Need help. Possible bad nut??

[JCD]

So I changed my strings on my Cobra S (04-07-08A) and ran into a problem. I know you aren't suppose to remove all your strings at once (that's what I've been told anyway, to take one off and replace with a new and so on) but I wanted to totally clean my neck and whatnot.

Anyway, I decided to change string gauges from a hybrid set of 10's and 11's Elixirs to a set of ghs Boomers 11-50. I have not had my Anderson setup for my drop C# tuning (still has factory setup for A440 standard and 10-46). So when I started to put the new strings in, I started with the low 50 first and as I began to tighten, I heard a tiny pop by the nut. I checked it but it seemed okay to my untrained eye. So I finished stringing it and then started tuning and stretching the strings. I started bending the strings hard to make them stretch and when I bent the low string down i heard the pop again. Then I bent the high E string upward and heard it again! So I just went to the nut and tried to move it left and right and was able to feel/hear the pop on command now, though I can't see it move (maybe a very miniscule amount of movement) or maybe one of the strings could be a tiny bit too big for its slot in the nut?? Not sure what to do. Anyone know what is wrong exactly? Any help or general tips or anything would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!!

[tom]

changing all 6 on an electric is not a big deal.
sounds like the string is just too tight in the slot. i know the .049 elixir fits ok but the slightly larger boomer may not. i know a .052 will not. if you think that you want to keep that size, the nut slot just needs to be widened a touch. it's easy if you have the right tools, but if you don't, try a piece of fine sandpaper wrapped around something that will not quite fit in the slot. you do not want to sand the bottom of the slot, just widen the sides a hair.

[JCD]

Thanks for the info, Tom. I think the Boomer may be a TINY bit too big for the low string. However, I believe the nut is the problem I was referring to previously. I just replaced the boomers with Elixirs and when I removed all the strings, I kinda played with the nut ever so slightly and POP, it just came right off. It's like it wasn't secured to anything. I'm not a pro when it comes to repairs or assembly of guitars so I'm not sure how to fix it. Is it secured by a light glue like Elmer's or something stronger, or was it just snug-fit in there, or something else?

[tom]

elmers will be fine. we do fit notches in the bottom so if the glue ever lets go the nut won't slide sideways. so just put a small bit of glue on the bottom then push the nut down from the top, feeling for the notches to locate the position. then tighten the strings to keep pressure on the glue till it drys.