New nut for '81 325

drathbun · Post by **drathbun** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 4:31 am

I just bought my brother-in-law's '81 325JG. The D string nut slot is very deep, almost touching the fretboard. I filled a bit with baking soda and crazyglue but it look horrible and sticks while tuning.

So I ordered a new nut from Rickenbacker. My question is, did I buy the right one?

I bought this one:

http://www.rickenbacker.com/cart.asp?viewitem=03325&category=viewitem

I assumed the correct nut was without binding, but are all Ric nuts the same width? There are only two in the boutique.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 6:14 am

Welcome, Douglas!

You ordered the correct one, as far as string spacing goes. The total width of the nut might have to be sanded down a bit if you want an exact match to the neck's width at that point.

The slots will probably have to be deepened a bit, though. Take this process carefully and slowly!

Please post some pics of your acquisition. 325s are beautiful Ricks. I love the short scale guitars.

drathbun · Post by **drathbun** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 5:45 pm

Thanks Paul! It takes a bit of getting used to but I'm REALLY enjoying playing this shorty!

I polished her up a bit!

BTW... what are the black nuts made of anyway?

Doug.

drathbun · Post by **drathbun** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 5:51 pm

Ooops

drathbun · Post by **drathbun** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 5:56 pm

Try again....

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 7:47 pm

That's a beauty, in great shape. One in JG, but not anywhere as nice, sold on eBay a couple of weeks ago for over $1100.00.

The black nuts are made of bakelite (phenolic) sheet.

I love shorties. Started with Fender Mustangs and a '59 Duo-Sonic, and my recent Rick acquisitions of the 320 (now 325) and the ES-16 put me in shorty heaven.

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 11:08 pm

That's a beautiful guitar, Doug (may I call you that?). The small Jetglo body is a classic, IMO.

I don't think I could handle a shorty but I've got a 350 JG and I love it!!

Welcome aboard.........

drathbun · Post by **drathbun** » Sun Aug 28, 2005 7:16 am

Thanks Paul and Howard! Yes, please call me Doug.

That's a gorgeous 350JG Howard. What year is that 320 Paul?

I paid my bro-in-law $1000 Cdn. ($820 US) for the 325. Which I think is a bargain. I tried to give him $1200 but he wouldn't hear of it!

I've ordered new tuners for it as well as the old ones are very tarnished. The nut should be easy to replace. I do setups on my acoustics.

This Rick is my seventh guitar (not counting the guitars I bought for my son and daughter - two acoustics, one electric and a bass). My guitar stable is now:

2004 Larrivee L05 acoustic
2005 Yamaha FG720-12 12 string acoustic
2004 Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster
1981 Rickenbacker 325
2003 LaPatie Etude Classical
1968 Yamaha FG150 Red Label acoustic
1982 Peavey T-20 Bass

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sun Aug 28, 2005 8:14 am

Doug, you need more Ricks!

Mine (as others on the Forum know) is an '81. It was MG and a 320, as is yours (325s have a vibrato). I got it a month ago from craigslist and paid a bit over $600 for it.

Then I reworked it into the guitar shown above, which is a quasi-58 looking thing.

It's all covered in a past threat called UP AT 4 A.M.

I use yellow wood glue on my nuts (there's yer opening, Aitch...).

You ordered Kluson Deluxes, right, Doug?

drathbun · Post by **drathbun** » Sun Aug 28, 2005 9:54 am

I will correct my guitar inventory list Paul! Thanks! I thought they were all 325's. Although I like to use a vibrato arm (on my Strat) I don't know that I'd like to lose that super-cool tailpiece on the Ricky!

Yeah, I ordered the Kluson Deluxes.

These:
http://www.rickenbacker.com/cart.asp?viewitem=00565&category=viewitem

You know the longer you play the guitar, the easier it is to avoid the jokes surrounding the care and feeding of our nuts!

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Sun Aug 28, 2005 10:38 am

Thanks, Paul..... think I'll pass on the opportunity this time!

scottpro1969 · Post by **scottpro1969** » Sun Aug 28, 2005 12:05 pm

Guys, beautiful guitars all around. I briefly owned a 350 but decided pretty quickly that I could not play the thin neck. I'm primarily a bass player but really would like a Rick electric. Would love to play a 660. Anyway, great stuff!!!

drathbun · Post by **drathbun** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 6:23 pm

The nut I received from Rickenbacker is about 3/32 shorter than the one I'm replacing. It ends up being flush with the fingerboard. It is the correct nut according to the rick website. Should I shim it or something?

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 4:17 am

Doug: This would not be the correct nut for your application. I would get some blank stock and fashion it accordingly. Times change. As my children often used to say, "What was it like in the olden days."

drathbun · Post by **drathbun** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 7:55 am

Thanks Peter!