Replace nut?

[mugbucket]

I've got a cheapie Johnson A model (My first!)that has a slight problem - the bottom E string has sliced completely thru the nut.

I'll never claim to be a luthier, but if I was ever going to do any work on a mando, this would be the one.

Any suggestions on materials/techniques?

Thanks in advance!

Ski

[dirty harry]

Ski,
Nut replacement is an easy thing to do. Janet Davis sells a Mando nut which is already slotted. Use a good super type glue and remove the old nut carefully. Or make your own out of some bone or abalone. You can actually build up the old slot channel (if its not too bad) with super glue and some bone or other similar dense white or off white material and then refile the slot.
Enjoy
H...

[sunburst]

Here's how, from Frets.com.
Stay away from the superglue unless you really know what you're doing!

[mugbucket]

Thanks!

Ski

[Andrew Faltesek]

I've got some elephant ivory(1920's billiards balls) and some mastodon ivory from my jewelery making days; and have been considering replacing the nut on the STE. Worth the work?

[Michael Lewis]

Mastodon or mammoth ivory might be good if it is of good quality and not weathered. If the billiard balls aren't cut up yet they might be pretty valuable on an auction site or to a collector.

[Stephanie Reiser]

I use the bone nuts from Stew-Mac, and to attach I use maybe two drops of PVA glue on the fretboard endgrain.