Vintage Nut Material for 65 casino

[ForeverFabFour]

I recently purchased a Kalamazoo manufactured Epiphone casino. Dates to 1965 and appears to be all original with the exception of the nut that was replaced at some point. The nut that is currently on it is plastic (I believe) and was poorly done from the beginning, not to mention it has been well worn. Desperately needs to be replaced.
I would like to do so with the period correct material, so long as it is of decent quality.

Does anyone know if they were using bone or nylon nuts on Epiphone casinos in 1965?
I’ve seen a few ES-330s (same guitar, different headstock) that look like they might have been bone but it’s hard to tell from photos?

 

[charliechitlins]

There was a grade of nylon that is no longer available.
It's plastic.
Use what you like.
I've been liking Corian.
I get samples from the big box hardware.

 

[LPR6]

I’d just go with bone, especially if I was doing the work myself. My ‘63 reissue es330 has a nylon nut FWIW.

 

[ForeverFabFour]

Thanks for the input! I was going to stick with nylon as I had a few extra Nylon nut blanks from Historic makeovers. They seem to be the best I can find for the period correct look and feel. However, as you have recommend, I have gone with bone.
I am in the process of shaping it as we speak and hope to have it finished tomorrow. However, I have gone down the rabbit hole and now find myself leveling, crowing, and polishing the frets. All be it, refresh that's a few decades overdue. I expect this to be the best this guitar has played since it left Kalamazoo in the winter of 65.

I am not particularly sad to skip the nylon as I always have such a hard time shaping and slotting nylon with just hand tools. Even with diamond slotting files it seems to take twice as long as bone and doesn't provide much improvement in sound IMO.

 

[jb3]

I recently purchased a Kalamazoo manufactured Epiphone casino. Dates to 1965 and appears to be all original with the exception of the nut that was replaced at some point. The nut that is currently on it is plastic (I believe) and was poorly done from the beginning, not to mention it has been well worn. Desperately needs to be replaced.
I would like to do so with the period correct material, so long as it is of decent quality.

Does anyone know if they were using bone or nylon nuts on Epiphone casinos in 1965?
I’ve seen a few ES-330s (same guitar, different headstock) that look like they might have been bone but it’s hard to tell from photos?

https://www.mojotone.com/Nylon-Guitar-Nut-Blank-1-3-4-x-3-8-x-3-16_2?srsltid=AfmBOor-waqEDFqGJx8Hugwm4HX07Wg9QOp4gRRV_WjXrHMTw-MX5hBC

 

[Dave P]

The original was probably molded plastic, some say Nylon, some say Melamine. Who really knows? I've used unbleached bone which works great.

 

[charliechitlins]

A free sample of Corian from the big box hardware will get you 5 or 6 great nuts.

 

[Hamerfan]

I am not particularly sad to skip the nylon as I always have such a hard time shaping and slotting nylon with just hand tools. Even with diamond slotting files it seems to take twice as long as bone and doesn't provide much improvement in sound IMO.

I only use steel files with nylon, they cut better. My diamond file is only for bone and the light colored GraphTech stuff.

 

[JaxonGarcia]

Thanks for the input! I was going to stick with nylon as I had a few extra Nylon nut blanks from Historic makeovers. They seem to be the best I can find for the period correct look and feel. However, as you have recommend, I have gone with bone.
I am in the process of shaping it as we speak and hope to have it finished tomorrow. However, I have gone down the rabbit hole and now find myself leveling, crowing, and polishing the frets. All be it, refresh that's a few decades overdue. I expect this to be the best this guitar has played since it left Kalamazoo in the winter of 65.

I am not particularly sad to skip the nylon as I always have such a hard time shaping and slotting nylon with just hand tools. Even with diamond slotting files it seems to take twice as long as bone and doesn't provide much improvement in sound IMO.

Any update?