Buy Files From Stew Mac!
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- čas přidán 31. 05. 2021
- I know what you are thinking, how bad could a file be? I guess that the best is the enemy of good enough and if all you want to do is scratch things with them any file will do. When it comes to making your guitar play great the nut is a super important part. If your nut sucks than your guitar is going to suck too. Good nut files are worth the money in this video I'm going to recommend that you buy once and cry once.
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You can instantly stress out anyone just by shouting "catch" - Hudba
"...buy once, cry once..." - words for the ages.
We have been hearing it our whole lives but sometimes the lure of a low price to too much to pass up.
Should be a Texas Toast Guitars t-shirt
@@TexasToastGuitars Thank you for this tool PSA.
I don’t have the time, money or experience to sort through the Junk on Amazon.
And not to sound like a shill myself, I’ve been purchasing tools from StewMac for close to 25 years and have not had a single issue or problem.
Hell, StewMac treats me better than I treat myself………..
The Hosco brand files of all types are good quality. They’re not the cheapest but about half the cost of the Stew Mac equivalent.
Stewmac just rebrands and then marks on up. Sometimes as high as 350%.
Some Stewmac files are exclusive to Stewmac such as the Z-File, which I am reasonably sure Hosco makes for Stewmac. You can't get an "equivalent" Z-File.
Jep, the hosco's are quality.
I love my Hosco set, makes nut slotting so much easier and quicker.
Where, here in the U.S., can I order Hosco files and their other guitar tool products?
Great info! I don't build guitars but I do a good amount of setups and fine tuning. For slotting pre-cut nuts I use fine grit paper around the string which works well and is quite inexpensive. My fret crowning tools came from Amazon for $50 and work as well as the more expensive ones, but I tried them on a junk neck first to make sure. As always great tools won't undo a lack of skill, but bad tools will make you cry!
Good advice. You can cut corners with some things, but for files I like StewMac. Expensive, yes, but they also have a lifetime guarantee.
That's cool dude, one thing that really ticked me off about the courses at Crimson was the lack of certain tools, I'd have to wait around for ages for a tool I needed and waste loads of time or come back from a tea break to see some other student and pinched it.
Right when I am in the market for slotting files. Thanks Matt for saving me some grief.
Whew! When I saw the title of this video, it scared me because I bought a set of StewMac nut files about a month ago but haven't used them yet. Thanks for the info!!!
We have lots of sets of the StewMac files they are good to go
Buy once, cry once is always good advice. I have the Hosco set and really like them, but also have the Stewmac bass set and their Z file, which is awesome.
The files in the video are Hosco knock-offs I hear really good things about the genuine Hosco tools
You're on the money there Matt. I bought a combination of files from Stewmac over the years and never failed me. I bought a few individual files of Ebay to do the odd sized string set I couldn't do with my main set and they were shit. Some files were bent, the sizes didn't correspond to what they should be (larger or smaller), files were off centre (like the amazon ones). So nut and fret files were something I learned you don't cheap out on. That being said, I still can't get over the price of stewmacs Z-files. Talk about being bent over and shafted with sand and no lube! Ooch.
Thumbs up, thanks for the info Matt. I'm always tempted by the lesser expensive stuff on Amazon. I've often had a bad taste left in my mouth over buying discount crap only to have it not work properly or have it prematurely fail. Most of the stuff I felt like I overpaid for works the way its supposed to, and I still have it, so.... This seems to be equally true whether you're buying power tools or drill bits.
You got that right Mark
Sometimes I'm pleasantly surprised by stuff from amazon but those other times I'm bummed out. HAHAHA
Nice one...I used a set of torch/nozzle cleaning files on a brass nut...all done now but I started when Gods dog was a puppy chasing waves on the Dead Sea when it was only a bit poorly
That is old
Thanks Matt. I dodged that bullet, I saw those on Amazon and kept looking. I did get the Hosco for bass nuts. Been using stew Mac files for years. Yes $ but they are still going strong.
I hear that the genuine Hosco files are GTG
Bought a good few quids worth of stewmac tools over the years and getting them into the UK pricewise is eye watering. But after the expense shock has ebbed and this stuff is pressed into use, hey it works and does what it says. And yes after a few years now the Stewmac nut files are the only ones I bought so far.
