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I did a (Strat repair-type) thing!

Brian Krashpad

Active member
Joined
May 16, 2016
Messages
211
I only have one Strat. Not really a Strat guy, but everyone should have one, so I do!

But at any rate this Strat, Coco, had been in a gigbag, and had somehow got knocked into something hard enough to break the nut, chipping off the bit outside the low E string, rendering it unplayable. Given that I'm fortunate to have many other guitar options, when one goes down it typically takes me forever to get it repaired. And this was no exception.

So I sent off for a pair of replacement nuts (an extra just to be safe) and then those sat around palatial Casa Krashpad for a month or two while I screwed up my courage. Yesterday morning I took the bridge access back panel off, removed all the strings (I'd forgotten how much of a pain in the behind that is on a Strat-- every last one of the boogers was stuck fast, and had to be snaked out with the ol' straightened paper clip trick), removed the old broken nut, slightly widened the neck slot to accommodate the new nut, seated the new nut, and finally replaced all the strings.

This was an operation I'd never even attempted before, as I very much do NOT own any specialized luthiery tools, or for that matter really any nice woodworking tools, in particular missing small files that were almost a necessity to do a fine job. So an actual luthier would no doubt cringe on close inspection of the result.

That said, the dang thing DOES actually work, and without having to deepen or widen any of the pre cut nut slots! So, I did a thing! Both Coco and I are very happy, and she's officially back in the rotation.

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Iguana

Active member
Joined
Aug 22, 2018
Messages
108
Congratulations on the repair. Good looking Fender too. Is it just me or is it easier to do “hack” repair on a Strat? I did my first fret crown with a tricorner file on a Strat. Never gave it a second thought and I’m a Strat guy! I don’t put my Les Paul back in it’s case without wiping it down but the Stratocasters are lucky if they ever see a rag. If I’m not literally holding my Lester it goes back in the case. My Fenders get leaned against amps, tossed onto the couch, and generally mistreated without any worries at all. I blame Rory Gallagher and Stevie Ray. Beat to death Strats look cool!
 

Brian Krashpad

Active member
Joined
May 16, 2016
Messages
211
Congratulations on the repair. Good looking Fender too. Is it just me or is it easier to do “hack” repair on a Strat? I did my first fret crown with a tricorner file on a Strat. Never gave it a second thought and I’m a Strat guy! I don’t put my Les Paul back in it’s case without wiping it down but the Stratocasters are lucky if they ever see a rag. If I’m not literally holding my Lester it goes back in the case. My Fenders get leaned against amps, tossed onto the couch, and generally mistreated without any worries at all. I blame Rory Gallagher and Stevie Ray. Beat to death Strats look cool!

Thanks! Yeah, I'm a smidge less careful with my Fenders. Thus this'un only has the gigbag. Though some of the other Fenders do have hardshellls, all of the Gibsons do! If I was just playing at home it probably wouldn't matter either way, but given that I play on the "local original music" scene, that means multiple bands playing single sets over the course of a night, with a concomitant loss of some control over gear safety and security.
 
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