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Will installing a new bone nut onto my Epi Les Paul Custom damage the finish around the nut area? One of the guitar techs i spoke to said installing a new nut might damage the finish and laquer. Is this true?

Wondering whether its worth just keeping the stock nut or getting a new bone nut installed? Please advise!!! Thanks

first things first ... why do you think you want / need a new nut installed? are you having action, tuning, or intonation problems?

to answer your question directly, if the installation was done improperly, yes, it could happen ... done properly, i cant think of any reason why installation of a new nut would damage the finish

if a new nut is wanted / needed and you have a skilled guitar repairman nearby who can do the work (or if you can do it yourself), the improvements to playability and tone far outweigh the negligible risk of finish damage ... especially for an Epi ... just my 2 centsgood luck
t4d

If the finsih was put also over the nut (which happens on some guitars) it may happen that renutting it will damage the finih...


Originally Posted by tone4daysfirst things first ... why do you think you want / need a new nut installed? are you having action, tuning, or intonation problems?

to answer your question directly, if the installation was done improperly, yes, it could happen ... done properly, i cant think of any reason why installation of a new nut would damage the finish

if a new nut is wanted / needed and you have a skilled guitar repairman nearby who can do the work (or if you can do it yourself), the improvements to playability and tone far outweigh the negligible risk of finish damage ... especially for an Epi ... just my 2 centsgood luck
t4d

I'm getting upgrading all the electronics and as it was slightly cracked on the low E string i thought i'd also upgrade the plastic nut to a bone one. Just wondering as i'd rather leave it as it is then have the finish messed up since it seems to do the job ok.

Like mentioned, if it's done right the finish should be untouched. If there is some finish running over where the nut sits on the neck, then it should be scored with an exacto knife to cut through the finish so none of the finish on the neck itself is harmed.


Originally Posted by ErikHLike mentioned, if it's done right the finish should be untouched. If there is some finish running over where the nut sits on the neck, then it should be scored with an exacto knife to cut through the finish so none of the finish on the neck itself is harmed.

1 I was just going to say that.


Originally Posted by ErikHLike mentioned, if it's done right the finish should be untouched. If there is some finish running over where the nut sits on the neck, then it should be scored with an exacto knife to cut through the finish so none of the finish on the neck itself is harmed.

2. I was going to say that too, but wanted to confirm my source. This is exactly what Dan Erlewine says to do in his Guitar Repair book and recommends doing it for the finish and the glue that may not of been completely wiped off when the old nut was installed.

If you're not experiencing any trouble with the one you have, I dont see why you should change it. If the crack make your guitar go out of tune, or you have fret buzz, then you should do it.

If you decide to do it and you have it done by someone who knows what he/she is doing, the finish should not be damaged.

The nut actually as an effect on not only the tone (slightly audible) but the tunability and sustain as well.

Plastic nuts don't allow the strings to sustain very much and the pressure of the strings causes burrs and grooves to build up leading to the strings catching. Makes it a PITA to tune when the strings are getting caught up in the nut.

Graphite nuts are a lot better. The tone is warmer than plastic and pretty even actually. Tuning is a snap and with good tuning machines, will stay in tune. Never had problems with grooves or burrs building up in 12 years on the same nut.

Bone or Tusq is great in a Les Paul. A little brighter than graphite and helps really makes open chords ring clear. It's very dense so burrs and grooves don't seem to be an issue.

Then there is brass. Big time mojo. If anything, these things just brighten the sound up. I'm not a fan of brass nuts really. Harder to work with, not a very pleasant change in the tone.

IMO, bone or tusq is the way to go in a LP, graphite in a Strat or Tele. My Epi LP is about to get a new bone or tusq nut very soon.

Good luck.