I understand that the Stewmac gear isn't always easy to get outside of the United States
I'm going to have to agree, I have the Hosco set and they work on the wound strings ok but they are horrible when trying to take down the unwound strings.
i actually saw these on amazon and thought about getting them,thanks for the info mat
I would not feel right if I didn't say what our experience was. Oh yeah and we had 4 sets... none of them were up to speed
@@TexasToastGuitars again,thanks
Hosco ones are great... I took a small class once and they had the generic eBay files and they look the same but definitely different. I wish I had a full set though, for heavy strings and bass guitars, but wow, the $$$ adds up quickly.
I hear good things about them
Great video. What I haven’t heard anyone discuss is should I get these or the slotting files that StewMac offers (those ones without handles.
I have a nice mix of Hosco and Stew Mac tools. Can’t go wrong with either.
You’re so right buddy. Here in UK, it’s so hard to find good quality nut files at an affordable price. Surely it can’t be beyond the wit of man to make small, and accurately made files for most gauges.
I'm glad you said this. I have an Amazon set. I see they're under 10 bucks Canadian right now. They're horrible, but also my first set so I didn't know any better.
it's up to you man, I know that I won't be buying them again
I have about a dozen of Stew Mac's single gauge slot files. Seriously folks, dont skimp on nut and fretting tools. You get what you pay for, and good files will make your life so much easier. Good nut/fretwork files were seriously the best investment I've made out of all of my luthiery tools.
I know the good stuff will last a long long time and pay for themselves in no time
From Leo: I really like the single gauge files. At $15 each I put it off for years. I finally dropped $150 for ten of them and only regret not getting them years ago. I have done maybe 80-90 guitars with them and they are easy to do a good job and seem to be lasting fine
@@barbmelle3136 They're up to $22 each now, LOL!
Stu Mac files are made in Japan by Hosco😊
Hosco makes good ones too. The ones from Amazon suck. I returned mine as well
I use Hosco too. Expensive but good.
I'll co-sign on that. The cheapos always LOOK the part, but they aren't right in any way shape or form. Rock on!
This is just one of those things like uncle Matt said. Spend the cash up front for the good stuff. 5 years from now you won't remember what you paid for them and they'll still work!
The files I'm talking about are absolutely NOT the Hosco set.
I have not used those but hear good things.
@@TexasToastGuitars I thought for a second that the were the Hosco files, but quickly realized that they are just meant to look like the hosco files. The Hosco files are great btw & I agree the Stewmac ones are great too.
Yes, I bought a set of 10 Hosco files 10 - 56 from Amazon they cost about the same but with free postage to UK so were cheaper in the end.
The files I'm talking about are absolutely NOT the Hosco set.
I have not used those but hear good things.
The Hosco set is just as good and much cheaper. You get 9 for $103 rather than 6 for $135.
Great advice Matt. I thought they would be ok, but I was wrong. That’s nutty!!
I thought for sure that a file is a file is a file but no.
You won't see them in the shop next time you are here
@@TexasToastGuitars 10-4. Thanks
I bought a set of 14 Japanese files (maybe Hosco, I don't remember). They've been working fine for me for nearly a decade, and they cost about $180, as compared to the $350 StewMac is charging for their set.
Every now and then StewMac comes up with some nice stuff that you can't get anywhere else, but you're always going to pay through the nose for it. It pays to shop around a bit.
The Hosco files are good. I bought a set of 10 for around $100 if I recall correctly.
I recently bought a file set from Amazon. They were only labelled as 1-6 and were double sided but the labelling was not correct. Just silly adhesive label so easy to change and the metal was stamped I, II, III so it was obvious. They don’t indicate the actual width of the cut though. They are at least symmetrical and cut well enough. If I were going to be doing a lot of nut work I would have gone better but these seem to work well enough for my few times I will need them. Not all Amazon stuff is junk, sometimes you get lucky and sometimes not.
LOL, I'm half way through my 3rd guitar and about to start my 4th. I have the worst files on earth. They were $1.50 for the set (on a sort of key ring). Made sense when I was only building one guitar but after watching this I'm a little embarrassed now. Thanks my friend. Time to spend some $
Thanks for your tip Matt - no string boink with a good file!
The last thing you want is strings boinking
I have cut so many nuts with my Hosco files. It takes me about 5 to 10 minutes per nut..... At $120 for the set, it's a good investment.
