Full metal jacket is the film. Yeah, it was nowhere near as tough as I feared, and agree that all players should strive to gain deeper understanding as to how their instrument works.

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

I used the one in the picture of the link you provided. Its a 2 piece system. Basicaly what you do is drop the first section into your nut slot (trimming of the nut piece is required on the edges to stop overhang). Then you put the top section in place but dont do the screws up all the way. Cut your slot depths then tune the guitar open. Check the low and high E strings on the 2nd fret in relation to the open strings. I.E open E gives a perfect F# at the 2nd fret. Now the important bit, slide the top section until you acheive these results then tighten the screws.
If you look at the nut in the link you gave it is slightly angled, the low E side is nearer the tuners than the high E side. Mine is the other way round, maybe something to do with fretwear. I dont think that is available with the drop in nut. Also when you need to replace the nut you just need to replace the top section. No need to go digging into the first section at all.

Sorry for the slow (months) answer.

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No no and no

I went ahead and ordered a drop in. might decide to revisit the bone option next string change. I'm just ready to get this done so I can get back to playing. its a real shame ya cant get a 7.25" neck for a tele, I love the sound of mine, but hate the neck.

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

I think the tonal differences of bone to synthetic material isnt worth the agro of cutting and shaping the bone full stop. Yeah bone does next to nothing on fretted notes the tone is governed by the fret as not enough vibration carries on through your finger along the string to the nut to enhance your sound.

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No no and no

Graph Tech String saver saddles?



Check!


OI Niki!!! This better?






I need tips on nut removal (lol, yeah I said it! ) is it as simple as taking an exacto blade to the eges of the old nut. Or should I use a heat source to beak the old nut glue (get your minds out of the gutter) loose?

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

date a radical femminist for 8 weeks then ask her why your shirts aren't ironed and wheres your dinner?
That should do the trick.

Seriously i dont like using heat on the neck, particularly at a weaker area. Not that theres anything wrong with doing it at all, its just a personal preference. If you follow heat removal directions dilligently you'll do a great job for sure.

I use a craft/exacto/stanley knife or if i can find one at the time a scalpel. Just go lightly down either side of the nut to score the lacquer, dont try to cut through it. Then get a nail punch and a rubber mallet and tap the bass side and the treble side of the nut lightly. Fender dont use much glue in my experience and after a couple of light taps the nut should come loose enough to pull out.

Incidentaly dont throw that nut away use it as a template to shape the curve of your new nut.

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No no and no

Dude, those saddles aren't on properly. The springs should be between the saddle and the back of the plate, not on the other side!

(If you already knew this and just had it like that for photo purposes, apologies:))

Yep, I'd say that would just about do it!

I'm inclined to agree about avoiding heat. I asked because my soldering iron came with an exacto tip and I was sorely tempted to try it. I'll give the cold method a shot 1st tho.

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

Yup, they are like that for the sake of the photo. I'll have someone else set them properly for me. I truely appreciate your pointing that out tho. It would have been a grave mistake had my intentions been otherwise.

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

Spot on as always Niki! 2 swipes with the exacto and one light rap with the mallet and hte nut popped right out. its a good thing I ignored my previous tech and decided to replace it as what I had previously thought to be a hair line crack in the G slot was actually a clean break.

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

Looking really good. Thumbs if oyu are adventurous:

http://www.stewmac.com/nuts

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Tons of great info there! thanks for sharing that 12bar. I am feelling rather empowered by what I've accomplished thus far, but not to the point of creating my own nut. Maybe the next project tho. Thanks!

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

My God do i miss that bloke.

Looking good mr Thumbs. Bet your buzzin now the saddles arrived.

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No no and no

yeah, but i ripped that cracked nut out. so still having to wait till the earvana gets here.

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"