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Post subject: Need some opinions...
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 4:43 pm
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I recently took my Stratocaster into the local music shop to have a bone nut put into the neck. It's an MIM Strat made in 2003 and it has the little fretboard extension over the nut that dips into the maple headstock.

When the tech was putting the nut in, he filed notches all across the top of that little extension because he was careless with the files. He was apologetic, but gave me a ton of excuses ranging from 'it may have come from the factory that way and you just didn't notice it before' to 'these MIM Strats are hard to put nuts on because of that extension and this always happens'. He offered to try and fix it, but he put a disclaimer on the offer that he could make it worse.

Needless to say, I am not confident that he can repair the damage without making it worse. It seems silly to me to make a big deal of it since the notches are cosmetic, but it's the principle of the matter. It's a 2003 special edition and if I go to sell it one day, I don't want someone to go 'oh, look at this crappy nut replacement!' I paid for a professional nut replacement and it's shoddy.

So I need some opinions. What would you do in this sitaution? Should I ask for my money back? Let him try to fix it? Demand that he replace the neck? Just let it go and never take it to him again? Thanks.


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Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 4:58 pm
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I would ask him how he would fix it. Seems to me that all it would need is a little sanding (to get rid of the notches). Are the notches real deep? Is there any clear coat in that area?

BTW, did you get a chance to try out the guitar with the new nut? I ask because if the slots aren't cut right, he would have to fix that too.

It does seem pretty shoddy, though. If he really knew that "that always happened," then he would have protected the area before he filed.

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Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 5:04 pm
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He didn't offer much explanation of exactly how he would fix it, except that he would shave off part of the wood, sand it and 'try' to refinish the area so it doesn't stand out. The notches in the wood are kind of deep. I'll post some photos.

There is indeed a clear coat above the nut. I've played the guitar since the job was done and it plays the same as it always did, it just sounds a lot more twangy and bright. There's definitely a difference in the tone. It would seem the nut is cut correctly. I'm not sure what I would be looking for to see that it's not.

I don't get why he wouldn't have protected the area better either.


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Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 12:51 pm
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does the new nut have a gradual roll off at that side instead of being perfectly square likee the fender nut? when you cut them like this it does dig into that part. the tech is probably more of a make it better type than keeping it perfect kind of guy. this way of cutting nuts is way better, actually i have had stock fender fake bone, graphite, and the graph tech and i just had a great tech cut the best nut ive ever had(lol) with absolutly zero binding and even though the others were better this is the best. so i wouldnt worry, you just got a tech that actually cares alittle more and i wouldnt think it would affect the resale value and if it did you probably would'nt want to sell your guitar to them anyway. how is the nut preforming? thats the main question. :)


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Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 12:56 pm
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Yes, it does roll off on the sides and it's rounded at the top. The nut plays well. I took it to another tech today for a second opinion, who said the same thing you did. It was a good job, just unfortunate that it got nicked. It passes the Stevie Wonder Test, so he gave it a thumb's up.

Today however, I cleaned the guitar and noticed that the strings were sticking a little when I played. So I dropped some GraphitAll on there and now the nut went from bright white to a murky creme color????


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Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 4:17 pm
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yea i used pencil lead on mine and it changed the hue too!!! now its vintage!! :wink:

the slots will loosen up alittle in time too. :) cool man, keep rockin!


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Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 5:07 pm
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Give him Hell. Make the music store owner pay for the repairs and get that careless Jerk Fired. You owe it to the next unsuspecting guitar owner that need a simple repair, it might be me.

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Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 12:11 pm
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i disagree


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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:25 pm
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Sounds like incompetence, plain and simple.

I'd either want a new neck or have SOMEONE ELSE professionally make those marks go away.


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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:33 pm
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I need to see a pic before I make a judgement call really but if it is bad and needs a repair they should pay for it to be done or give your money back for the labor.


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Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:43 am
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Never give a hacker a second chance to botch things up. Take it to a qualified repair tech. I would ask for my money back.

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