I’ve had my StewMac files for 18 years. I cried then. You get over it as time goes on 🤐 Say hello to Mrs Toast!!!!🤐
Just bought a set , guess I'll use em to play a tiny sad violen
Matt I bought those junk files from Amazon a year ago I returned them also. I ended up buying a set of Hosco double ended files they are Awesome💪💪🎸🎸🎸🇺🇸🇺🇸🎼🎹👨🏻🦯
I hear really good things about them
Thanks that’s nice of you!
I try to be a nice person
@@TexasToastGuitars I did buy the hole set from StewMac they great and easy to use. Thanks for the shows and info you have on your site.
I bought those . Now I gotta look !
Our sample size of 4 did not impress
Hey thanks for this. Looking to get a better set of nut files than I've so far improvised and was looking at those particular ones. Asymmetrically ground files will not do!
add one to your subscriber count. :)
Thanks my friend, glad I could help!
Hosco's nut files does the same thing. If you're not really careful the string wobbles in the nut slot..
The files I'm talking about are absolutely NOT the Hosco set.
I have not used those but hear good things.
About fifteen years ago I bought a set of nut files on eBay that is literary a bunch of feeler gauges in different thicknesses with the edge notched and they are still going strong with very accurate slot gauges. I guess you could easily make your own set very cheap by buying a feeler gauge set and notch them yourself.
Seems like it would work
I watched a really interesting interview with Melvyn Hiscock before he sadly passed. He talks about having making nut files that exact same way.
That's what Crimson Guitars used to sell. They were completely worthless. They bend to easily and they were dull after the second nut I cut.
@@wilfredjbrimley well, mine are still working fine without being dull or bend. 🤷🏻♂️
@@wilfredjbrimley Yeah, I bought that Crimson set and they definitely suck. They don't sell them anymore.
I got by with feeler guages that I filed teeth in for years. Lately every time I order something from Stewmac I order a nut file.
Before i got a set of stew macks i got the cheap ones , mistake and if they say .046 they ain't at least the ones i got . i kept them and use them once in awhile for just filing stuff around the house ......
They will scratch stuff, that's for sure
Thanks man you just send me some money be recommending the best thing and I guess I should have known that sumac was the best cuz I know they are but thought I could save a few bucks glad I took your advice I don't want to buy shitty nut files....
Like you said a good nut can make her break a guitar
If you must use cheap files, chase them with abrasive cord. That will smooth out any issues with your slots.
That is a good idea, though I can't imagine a scenario where one must use cheap files
I bought a set of the Stew Mac diamond files, expensive but AWESOME!
Very nice!
I bought a set of Hosco branded files from Solo Music Gear.
I hear good things about them
I had those in my cart Fri night and removed them, figured for the price they were too good to be true
I own that set.... pass!!
Good move Mark
Those cheap files you've got there have handles that make them look like Hosco files, but they are *not* Hosco (you can tell by the printing on the handle). The Hosco files are cheaper than StewMac, but not as cheap as those files. I use the Hosco files and they are good.
The files I'm talking about are absolutely NOT the Hosco set.
I have not used those but hear good things.
Yeah, the Hosco files are $57 for 6 sizes. Fine Japanese made tools!
Lee Valley Tools, made in Japan nut slot files and fret end dressing files. Google the manufactures name to get them even cheaper from Japan. I just bought a set of files for electric, 6 files, and even with shipping, it was less than $90. I now will have those files forever.
SOunds good man
I bought some files like those and noticed they weren't the gauges they claimed to be. I modified them by grinding the sides until they measured correctly. Then i notched the edges so they'd cut better.
Sounds like a lot of sweat equity in that set of files
@@TexasToastGuitars LOL! Ya think!
I have a set of music nomad files work just fine
Slightly off topic but what does anyone think of the metal screw height adjustable nuts?
All files are not created equal. I looked at almost all the files I could find, from the expensive Stew Macs, to the cheapest no brands. I decided to get the Hosco three file set, for electric guitars. Two sided with the gauges printed on the soft plastic handles, they are quality pieces. They were around $80, not cheap, but I wanted the nut on my new Fender neck to be cut as good as it could be, without taking it to the local luthier. Great advice you give here: don’t cheap out on the nut files, or you’ll wind up with cheap crappy junk.
I hear good things about Hosco
I bought my nut files from Music Nomad. They take some getting used to, but I found they are easier to control “out of the yellow handle”. How do these compare to Hosco or StewMac, I don’t know, since I’ve never bought theirs. The MN brand works for what I do. But, one thing I’m sure of, is that if you do this for a profession, buy the best ones you can get.
Thanks for sharing Sam.
I have never used the Music nomad files but I'm sure they are good.
