I somehow chipped off the top of a bone nut while building this thing and instead of fixing it like a smart person I filed it over and finished the guitar. So now my nut is too short and I'm undecided on how to fix it. Note this is a zero fret and the nut is only there to protect the fretboard and space the strings.
It's stuck in there with superglue. I could take the heat gun to it and then knock it out but I'm afraid the heat might loosen other glues in the area, that headstock veneer is less than 1/4" thick. Or I could leave it and use a string tree/retainer to keep the strings inline. If I used a string tree I'd want a nice one because I don't want to ugly up that ebony headstock. Thoughts?
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Thanks all. I just need a little encouragement. I warmed it with a heat gun then it popped right out with a couple light taps. I should be able to finish it within the next couple days and I'll post to the gallery.
I'd cut around the edges with a new xacto blade and knock it out... Acetone softens superglue, but it eats finishes, too
How about a very shallow nut just behind the zero fret? I've learned myself to glue the nut last and even then I use white glue for easy removal. Let us know how it works out.
Wade
Depending on how much super glue you used to glue it down, you can usually knock it loose with a hammer and a block of wood. It will most likely come off with a tap or too. I do that on my builds when I hose up a nut. I only use a drop to hold it in place, since the string tension usually is enough to keep it in place.
If I don't replace the nut, I saw this idea.
Daniel, it's a 4 string.
i do zero frets too. only way to go. how many strings? you could drill closely spaced holes and put brass or steel brads to guide the strings. or bend some nice wire into very narrow "u" shapes, drill holes and fit them in. superglue. the brads could even come up from the wood. complicated but i bet it would look great.