Compensated Nut

[Geri O]

I bought a 1998 5-string Stingray that is the most awesome bass. However...

I'm having an issue with the first-fret tuning on the A string. I could tell the nut had been replaced on this bass when it arrived. The string spacing wasn't even, so I had it replaced. Then I noticed the tuning issue and I was advised that the nut might be cut too high, which is known to cause this issue. This time, I had the locally-highly-recommended guitar luthier check the replacement nut and he agreed, lowering the A slot slightly. He set the nut A slot to a recommended height. It helped the problem a lot, but it's still just a couple of cents sharp at the first fret. However, this guy set up the bass, noting my preference for a slightly higher action with medium-gauge strings (.050, .070, .085, .105, .135) and it plays sooooooo nice. It's perfect! But I need to figure out this tuning thing.

I've recently seen some pics of a "compensating" nut on some Music Man basses. Might the lack of this nut be the cause of my tuning problem? Can a replacement be bought from Music Man?

Thanx,
Geri O

 

[KevinM]

I believe EBMM Customer Service can help you with that.
Call them on Monday during regular business hours or email them with the link provided.

Music Man Customer Service

 

[Gravesend Black]

MM basses were good enough even without compensated nut before it was implemented in early 2000s. If your bass utilized the classic nut (and that is true according to your DOB), you can't have the official compensated nut replacement.

 

[Soulkeeper]

If the slot where the nut sits is very wide, like maybe 4 - 5 mm or so, the original nut was compensated. If the slot has normal width (around 2 mm?), the original nut was likely a normal one.

This is a compensated MM nut. Notice how broad it is:

Versus a "normal" nut.

 

[A.J.]

Unfortunately if your bass didn't come with a compensated nut you won't be able to retrofit it with a compensated nut. The nut shelf is cut different for the compensated nut.

 

[Geri O]

Unfortunately if your bass didn't come with a compensated nut you won't be able to retrofit it with a compensated nut. The nut shelf is cut different for the compensated nut.

Oh, my, I see that now, that's a LOT broader nut.

Okay, well, I guess I'll make it work as is. It's certainly not a deal-breaker with the instrument by any means.

Thanx,
Geri O

 

[Golem]

`

The compensated nut helps a bit, a detectable bit,
with overall intonation along the whole string, but
that is a rather different situation than the nearly
universal tendency of 1st and 2nd fret notes to be
a few cents sharp due to a tension increase from
fretting so close to the nut.

I deal with this in 3 ways that work for me:

1. Cut the slots really low.
2. Avoid frets.
3. Refuse to worry about it.

Often I do all three on the same bass, and
experience Toadawl Intonational Nirvhana.

 

[BullHorn]

I hate to hijack this thread but I just got a Stingray 5 that was made on May 3rd 2000 but it came with a regular nut. When exactly did they move to compensated nuts?

 

[Gravesend Black]

I hate to hijack this thread but I just got a Stingray 5 that was made on May 3rd 2000 but it came with a regular nut. When exactly did they move to compensated nuts?

It was introdused with EBMM Bongo near 2002, correct me if I'm wrong. But other models achived that nut much later. As far as I know Stringrays got it during ceramic/alnico switching back in the 2008.

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

It was introdused with EBMM Bongo near 2002, correct me if I'm wrong. But other models achived that nut much later. As far as I know Stringrays got it during ceramic/alnico switching back in the 2008.

All the 2005 limited edition instruments in Buttercream had the compensated nut. The regular production guitars and basses had it phased in starting around 2006



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