• Ernie Ball
  • MusicMan
  • Sterling by MusicMan

willsellout

Active member
Joined
Jun 21, 2006
Messages
30
Location
Woodinville, Washington, United States
So I changed out the strings on my Fretless Stingray today. I swapped out some black coated plasticky things with a set of TI Jazz flats (amazing by the way)! While changing out the G string I noticed that not only was the nut slotted really low, but it actually is putting a groove in the wood just after the nut. All the strings are sitting right on the wood after the nut but the G is the only one that is grooved out. I think(?) It might be creating a little buzz but you can really only hear it when it is unplugged and being played. Are the fretless basses purposefully slotted really low? Should I have the nut swapped out with a new one? Any info would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks
Dan
 

Musicman Nut

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 20, 2003
Messages
1,456
Location
California
willsellout said:
So I changed out the strings on my Fretless Stingray today. I swapped out some black coated plasticky things with a set of TI Jazz flats (amazing by the way)! While changing out the G string I noticed that not only was the nut slotted really low, but it actually is putting a groove in the wood just after the nut. All the strings are sitting right on the wood after the nut but the G is the only one that is grooved out. I think(?) It might be creating a little buzz but you can really only hear it when it is unplugged and being played. Are the fretless basses purposefully slotted really low? Should I have the nut swapped out with a new one? Any info would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks
Dan

No Dan that's very normal, It shouldn't cause any buzzing because the nut is cut at an angle which is why you see the string marks on the fretboad, If they we'ren't there your action would be extreamly high. DJ
 

Brim

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 8, 2005
Messages
248
Location
Florida
My '96 fretless sterling also has the G-string notched (or grooved) just behind the nut. I think this is intentionally done to keep the nut action low by the factory? Correct?
 

jongitarz

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 15, 2003
Messages
6,049
Location
Here
On a fretted bass, the nut has to be slightly higher that the fret. Not so on the fretless
 

Brim

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 8, 2005
Messages
248
Location
Florida
Good to know.

Jon - Out of curiosity, why would my sterling have a slight groove or notch behind the nut (the G string only)?
 
Top Bottom