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Nut files aren’t a hardware-store item and they’re not about food — they’re gauged luthier files sized to match a specific string diameter, used to cut and widen the string slots in a guitar’s nut so each string sits at the correct height and spacing. Using an undersized generic file (or worse, a hacksaw blade) is the single most common cause of buzzing, pinging, or strings that bind in the nut slot on a home setup. Here’s what’s actually sold for this job in 2026.
| # | Product | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | StewMac Gauged Nut Slotting Files, Complete Set of 19 | $330 | Amazon · eBay |
| 2 | MusicNomad Diamond Coated Nut File 16-pc Complete Shop Set | $280 | Amazon · eBay |
| 3 | MusicNomad Diamond Coated Nut File 6-pc Electric Guitar Set | $110 | Amazon · eBay |
| 4 | StewMac Gauged DiamondCut Nut Slotting File Set | roughly $250-$400 for a 6-file set, based on historical per-file pricing | Amazon · eBay |
| 5 | Crimson Guitars Diamond Nut Slotting Files (Set of 6) | $137 for the acoustic set of 6 | Amazon |
| 6 | Grobet Swiss Nut Files | around $150 for a full set, per luthier-forum reports | Amazon · eBay |
| 7 | Philadelphia Luthier Tools Guitar Nut File Set (10-piece) | $126.81 | Amazon · eBay |
| 8 | Hosco Nut File Set (11-piece) | $90-$110 for an 11-file set | Amazon · eBay |
| 9 | Uo-Chikyu Nut File Set (8-piece) | under $90 | Amazon · eBay |
The picks, in detail
StewMac Gauged Nut Slotting Files, Complete Set of 19
The industry-standard reference set that most working luthiers own or started with — 19 individually gauged files covering the full range from ukulele to bass string diameters.
- 19 files covering .010″ to .080″+ gauges
- Twin 4″ cutting edges per file
- Chrome-alloy steel construction
- Covers electric, acoustic, classical, and bass string sets
- One set covers essentially every string gauge you’ll ever encounter, no need to buy multiple smaller sets
- The de facto reference brand — most setup guides and videos assume these files
- By far the most expensive option here if you only ever work on one or two guitar types
- Standard (non-diamond) files need periodic re-sharpening with use
MusicNomad Diamond Coated Nut File 16-pc Complete Shop Set
A diamond-coated alternative to StewMac’s steel files — the round, string-shaped diamond blade cuts and polishes the slot in one pass and doesn’t dull the way a standard toothed file does.
- 16 files, .010″ to .130″ gauges
- Diamond-coated, round string-shape blade profile
- Storage case and cleaning brush included
- Covers electric, acoustic, classical, and bass
- Diamond coating stays sharp far longer than uncoated steel files
- Cuts and polishes the slot simultaneously, leaving a smoother finish than a standard file
- Costs more than StewMac’s equivalent standard-steel 19-piece set
- Diamond files can’t be re-sharpened once worn — they’re replaced, not maintained
MusicNomad Diamond Coated Nut File 6-pc Electric Guitar Set
A smaller, electric-guitar-specific version of MusicNomad’s diamond file line, for players who only ever work on standard electric string gauges.
- 6 files sized for common electric guitar string gauges (.010″-.046″ light set)
- Diamond-coated round blade profile
- Storage case included
- Also sold in medium and heavy gauge configurations
- Cheaper entry point into diamond files if you don’t need the full 16-piece range
- Same cut-and-polish diamond technology as the full shop set
- Only covers one string-gauge family — acoustic or bass work needs a separate set
- Narrower gauge range than either the StewMac or MusicNomad full sets
StewMac Gauged DiamondCut Nut Slotting File Set
StewMac’s own diamond-coated upgrade over their standard steel files, sold in 6-file sets by gauge family (electric light/medium/heavy, acoustic light-medium/medium-heavy).
