Compensated Nut

[ProgHead]

Hi folks.

Last week I read a review of the Stingray HH in a German magazine.

I am owner of a 1978 pre-EB Stingray, so I have 2 questions:

1) I noticed that the new StingRays have a compensated nut: would it make sense to retrofit mine? Do you think it can be done? Your thoughts?

2) There is no more "string though body" in the newer StingRays. Why? Was it to difficult to find strings in the appropriate length? In fact it is... Other reasons? Doesn't ErnieBall produce strings long enought? Wouldn't it bind customers to their own strings if they would reintroduce "string though body"?

Andy from Switzerland.

 

[bovinehost]

1) I noticed that the new StingRays have a compensated nut: would it make sense to retrofit mine? Do you think it can be done?

The compensated nut will improve intonation, especially in the lower registers nearer the nut. Whether or not it will actually be enough to notice is a question I can't answer...I have both types of nuts (shut up) and have no intonation issues with the standard nut.

If your playing involved lots of chords, you might appreciate the compensated nut.

Can it be done? Yes.

2) There is no more "string though body" in the newer StingRays. Why? Was it to difficult to find strings in the appropriate length? In fact it is... Other reasons? Doesn't ErnieBall produce strings long enought? Wouldn't it bind customers to their own strings if they would reintroduce "string though body"?

The 30th Anniversary Stingray has the string-through-body. In the old days, when SRs all had that, I don't remember having much trouble finding strings long enough, although some flatwound strings do not offer optimal performance due to the angles necessary for through-the-body stringing. (The winding on the strings may break.)

Why the change? I remember someone saying that there was no audible difference between the two, and it does make it easier to find (and change) strings, plus the angles are not as severe.

This is one of those questions ("What sounds better?") that will produce a ton of opinions. Most of what you'll hear is just that - opinions.

Jack

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

I'd leave your 1978 Bass in it's original condition.

The string-through-body bridge had already been deleted by the time Ernie Ball aquired MM (1984).

However, the S-T-B bridge has been featured of some EB Basses....30th Anniversary Bass, 100th NAMM Bass. Also some European and Japanese market Basses.

 

[ProgHead]

thank you both for your answers.

I'll leave my 1978 SR as it is. Anyway nut and frets have been replaced in 1998.

The s-t-b was just a question...

Andy

PS: any idea why fretless basses with maple fingerboard are so hard to find?

 

[adouglas]

Can it be done? Yes.

You sure about that? I thought it was in a different place.

I just bought a used Albert Lee and in the course of an email exchange with Customer Service was told that the intonated nut cannot be retrofitted for that reason.

Are the basses different somehow?

 

[bovinehost]

I said yes to the question because I seem to remember a Sterling being retro-fitted with a compensated nut.

I assumed that if it could be done with a Sterling, it could be done to a Stingray - but that was an assumption on my part.

 

[smallequestrian]

You sure about that? I thought it was in a different place.

I just bought a used Albert Lee and in the course of an email exchange with Customer Service was told that the intonated nut cannot be retrofitted for that reason.

Are the basses different somehow?

In Theory, you can do it, but they are not a drop in replacement, so it would take some modifications and probably wouldn't be worth the trouble.

 

[strummer]

In Theory, you can do it, but they are not a drop in replacement, so it would take some modifications and probably wouldn't be worth the trouble.

Yes, you'd have to remove a couple mm of the fret board, which isn't the funnest thing to do on an old, pretty valuable bass.

 

[jongitarz]

We do not retro fit the compensated nuts on any instrument

 

[bovinehost]

That's what I meant to say.

Only I said something else.

Look, it's the Goodyear blimp.

*pointing*

Jack

 

[NeverSummer]

I'm looking to buy my 1st Stingray, but all the ones on the wall at GC have normal nuts. Who wants that? I don't really want a guitar that's been hanging on the GC wall for a year.

Anyway, are these older rays, or do only some limited edition rays come with the compensated nut?

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

......Anyway, are these older rays, or do only some limited edition rays come with the compensated nut?

All Rays now have the compensated nut. Nothing wrong with the older ones though

 

[adouglas]

Nothing wrong with the older ones though

+1. These are basses, not fish...wait a minute, basses are fish...um....uhhhh....

Anyway, the point is that they don't go stale or anything. If the instrument is in good condition then what's the problem with it? Do you just want that minty-fresh "new bass" smell?

 

[Oldtoe]

That's what I meant to say.

Only I said something else.

Look, it's the Goodyear blimp.

*pointing*

Jack

LMAO @ Jack

 

[Musicman Nut]

I'm looking to buy my 1st Stingray, but all the ones on the wall at GC have normal nuts. Who wants that? I don't really want a guitar that's been hanging on the GC wall for a year.

Anyway, are these older rays, or do only some limited edition rays come with the compensated nut?

Hey Guys I wouldn't really loose Sleep over the Different Nuts EB is offering, Guitars have been made and played for over a 100 years with a stock nut and still sold a few records, EB has just dialed the intonation in a little closer with the new Nut. So buying an earlier Stingray won't throw you out of tune or make you sound out of tune. The New Nut is Just a better just like the 3 band is over the 2 band to most people.

 

[xring]

I'm looking to buy my 1st Stingray, but all the ones on the wall at GC have normal nuts. Who wants that? I don't really want a guitar that's been hanging on the GC wall for a year.

Anyway, are these older rays, or do only some limited edition rays come with the compensated nut?

I wouldn't give the lack of a compensated nut a second thought. In fact, I replaced the nut on my Bongo with a standard. Intonation and tuning is just fine...