I could cry every time I open my tool box. Very true to buy once but boy do those tool boxes become expensive.
You got that right Rick
What does a 'Boinking String' sound like? It may be that elusive sound that someone is searching for. 😉
You don't want it
Has anyone tried the new Music Nomad nut files? If you tried them, would love to know what you think.
They are intriguing but I have not tried them
This really helps. I built 2 guitars so far and my nuts suck. Tools matter
Yep. I have a set of those. Just barely ok.
Yeah, they will work but hard to get a good quality nut with them
I've been tempted to try the new nut files from Music Nomad. The ergonomics look great on them, but at $85 for a set of six, they're almost as much as the StewMac set. So I'm going to wait for some more reviews to come out first.
Let me know what you find out Travis
They also sell the individual sizes to complete the set all the way to bass sizes for $15 a piece
I bought a couple sizes I needed and they seem pretty good. They're diamond and Stewmac is now offering a diamond coated set for $450 for 6 compared to $89 for the Music Nomad ones. I like the diamond cut. It seems to cut a lot smoother and you feel like you have more control of how deep you go.
I was thinking to buy those files. Glad to see this video first but now I am depressed because I cannot afford those stewmac files 😂
In the plus column, they will last a long long time... We have done hundreds of nuts with them
Matt did you ever try the ones from crimson guitar? I have been wondering about their tools
Hi Robert
I have not tried them but Crimson has good stuff
Check out Chris Alsop's handmade fret tools from England! They're handmade and are the finest you will ever find, and at reasonable prices!
Sounds good , shoot me a link
Buy once, cry once is what I did, LMI and Stewmac are the sources that I use for these types of tools!
LMI is good to go, cool people too
I almost picked up a set of those last week, but the reviews turned me off. Ended up buying a set of Hosco files as part of an order from Philadelphia Luthier Supply and I'm going to be using the for the first time tonight!
I hear good things about that Hosco set. Let me know how they work out Rob
@@TexasToastGuitars Well I did a GraphTech Tusq nut last night (first time ever doing this!) and they filed pretty straight, and I'm certain anything not perfect was purely down to user error :) It was like $110 for a 10 file set which does from .010 to .056
So you go the individual size set, those look pretty nice
@@TexasToastGuitars I intend on building myself multiple guitars for different tunings and string gauges so that seemed like the way to go, although they don't seem to make individual ones for bass sizes. Also, I tagged you on instagram for my post about the nut I finished so you can check it out.
Do you have a toolbox inventory you can share? See what we are missing or should consider?
I am going to do a video today about what is in our class toolboxes
Review some of them $9 locking tuners. ;)
I then bought a $100 set of the Japanese nut files and they were excellent until they wore smooth. They no longer cut.
I guess nothing lasts forever?
Craptastic nuts..!!! Lmao
Oh boy. Have you seen the brand new Music Nomad diamond nut files ? Really really nice IN MY HUMBLE OPINION. I like em more than my StewMacs and they are cheaper..... just my 2 cents. they are BRAND new product
I have not tried them but it is a neat idea
you say we dont have to use those but lol
i have an epi that i want to tune to drop c and the low E is a 0.60 guage and sadly only stewmac sells a file that size lol
previously i bought one from musicnomad that was half the price and worked perfectly but they dont have a 0.60
You do have to use them
in my country the price of stewmac tool was unlogical almost same as sport bike
Yikes!
Ya, I bought a set of the cheapies...not impressed at all. I'll have to break down and spend the money to get a good set. Thanks for the advice!👍😎🎸🎶
You will be able to tell the difference right away
@@TexasToastGuitars cool!👍😎🎸🎶
As I look at the files on Stewmac I see the sizes don’t quite match string diameters. How large can I go over the string diameter without getting too much slop inside the slot?
Stewmac says .001 to .002
What does your experience say?
That's the question I want answered! On my Gibson guitars it seems you want a wider nut slot so the strings don't get stuck in the slot. On my Gibsons I'm going to start making bigger nut slot widths.
Hi !
Should the groove of the nut be strictly according to the diameter of the string?
Or is it acceptable to have a little more
Very slightly more towards the tuners
The thin files from Stew Mac suck butt and are still expensive! The Stew Mac ones that you showed are the good ones. Thanks for the warning about the craptastic Amazon files Matt!
