Question SR5 Compensated Nut Pain

[nervous]

For the SR5 folks with compensated nuts do you have any issues with the thin piece exposed on the G string side? I am finding that fairly often my hand is running into this very sharp edge. First couple times it surprised me but now I am aware of it and intend to fix it. Just curious if anyone else has experienced this and what was your method to fix, how much material was removed etc.?

 

[sanderhermans]

If this is an sue for you, you could remove the entire thin part. You could do this with a verry sharp knife or file/sand it down. Indeed this looks like it could ve painfull.

 

[nervous]

If this is an issue for you, you could remove the entire thin part. You could do this with a very sharp knife or file/sand it down. Indeed this looks like it could be painful.

Yeah, Mulling my options to cut or grind.

Interesting that on looking closer at the B side I have an issue there as well, looks to be chipped. So I'll hit both sides to make it look even

 

[sanderhermans]

Well the compensated nut is good for intonation. But thats about it. Imo they dont look like they are crafted verry well and working on them is difficult. For instance, ive made my sub fretless so i needed to lower the nut. Ive filed the slots in deeper but the string started touching the botom part of the nut... so i had to lower that too wich was verry hard to do. If i could choose, the regular nuts are my favorites.

 

[five7]

round it with a file, no need to take alot off

 

[sanderhermans]

Also i wonder, when looking at the compensated nuts, why didnt they just put a normal nut at a sligt angle? This would be much easier and look better to me.

 

[DrKev]

Also i wonder, when looking at the compensated nuts, why didnt they just put a normal nut at a sligt angle? This would be much easier and look better to me.

No, more difficult in the factory to do that. AFAIK, the slot for the nut has to be cut by the same machine as the fret slots so the nut accurately placed relative to the frets, therefore you can't simply make an angled cut. Also would not be possible on 6 and 7 string guitars (plain strings require different stagger) and that would require different treatment.

 

[sanderhermans]

No, more difficult in the factory to do that. AFAIK, the slot for the nut has to be cut by the same machine as the fret slots so the nut accurately placed relative to the frets, therefore you can't simply make an angled cut. Also would not be possible on 6 and 7 string guitars (plain strings require different stagger) and that would require different treatment.

All true but if something is a bit more difficult to do, thats no reason to not do it in the best way possible. Also all records ever made before a few years back where recorded without compensated nut so not sure if this change was really neccasery. Annyhow, i prefer the regular nuts.

 

[73jbass]

Or you could just just not move your hand down that far. You only need to go just past the first fret.

 

[MrMusashi]

if it bothers you just remove it..

the string sits firmly in the string slot anyway and doesnt rely on the little edges to be there.

MrM

 

[nervous]

Or you could just just not move your hand down that far. You only need to go just past the first fret.

I was actually waiting for this response. Wish I had a prize for you.

ME: "Doc, it hurts when I do this...
DOC: "Don't do that"

Look, I play how I play and have for 30+ years and if my hand bumps into this knife edge occasionally when sliding down I am sure a he** not changing any playing style to compensate for this little annoyance especially when it's not been an issue on any other guitar or bass from any manufacturer I have ever owned in my lifetime and that is a considerable number.

No worries, I will soon knock that edge down, my curiosity was if other s had ever experienced the same thing and their solution before I went hacking away at it.

 

[bvdrummer]

Yeah I've just used a nail file or sandpaper on mine. As others have said that part doesn't affect the string so it should be fine. But I didn't have to remove very much, just enough so it's not as sharp.

When filing, put some blue painters tape around the area so you don't scratch anything by accident.

 

[nervous]

Tis done and she's beautiful!

Thank you all

 

[Golem]

For the SR5 folks with compensated nuts do you have any issues with the thin piece exposed on the G string side? I am finding that fairly often my hand is running into this very sharp edge. First couple times it surprised me but now I am aware of it and intend to fix it. Just curious if anyone else has experienced this and what was your method to fix, how much material was removed etc.?

I round off ALL annoying sharp, square, etc, edges, corners, etc,
on the nuts of all my basses. The amount of material removed is
best described as "enough". The only helpful additional remark I
can add is that I remove the strings, use small files, occasionally
dremel tool, and have no trepidation about possibly going too far.

So barge ahead and make everything comfy. Be bold, but safe.
No lazy shortcuts.