Action question: lowering the nut slots

[Ostinato]

I'm thinking of taking in my bass in to a tech to get the nut slots lowered. There's nothing wrong with my instrument really, it's just a personal preference of mine to have a lower action there for more playability.

Is there anything I should know before I get this done and is it okay to do it on a compensated nut?

 

[phatduckk]

my action's really, really low and ive never filed the nut. are u sure you need to do this to get the action you want?

 

[Kristopher]

Have you ever done this before? Just curious.

I'm pretty sure the answer you'll get here from everyone is that you don't need to do that, there's plenty of other ways to get low action. EBMM basses are quality instruments, you should never need to make permanent alterations to make the bass playable.

My humble suggestion is to take the bass to a good tech and explain what kind of setup you want, and they should be able to adjust the bridge and trussrod to accommodate your needs.

 

[Ostinato]

Have you ever done this before? Just curious.

I'm pretty sure the answer you'll get here from everyone is that you don't need to do that, there's plenty of other ways to get low action. EBMM basses are quality instruments, you should never need to make permanent alterations to make the bass playable.

My humble suggestion is to take the bass to a good tech and explain what kind of setup you want, and they should be able to adjust the bridge and trussrod to accommodate your needs.

In regards to the first question, yes I have had this done on other basses than StingRays, always with great results. I guess I'm so used to having these types of things done that I don't give it much concern. It really is a personal preference though...the neck appears to be fine and straight, but the action at the nut is a bit tall for me.

Sooner or later I will be getting this done as frets should need dressing every few years...I'm actually looking forward to wearing them down a little!

But as you say, Ernie Ball basses are very well made. I will try and get a second opinion before I do anything "drastic".

 

[Kristopher]

Wow, interesting. Never heard of people doing that!

One suggestion, though: you could buy a replacement nut and have it installed and filed down instead of the EB nut. That way you can have the original unaltered and put back on if you ever decide to sell. Just an idea!

In regards to the first question, yes I have had this done on other basses than StingRays, always with great results. I guess I'm so used to having these types of things done that I don't give it much concern. It really is a personal preference though...the neck appears to be fine and straight, but the action at the nut is a bit tall for me.

Sooner or later I will be getting this done as frets should need dressing every few years...I'm actually looking forward to wearing them down a little!

But as you say, Ernie Ball basses are very well made. I will try and get a second opinion before I do anything "drastic".

 

[Art and Music]

My suggestion: If it ain't broke...don't fix it.

 

[Big Poppa]

Ok you really shouldnt need to lower the nut. Please go to a music man dealer that does expert work. Truss rod adjustments fix 90% of action related issues Hacking into a nut causes 90% of buzzing problems

 

[Kirby]

Ok you really shouldnt need to lower the nut. Please go to a music man dealer that does expert work. Truss rod adjustments fix 90% of action related issues Hacking into a nut causes 90% of buzzing problems

Agree totally here. If the nut is grooved too low, you will get buzzing in the open position, many times neck relief will not correct this either. If the string just barely clears the first fret with the second fret fretted, it is grooved properly in most cases. It is one of the first things I look for when I set up a bass that buzzes.

At least if it is grooved too low it is a relatively inexpensive repair. Like BP said, take it to a luthier who has experience with this, not just anyone who works at a store.

 

[Musicman Nut]

I'm thinking of taking in my bass in to a tech to get the nut slots lowered. There's nothing wrong with my instrument really, it's just a personal preference of mine to have a lower action there for more playability.

Is there anything I should know before I get this done and is it okay to do it on a compensated nut?

I do everyone of my basses more so to get a nicer curve and a hair lower, BUT and again BUT, I've been doing this stuff for 30 years and it takes me a good hour with pro Nut files to do it, They do come from the Factory perfect but i tweek mine to my preference.

One 10/1000 of a screw up and you got buzz. So my advise is don't do it. DJ

 

[Kirby]

I do everyone of my basses more so to get a nicer curve and a hair lower, BUT and again BUT, I've been doing this stuff for 30 years and it takes me a good hour with pro Nut files to do it, They do come from the Factory perfect but i tweek mine to my preference.

One 10/1000 of a screw up and you got buzz. So my advise is don't do it. DJ

Good advice Dave. Those nut files are not cheap are they! Could not believe it when I bought my first set.

 

[Big Poppa]

The Nut Files are expensive because you have to out bid the divorce lawyers.

 

[Kirby]

The Nut Files are expensive because you have to out bid the divorce lawyers.

 

[eddybomb]

Now that was funny, BP.
It never ceases to amaze me at what a regular guy you are.
For a person with the responsibilities of owning one of the front running musical instrument, and string manufactures in the world, to find the time to joke with all of us...well...it's just very cool to be here.

Thanks.

Sorry for the short hi-jack.

 

[Big Poppa]

I love complimentary hijacks....FANBOY!!!!

I just love that whole fan boy stuff.....

 

[Ostinato]

Ok you really shouldnt need to lower the nut. Please go to a music man dealer that does expert work. Truss rod adjustments fix 90% of action related issues Hacking into a nut causes 90% of buzzing problems

I just switched the factory strings to my prefered gauge, which is .045 to .105, and the problem is very noticable on the E string now. I think its the width of the nut slot as well as the depth. I can see a gap under the E where it isn't resting in the bottom of the slot, there is a space. Maybe the slots are only cut for a certain gauge?

 

[Kirby]

I use 45 to 105 and no problems with mine. I believe that is what they are shipped with if I am not mistaken so I assume they are set up being filed with those gauges.

Best advice is take it to someone with experience, because as Dave mentioned earlier, one wrong move and it becomes time for a new nut.

 

[Spectre]

SR4s ship with SuperSlinky 45 60 80 100

Hybrids, which have become my favorite, are 45 65 85 105

I had to tweak the intonation slightly, but all strings fit in the groove just fine. This is pertaining to the old style nut.

Have not swithed strings, yet, on my new basses with the compensated nut.

 

[Ostinato]

On mine, the strings appear to fit fine as I look down above the headstock, but I do notice that there are increasing string heights for each slot as I look across the fingerboard (where the side dots are in my line of sight).
It doesn't follow the curvature of the fingerboard and that's what I prefer.

When I take it in I'll point to the G string and depress it at the first fret and say that's the height I'd like all of them to be. I did the second fret test mentioned earlier and it was the only one that passed.

Any thoughts?

 

[StingRayzor]

Sacred Nuts...

I will probably make a few enemies here saying this, but, oh well. Here we go again... Why is filing a nut so frowned upon? Does anybody freak out when I say I lowered my strings 1/64"?

The depth at which a nut is cut is a part of the setup of an instrument, And, to the best of my knowledge, there are different styles of playing, hence different setups can and will be used by different players. Yes, even different nut depths. While the folks at EBMM have an impeccable record of QC at the factory, not all of us EBMM players have or employ the same technique and feel, hence slight changes in setup may be needed to fit your style.

I have no idea what measurements EB use as a standard clearance for nut height. I do know that I just took an SR4 to my luthier to have the nut checked and after he was done filing, well, it was totally worth the $15.

If you think it feels or sounds a little funny, it probably does. It you do not know how to fix it, go through the series of suggestions you get from people, see if any of them work and, if they do not, take it someone who knows hot to fix it. End of story.

OK, have at me...

 

[bovinehost]

Why is filing a nut so frowned upon?

Not frowned upon here.

I would not encourage an inexperienced person to file a nut. It's very easy to screw up.

I'm not good at it, but I know someone who is, and wouldn't hesitate to file a nut that needed filing.

Okay?