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Post subject: Replace narrow nut with a wider one?
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2013 6:38 pm
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I have a 2008 Mexican made Strat. I really like the guitar except that the strings are a little too close together for me. I understand that the Mexican Strats come with a narrower nut (41.3mm) than the American made Strats (42.9mm).

The question is can I just put the American size nut on my Mexican Strat or are the Mexican necks actually narrower?

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Post subject: Re: Replace narrow nut with a wider one?
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2013 7:25 pm
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41.3 mm is the total physical width of the nut. A 42.9 mm nut is wider than the neck at that point and will not fit.

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Post subject: Re: Replace narrow nut with a wider one?
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2013 7:42 pm
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Thanks for the reply Bill, though it's not exactly what I wanted to hear.

I guess the only other alternative is to replace the neck, but that's a lot more expensive than just putting in a new nut.

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Post subject: Re: Replace narrow nut with a wider one?
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2013 9:23 pm
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Tiger88 wrote:
I have a 2008 Mexican made Strat. I really like the guitar except that the strings are a little too close together for me. I understand that the Mexican Strats come with a narrower nut (41.3mm) than the American made Strats (42.9mm).

The question is can I just put the American size nut on my Mexican Strat or are the Mexican necks actually narrower?



Just for fun buy one of those Tusq Graph Tech pre shaped strat nuts they come in white.
It helps you stay in tune and I have heard these comments before an install.
Afterwards they seemed to be happier.
Its an easy deal they have youtube videos to show you how.
It has a little notch on the back has to be sanded off for yours is all
Hey its like a $10 item might make you happier.

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Post subject: Re: Replace narrow nut with a wider one?
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2013 9:25 pm
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Oh and PS that nut fits both American and Mexican Strats I have installed it in both.

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Post subject: Re: Replace narrow nut with a wider one?
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2013 1:15 am
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Unless you are shure a new nut will fit and you will happy with , sell your guitar and buy a new one that you like the nut . Neck is too important and sensitive to take a chance if you are not an expert .

You'll loose money anyway if you buy a new neck or sell all the guitar. And you may have problem to fit a new neck if you don't buy the right one ( on e bay ? )


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Post subject: Re: Replace narrow nut with a wider one?
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2013 1:57 am
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donnycraven wrote:
Oh and PS that nut fits both American and Mexican Strats I have installed it in both.


Sure you can sand the ends of the wider nut to bring it down to the same width as the narrower nut, but the problem that needs addressing (and I wasn't clear on), is the OP wants a wider string spacing at the nut. A pre-slotted wider nut may have a wider E-E string spacing. In fact, it may be so wide that it puts the strings too close to the edge of the narrower neck which may be even worse for the OP. There is no way of knowing this until the new nut is installed. Are you willing to guarantee that that is not the case with the Graph Tech pre-slotted nut? Even cutting new slots in a blank nut is no guarantee that what the OP wants can be achieved with the narrower MIM neck and still maintain playability.

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Post subject: Re: Replace narrow nut with a wider one?
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2013 2:28 am
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bluesky636 wrote:
donnycraven wrote:
Oh and PS that nut fits both American and Mexican Strats I have installed it in both.


Sure you can sand the ends of the wider nut to bring it down to the same width as the narrower nut, but the problem that needs addressing (and I wasn't clear on), is the OP wants a wider string spacing at the nut. A pre-slotted wider nut may have a wider E-E string spacing. In fact, it may be so wide that it puts the strings too close to the edge of the narrower neck which may be even worse for the OP. There is no way of knowing this until the new nut is installed. Are you willing to guarantee that that is not the case with the Graph Tech pre-slotted nut? Even cutting new slots in a blank nut is no guarantee that what the OP wants can be achieved with the narrower MIM neck and still maintain playability.


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Post subject: Re: Replace narrow nut with a wider one?
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2013 7:39 am
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I personally liked it better in all aspects when I installed it, from experience.
It gave slightly more height and since it was precut to fit all strats American and Mexican it felt better.
I might add that I have installed them in a Mexican Blacktop and a USA Highway 1 and 89 American Standard.
But am I offering a warrenty with my tip?
Well gee that's kind of a weird question.
At ten bucks if they don't like it they can go right back to the old one with no real loss. Wouldn't you think?
You just going off theory here or do you have any mechanical application experience of this?
I mean I fix guitars, I don't fix amps.
You Bill, fix amps,
I really wouldn't question you about an amp theory because I wouldn't know if you were right or not.
So Have you Bill or stratele52 ever actually installed a graph tech nut or any nut for that matter?

