Quote:
Originally Posted by harmonic  hi,
i just purchased another bass, the Ibanez SR 400. the strings on it fits snuggly into the nut. since i don't know what gauge these strings exactly are, will putting on new bigger or smaller strings result in crappy sound? that is, with the nut being either too small or too big for the strings damage the nut? thanks for your help. jack. |
Well, for the most part, we're talking a few thousandths of an inch, so it may not cause any trouble. Ideally, you should find the gauge you like, and have the nut fitted for it. However, very few people actually do that. IME, most factory nuts will accommodate various string gauges without too much trouble. In extreme cases, a really thin string can rattle in the nut, and a really thick string can crack a nut. So it's probably best to try the string in the nut loosely before you install it and bring it to pitch.
The making and fitting of nuts is a whole 'nother subject that probably doesn't belong here, but germane to the string question: if the nut is slightly too tight, it may adversely affect tuning stability. If it's slightly loose, assuming that the bottom is properly rounded, it should be OK.
