nut solutions

[timi_h]

ok one of my guitars has recently developed a slightly sticking nut. after a trem dip, the g string goes sharp. then if i do a bend on the g, it goes back to normal. there is that small ping noise involved both times.
another way of making the pitch stick sharp is to push on the string behind the nut, so thats definitely what is causing the issue.

anybody got any solutions?
i remember hearing about pencil lead in the nut slot can sort it out, but want to hear about other solutions before deciding what should be my plan of action!

[markg5150]

soft pencil lead or some Big Bends Nut Sauce will improve things.

More significant adjustments could be getting a graphite or Tusq nut or getting a file out to smooth the nut grooves

[timi_h]

yeah it did occur to me to get a graphite nut but i dont know how you remove them without damaging the guitar! how do you go about that?

[ryanb]

Nut lube may help a little, but it is a band-aid approach and probably won't be very effective if it is sticking that much. You need to [carefully] file the nut slot to the right shape. Don't lower the slot. You need to widen it slightly.

Replacing the nut just increases your work load a lot. Then you will have to file ALL of the slots to the right size/shape, and for the correct height. It won't be right 'out of the box'.

I am assuming you don't have [and don't want to buy] nut files. There are lots of alternatives you could use for a quick job like this: a needle file, torch tip-cleaner, sandpaper, an Xacto razor saw, a feeler gauge with teeth filed in the edge, a guitar string, etc.

[timi_h]

hmm ill look into some of those then, i think a nut file might be hard to track down without trying to do some mail order, which i dispise cos the postal service never ring my bell, and instead put it in the delivery office which is open 7 til 1, making me have to get up really early!!!
cheers for the advice guys