depending on how bad it ends up being, either make an oversized nut, shim the slot for a proper sized nut, or fill and re-cut properly.

If getting the slot cleaned up and square requires cutting into the front edge of the slot (toward the first fret) then shimming or filling/recutting will almost certainly be necessary, as you will have effectively changed the scale length of the fretboard and that will cause the instrument to have poor intonation.

[123davido]

Originally Posted by JonWint

Post photos if you want pertinent recommendations.

Sorry,photos not possible at the moment.

[123davido]

Originally Posted by canyongargon

Photos would be helpful. I think the recommendation will be to get it square and flat and, depending on how bad it ends up being, either make an oversized nut, shim the slot for a proper sized nut, or fill and re-cut properly.

If getting the slot cleaned up and square requires cutting into the front edge of the slot (toward the first fret) then shimming or filling/recutting will almost certainly be necessary, as you will have effectively changed the scale length of the fretboard and that will cause the instrument to have poor intonation.

I was wondering about that-The scale length. How can I accurately calculate the position for the new nut? Ive decided to go with shims for now.I glued one in on the fret side last night and it looks good.Ive just done the headstock side now,so I should be able to reslot for a standard nut tomorrow.
I need a measurement from the center of the first fret to the edge of the nut,if anyone can help.


I just took some measurements.The fretboard is 605mm(+-) and holds 20 frets. Measuring from inside edge to outer edge of the frets,I get a pretty consistent drop of about 2.2mm.(Based on the first 6 frets) If I measure the frets from heart to heart, there's no regularity.

[123davido]

Aha! Just discovered a fret position calculator. My nut needs to be 4.847mm from the 1st fret.
I'll give that a go.

[charles Tauber]

Originally Posted by 123davido

Aha! Just discovered a fret position calculator. My nut needs to be 4.847mm from the 1st fret.
I'll give that a go.

Perhaps you’ve misplaced the decimal. It needs to be more than 4.8 mm.

[123davido]

Ha. My mistake. 4.8cm.

[JonWint]

Originally Posted by 123davido

I need a measurement from the center of the first fret to the edge of the nut,if anyone can help.

Why not put new nut where old nut was located? Wasn't the old nut at the end of the fretboard?

[123davido]

Originally Posted by JonWint

Why not put new nut where old nut was located? Wasn't the old nut at the end of the fretboard?

Because the hole was munched.