Nut Replacement for a SR 4

[Deacon John]

Hey All--

I have a new SR 4 (fretted) with the new "compensated nut." A guess a trade off for better intonation is very high action at the nut.

I'd like to replace it (not just have it filed down). It feels really creepy and I dislike the sound.

Any suggestions? I was thinking a Fender American Vintage Series P Bass Nut.

Thanks,
Deaky

 

[fidooda]

Doesn't EB costumer service sell the older type nuts?

 

[maddog]

It feels really creepy and I dislike the sound.

What do you mean by "feels really creepy"?

Sounds like you got ideas on what to try so go for it.

 

[Chris C]

Hmmm,

First, the nut doesn't effect the sound (or at least very very little) except when you play open notes. (remember the brass nut craze?) Second, you won't get any lower action with any sort of nut you can buy than you can with the compensated nut--all that has to do with is how well the nut is filed. I can file a chunk of pallet wood into a nut and get great action. (of course, it woundn't last long)

What do you mean by 'feels creepy'? I don't think I've ever really touched the nut during a performance? (the BASS' nut--don't even say what some of you might have been thinking! )

 

[Kirby]

Never tried above the nut harmonics on a bass, cannot think of any reason to touch the nut when playing. I agree with the above. The only thing you would gain with an old style nut would be a different look. Plus, you would have to shim the older nut because it is more narrow than the new compensated nut. In the end I think it would be highly unlikely to do it and make it look correct.

 

[Chris C]

Oh yes... that's a good point that Kirby just made. I just measured and in addition to the wider nut route, the compensated nut is also 3 to 4 mm closer to the bridge. If you placed your traditional nut on that forward edge, your intonation would be eternally out of tune. The compensated nut has it's own adjustment back from the route's edge. You'd have to shim your traditional nut on the brdge side back about 3 mm to allow your bass to intonate properly and play over all frets in tune.

 

[Dargin]

Isn't this the bass that was all over talk bass with the dummy coil exposed? I would guess that it is the tinkering the previous owner did to the electronics when he "activated" the dummy coil. It's probably not the nut, and the old style cannot be retrofitted (it's way smaller). You should give us a call at (866)-823-2255 and we can go over your options.

 

[plato]

It is common knowledge:
When the dummy coil is activated you must replace the nut!

 

[Deacon John]

The coil is not the issue. The nut is cut way too high (at least for my taste). I guess given Dargin's comments (whom BTW I will call--thank you!!!) I am considering having my luthier file it down, unless EB customer service is willing to work on it. I plan on putting the dummy coil back where it belongs with a new pg.

Thanks for the comments!!!

 

[strummer]

Hey All--

I have a new SR 4 (fretted) with the new "compensated nut." A guess a trade off for better intonation is very high action at the nut.

I'd like to replace it (not just have it filed down). It feels really creepy and I dislike the sound.

Any suggestions? I was thinking a Fender American Vintage Series P Bass Nut.

Thanks,
Deaky

Hey Dacon John
Your assumption that the compensated nut automatically means high action is just wrong! Just recut the slots and play is my advice!

Fender american vintage series p bass nut? That's a very simple 1/8" wide standard nut, maybe a little yellow to make it look old. Or maybe unbleeched cow bone...

Now, since you seem bent on replacing the nut, here you have some ways:
Not sure about the exact measurements, but the compensated nut is a lot thicker than 1/8, and the fret board side of the slot it a few mm closer to fret 1 than on a normal neck.
So, first you remove the compensated nut, then "uncompensate" the slot with a sliver of rosewood, then put a normal nut there.
Or, you remove the first fret, cut the fret board right in the slot, replace the cut away with a normal length, refret and put a normal nut there.
Or take a wide nut blank, file away the few mm down to the fret board and then cut as a normal nut.
Or just replace the whole fret board and be done with it.

Edit: Just thought I'd mention that I cannot understand why anyone would want to do the above to a bass, but Deaky asked...

 

[Deacon John]

Because the nut is cut TOO HIGH, that's why!!! LOL!!! And I don't like the tone it delivers. Simple!!!

 

[strummer]

Because the nut is cut TOO HIGH, that's why!!! LOL!!! And I don't like the tone it delivers. Simple!!!

Problem: Nut is too high.
Solution: recut the slots, and maybe shave off the top.

Problem: The tone the nut gives you is bad.
Solution: Get real!

If you seriously think you'll be able to hear a difference in tone, good luck on that.
As for the rest, put your money where your mouth is and have a luthier replace the "high nut with bad tone" with a normal 1/8" bone nut. Oh sorry, of course I mean a vintage reissue nut...

Bye...

 

[Deacon John]

Thanks for your expertise, strummer. I would have never come up with a solution to my problem without your fine advice.

 

[strummer]

Thanks for your expertise, strummer. I would have never come up with a solution to my problem without your fine advice.

You are more than welcome

 

[bovinehost]

Listen, was this not discussed ad nauseum in a thread already? I mean, in a thread which was not technically THIS one? And now we're at it again?

DeaconJ, does this not look familiar?

http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-basses/20551-new-nuts.html

I've yet to see an answer to the question of whether you are the original owner of this bass and, if you are - is it still under warranty? Or the question of has the bass been modified? Has the nut been replaced already by a non-factory authorized repairman?

If you are the original owner of this bass and it is still under warranty, then you need to be calling Customer Service instead of starting a second thread about this nut issue. Unless you'd rather complain on the internet than actually have it fixed. I'm guessing it's really the latter, although the new thread makes it appear to be the former.

Has the bass been modified? Specifically, has the nut been replaced by someone other than Jon at the factory? If that's the case, then you need to direct your questions to the person that did the work.

It's very difficult to know what to tell you until you answer those questions, although you've gotten some good advice so far. (Including by me, and my advice is usually much more expensive.)

So let me wrap this up.

I have a new SR 4 (fretted) with the new "compensated nut." A guess a trade off for better intonation is very high action at the nut.

If it is in fact new, then take it back to where you bought it and have them take care of it for you. And no, there is no 'trade-off' for having a compensated nut, unless you want to qualify 'better intonation' as a trade-off. According to you, the nut is not cut to your liking. Fine. Nut slots can be modified very easily. There is no trade-off.

I'd like to replace it (not just have it filed down). It feels really creepy and I dislike the sound.

Like a few others here, I have to wonder about how a nut feels 'creepy'. You may be doing something with your nut that hasn't occurred to the rest of us, I suppose, but I don't think in 35 years of bass playing I've ever heard of a nut feeling one way or the other. It's either doing its job or its not.

Disliking the sound of a nut is also a bit too Eric Johnson for me. Nuts, as mentioned earlier, can only affect the tone of an open string, and how much they affect that tone is open to debate. And yes, I was around for the brass nut craze, and no, I wasn't that gullible even then.

Any suggestions? I was thinking a Fender American Vintage Series P Bass Nut.

Yes, I think that will 'sound' and 'feel' much better than the direct replacement.

Jack

 

[jongitarz]

Jack rocks. Hey, can we get some pics of the nut area of your bass? Side photos at the nut would be nice.

 

[tkarter]

Isn't this the bass that was all over talk bass with the dummy coil exposed? I would guess that it is the tinkering the previous owner did to the electronics when he "activated" the dummy coil. It's probably not the nut, and the old style cannot be retrofitted (it's way smaller). You should give us a call at (866)-823-2255 and we can go over your options.

Enough said right there.

You either want to fix it or to piss and moan about what you bought.

Do which ever we all will see soon enough.

tk