Showing posts with label Replacement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Replacement. Show all posts

05 April 2021

Which TUSQ XL Nut for a Squier Classic Vibe Strat?

TL;DR: TUSQ XL Nut (model PQL-5000-00) – See measurements at the bottom of the post (Fig. 3).

I wanted to replace the broken nut on my 2019 Classic Vibe Strat, but I couldn't find a single definitive answer to which model is definitely the right model. Well, I did find some correct answers, but I didn't know they were the correct answers because there were so many different answers. I saw a lot of posts saying it fits a Squier Strat (Bullet? Affinity? Standard? CV? Not specified) and a Fender Strat, but I didn't know enough about the differences among the models to know which nut would fit the Classic Vibe in particular.

I ended up getting a TUSQ XL Nut (model PQL-5000-00). The string spacing is clearly the same as the Classic Vibe Strat. But the nut is longer overall, so I had to file the ends. 

Fig. 1. Stock nut still installed (note the chip be the low E string) with TUSQ nut setting on the strings. The string spacing is virtually identical.

Fig. 2. TUSQ nut installed and sanded. Note the skewed neck carve.

Another note: I was expecting to have to score the heck out of the finish around the nut, but it came out pretty easy with only minor scoring along the edges where the nut meets the finish.

Here are the dimensions, taken with a digital caliper. I'm not sure if I got the string spacing exactly right, but even if I did 2/10ths of a millimeter is a negligible difference.

A note about the dimensions below: I used TUSQ's terminology. So width doesn't refer to what we normally think of as nut width.

Fig. 3. Stock vs. TUSQ Nut Dimensions



26 July 2011

Ibanez TS-10 Replacement Switch

I recently bought an Ibanez TS-10 Tube Screamer with a non-functioning switch, but could not find an exact replacement. I bought a Cherry MX1A-11NN for 98 cents at Small Bear Electronics: http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=588. The listing warns that the switch "fits the opening, [but] needs a piece of wood glued to the actuating lever to press its smaller shaft." That sounded sloppy, so I hoped to find a different fix.

I installed the switch with no problems, and saw that it was indeed too short. I tried small rubber caps (including two that I pulled from the end of bungee cords). They worked, but didn't look good. Cutting them straighter would have helped. The sizes I tried fell off and would have needed glue anyway.

I grabbed two pieces of shrink tubing -- one about 4mm and one about 5mm, give or take a mm. I placed the 4mm tube on the actuator, which was a tight fit, but not a struggle. The 5mm fit over the smaller one no problem. I cut the length to about 8mm and very, very briefly heated them with a lighter, just enough to taper the end and firm them up a bit. Here is the result, which looks good and works perfectly.  Hope this has helped someone. I'd be happy to hear about other fixes for this switch.