- 6 files per set, sold by gauge family
- Diamond-coated cutting surface, same rounded string-shape profile as MusicNomad’s
- Cuts and polishes the slot in one pass
- Available for electric and acoustic gauge sets
- StewMac’s own diamond-file answer to MusicNomad, from the brand most setup guides already assume
- Stays sharp far longer than the standard steel 19-piece set
- StewMac doesn’t publish a single current set price consistently across its own site — confirm the exact total at checkout before ordering
- Individual DiamondCut files have historically priced around $55-$75 each, meaning a 6-file set runs well above the standard steel set
Crimson Guitars Diamond Nut Slotting Files (Set of 6)
A UK luthier-tool maker’s own diamond-coated file set, priced closer to MusicNomad than to StewMac’s DiamondCut line.
- 6 diamond-coated files
- Acoustic and electric gauge sets available
- Sold direct from a working luthier-tool shop, not just a reseller
- Meaningfully cheaper than StewMac’s DiamondCut set for a comparable diamond-coated file
- From a shop that also sells and demonstrates the tools in its own instructional content
- Smaller brand with less name recognition in the US market than StewMac or MusicNomad
- Ships from the UK, so factor in international shipping and lead time
Grobet Swiss Nut Files
Swiss-made files that luthier-forum veterans rate as comparable to or better than StewMac’s for durability, though they’ve become harder to source as a dedicated nut-file product.
- Swiss manufacture
- Steel construction
- Sold mainly through specialty luthier-supply resellers rather than a single official storefront
- Forum consensus rates Grobet’s steel and edge retention as lasting longer than StewMac’s standard files at a comparable price
- Long-standing reputation among working luthiers, not a new entrant
- Increasingly hard to find as a dedicated nut-file set — availability is the main obstacle, not price
- No single official US retailer, so pricing varies by reseller
Philadelphia Luthier Tools Guitar Nut File Set (10-piece)
A specialty US luthier-supply shop’s own house-brand 10-file set, sitting in price between the budget Hosco/Uo-Chikyu sets and StewMac’s full 19-piece reference set.
- 10 files covering common gauges
- Sold direct by a dedicated luthier-tool retailer
- Steel construction
- Direct-from-specialist pricing without a big-box markup
- Sits at a useful middle price point between the cheapest and priciest sets on this list
- Smaller, single-retailer brand rather than a widely distributed name
- Fewer files than StewMac’s full 19-piece set
Hosco Nut File Set (11-piece)
A Japanese-made set widely reported by working luthiers as functionally equivalent to StewMac’s standard steel files at roughly half the per-file cost.
- 11 files covering common electric and acoustic gauges
- Steel construction, twin cutting edges
- Widely available through eBay and specialty luthier suppliers
- Comparable gauge spacing to StewMac’s standard set
- Luthier-forum consensus rates the cutting quality on par with StewMac’s standard files
- Meaningfully cheaper per file than the StewMac 19-piece set
- Fewer files than StewMac’s full 19-piece range, so some gauges (very light or very heavy) may not be covered
- Sourced mainly through resellers rather than a single official US storefront
Uo-Chikyu Nut File Set (8-piece)
A budget-tier steel file set that luthier-forum regulars point to as usable quality well under $90, for a first set or occasional home use.
- 8 files covering common electric guitar gauges
- Steel construction
- Compact set, smaller gauge range than the larger sets here
- Cheapest usable-quality option in this roundup
- Reasonable choice for a hobbyist doing occasional setups rather than daily luthier work
- Narrowest gauge coverage of any set here — won’t cover every string gauge you might encounter
- Less refined edge quality than StewMac, MusicNomad, or Hosco per forum reports
Buying tips
- Match the file to your actual string gauge, not a generic “light/medium/heavy” label — a slot cut too wide lets the string rattle side to side, and one cut too narrow binds and causes tuning instability.
- Diamond-coated files (MusicNomad) cut and polish in one pass and stay sharp longer, but can’t be resharpened; standard steel files (StewMac, Hosco, Uo-Chikyu) can be touched up but dull faster.
- If you only ever set up electric guitars in standard tunings, a 6-8 file set covering common gauges is plenty — the full 16-19 file sets are for shops that see acoustic, classical, and bass work too.
- Cut a little at a time and check depth against the fretted string height constantly — a nut slot cut too deep can’t be undone without filling and recutting.
- Jescar is a real, well-known luthier-supply brand, but it’s primarily a fret-wire maker — it doesn’t currently sell a dedicated nut-file product, so it isn’t on this list despite showing up in searches for luthier tools generally.
As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.