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Post subject: Re: Replace narrow nut with a wider one?
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2013 8:24 am
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1. You continue to ignore the OP's concern. He wants a wider string spacing. The width and height of the nut is secondary as it will be cut down to fit the neck regardless.

2. You are assuming that the OP has the capability to install the nut himself as opposed to paying someone to do it for him. Removing the old nut, installing the new nut, properly slotting the new nut (no pre-cut nut is properly slotted to the correct string depth), removing the new nut if it fails to meet expectations, and reinstalling the old nut (assuming it is still usable) will cost more than $10 if done by a professional. Before undertaking such an effort, any professional would measure the available space on the nut to determine if the string spacing can be made any wider to suit the owner's needs.

3. Yes, I know how and have installed and slotted nuts. I worked for 5 months for a custom luthier doing guitar repair (both electronic and mechanical). I modify and repair all of my own guitars although my specialty is amps (I have a BSEE and studied vacuum tubes in college). Stratele52 is a professional guitar and amp tech.

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Post subject: Re: Replace narrow nut with a wider one?
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2013 8:28 am
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I replaced a narrow-spaced nut with a wider one on a squier strat neck that was too closely spaced for my liking.
It worked just fine and I can't believe the difference in what a small fraction of an inch makes.
Just got to adjust to the E-strings being prone to falling off the fret board when fretting them.
Go for it, as previously posted, it's a cheap little experiment.


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Post subject: Re: Replace narrow nut with a wider one?
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2013 8:43 am
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Because of the string spacing you have to use the nut that was made for you neck width. donnycraven's advice is not the correct way to do it.

If you really need a wider neck for you MIM your going to have get a wider neck. No shortcuts here. Most licensed necks are wider at the nut (American Spec), and most of those come with plastic nuts that should be replaced.


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Post subject: Re: Replace narrow nut with a wider one?
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2013 8:46 am
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bluesky636 wrote:
1. You continue to ignore the OP's concern. He wants a wider string spacing. The width and height of the nut is secondary as it will be cut down to fit the neck regardless.

2. You are assuming that the OP has the capability to install the nut himself as opposed to paying someone to do it for him. Removing the old nut, installing the new nut, properly slotting the new nut (no pre-cut nut is properly slotted to the correct string depth), removing the new nut if it fails to meet expectations, and reinstalling the old nut (assuming it is still usable) will cost more than $10 if done by a professional. Before undertaking such an effort, any professional would measure the available space on the nut to determine if the string spacing can be made any wider to suit the owner's needs.

3. Yes, I know how and have installed and slotted nuts. I worked for 5 months for a custom luthier doing guitar repair (both electronic and mechanical). I modify and repair all of my own guitars although my specialty is amps (I have a BSEE and studied vacuum tubes in college). Stratele52 is a professional guitar and amp tech.



You sure do post good lol.
And ok guys I don't know what I'm talking about carry on.
I will remember not to post in anymore of your threads Bill because you are so much smarter than me.
How dare I :roll: :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Replace narrow nut with a wider one?
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2013 10:18 am
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Donnycraven you did not answer to what tigerBB ask !


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Post subject: Re: Replace narrow nut with a wider one?
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2013 10:19 am
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bluesky636 wrote:
1. You continue to ignore the OP's concern. He wants a wider string spacing. The width and height of the nut is secondary as it will be cut down to fit the neck regardless.

2. You are assuming that the OP has the capability to install the nut himself as opposed to paying someone to do it for him. Removing the old nut, installing the new nut, properly slotting the new nut (no pre-cut nut is properly slotted to the correct string depth), removing the new nut if it fails to meet expectations, and reinstalling the old nut (assuming it is still usable) will cost more than $10 if done by a professional. Before undertaking such an effort, any professional would measure the available space on the nut to determine if the string spacing can be made any wider to suit the owner's needs.

3. Yes, I know how and have installed and slotted nuts. I worked for 5 months for a custom luthier doing guitar repair (both electronic and mechanical). I modify and repair all of my own guitars although my specialty is amps (I have a BSEE and studied vacuum tubes in college). Stratele52 is a professional guitar and amp tech.



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