I love saying "Craptastic" HAHAHA
I just watched a channel that covers Star Wars and Marvel movies (New Rockstars) that has a Coors Light sponsorship...why do YOU 2 NOT have one...they are missing out on an endorsment!
We are doing it wrong, clearly HAHAHA
Hell yea dude
Hosco files are just as good and half the cost now. Stewmac just raised the prices on their 6 piece nut files to $136! You can get a 9 piece Hosco set for $103.
I hear great things from the Hosco tools
I have a set just like those and have the same complaints
Our sample size of 4 did not impress
File those in the pile of Chinese knock off’s of the original Stewmac files. I’ve had mine for ages & they’re still going strong. Obviously don’t get as much work as yours 😜 Need me some to do basses though, still saving my pennies for those
Oh yeah man, the bass ones are really cool
@@TexasToastGuitars and cost an arm and a leg too 🤪
Matt, have you used the new and swanky nut files from StewMac, the "Diamond Cut" ones? They are ridiculously expensive, four times the price, $380 for a set of six. Like you I've been using the normal StewMac nut files for a long time. I am thinking of buying a single 0.050" of the DiamondCut just to see what I think.
They're $450 now, LOL!
@@joeking433 That's a cause for several weapons grade frownie faces.
I like my 3-file Hosco set.
I hear good things
Maybe, Amazon got so many complaints and returns, they pulled them?
Every tool I’ve ever bought from Stew Mac has not disappointed.
Me too J
People always tell me how over-priced the gear is from StewMac but I disagree.
@@TexasToastGuitars pay for what ya get.
100000% facts
NEVER let files contact other files! EVER. At ALL!
My experience is No file is a "low tech tool". They should be dependable references that can produce predictable surfaces.
Thanks for your videos! Plenty of great tips and information! Never Ending THANK YOU's!!!
Great tip!
Thanks for watching my friend
@@TexasToastGuitars - Thank YOU!!!
You really do get what you pay for. You buy cheap and that's what you get. On the very rare occasion will something cheap actually be a great investment. Tools for guitars are precision for a reason. Accuracy matters. Same is true for mechanics tools. Slight variations can ruin your hard work.
You got that right
Counterfeit Hosco?.. I am reasonably sure Hosco is the company making the files that StewMac sells.
The Music Nomad files look good
I have not tried them but they are intriguing
Most of the stuff on Amazon is a waste of money. I trust the cheap slotted straight edge to check necks and the fret rocker they sell on Amazon, though.
Me too
Stew Mac is pricey but their stuff is high quality. I hate that they make you pay for shipping after bending you over on the prices though. I would buy more from them if they didn't charge for shipping. Even if there was a minimum order.
Yeah the junk files are junk indeed. In addition to stewmac, Uo-Chikyu and Hosco are both made in Japan and are very high quality guitar tools.
How about Nomad files😂..?
Buy the one that work!
Good advice, I'm going to start doing that
I can sharpen a cheap gouge, I don't know how to fix a shit file, some things just demand the money.
You got that right amigo
Just wanted to let people here know that you don't have to buy nut files from Stew Mac if you don't want to because
you can get a set of Hosco Nut files or Uo-Chikyu Nut Files instead. Both are made in Japan and are as good as anything Stew Mac sells.
BTW I'm a fan of Stew Mac and have spent a lot there.
Yeah do that
Every tradesman knows that quality tools cost money
You got that right my friend
Yep.... bought a similar set from Amazon. Garbage!!!
Bought a new set of the Hosco files. Guitar and Bass....The new magnetic ones with the aluminum holder. The new Hosco files are great. They are pricey.... but I feel, They will give me lots of service for the foreseeable future
I hear good things about the Hosco tools
Crimson in the uk to a great set.
Crimson is a good company for sure
For all the quality and durability, as long as these Stew mac tools are meant to, and are supposed to last........ YOU NEVER FIND A GOOD or BAD USED SET FOR SALE...ANYWHERE.............EVER...........They're so damn expensive people must be getting buried with 'em when they die, jus to make sure to get every gotdamn cent of value out of that onerous investment ! ...;-)
Yep, a hundred bucks. No way around it.
For the good stuff
im ashamed to admit this, but i once used a welding nozzle tip cleaner to file a nut.. it works but its tedious and inefficient..
Whatever works
Buy once, Cry once. I did not follow those words of wisdom and have some craptastic amazon files to prove it. I did however take advantage of 10% off and free shipping and ended up with these Stew Mac nut files and a Z file.
If you ask me, there is no substitute for the Z file