fbpx

How to build a bass guitar – Cutting the nut slot and prepping the nut blank part 1

Below: The tools used for this step. Shown is a radius block, two F clamps, pull saw (sometimes called a japanese saw), strips of mahogany veneer, cow bone nut blank, pre-made acoustic guitar saddle, micro-chisel (about 1/8″ wide), 1/8″ nut seating file (the tool with orange handle), two utility blades, digital vernier caliper, sticky-back 150-grit and 220-grit, double-stick tape and the bass neck itself to the left.

Below: The current look of the nut slot, which is very narrow.

Below: A utility blade is placed into the slot as an anchor. The saddle is then placed against the blade so we can score a line in the fretboard. The acoustic saddle in this application happens to be the correct width we need for a proper distance from the slot.

Below: A line has been scored into the fretboard.

Below: Preparing to clamp the radius block to the neck for use as a saw guide. The small pieces of mahogany are stacked on top of each other and used to simulate a fret in order to prevent the block from rocking while clamped down.

Below: The block is now clamped to the neck and keeping it in place. The pull saw is being used to cut other side of the nut channel.

Below: Channel successfully cut, matching the existing cut in front of it.

Below: Using a chisel to get the larger chunks of wood removed first, and will later be smoothed out with a file.

Below: Chiseling complete.

Where are the rest of the build steps?
You can view them all here.

1 thought on “How to build a bass guitar – Cutting the nut slot and prepping the nut blank part 1”

  1. Is that a small blood stain I see next to the fret. Praise the Signature of a true craftsman that puts their blood, sweat and tears into their work. Nice demo, thanks.

    Reply

Leave a Comment

Want a New Set of Pickups?
Enter for a chance to win: