Appropriate Nut Height?

vyse933 · #1 06-28-2009, 10:43 PM

What is an acceptable amount of clearance for the strings at the first fret when the third fret is capo'd?

ByF · #2 06-28-2009, 10:58 PM

I would suggest that you aim for .010 on the treble side and .012" on the bass side (.25 to .30 mm) for starters. If that feels okay, you can leave it there. If it feels too stiff and the intonation is noticeably bad on the first couple of frets, you can try to take lower a couple of thousandths of an inch (.05 mm) at a time. My everyday bass ended up at .008 on the treble side and .012" on the bass side.

It's best to start on the high side, because if you don't get it exactly right the first time, it's easier to go lower than it is to go higher.

Ed

stflbn · #3 06-29-2009, 08:34 AM

Well... you can always shim up the nut slightly in a pinch...

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Zooberwerx · #4 06-29-2009, 10:35 AM

I was told to aim for .003", measuring the gap between the string and first fret while fretting the third. FTR, I press the string down directly on top of the third fret. I'm a bit of a novice so I settled for .004-.005" as this allows for some "wiggle" room for future tweaks. I also bought a set of el-cheapo feeler gauges from Pep Boys...highly recommended! Also, make sure your relief is set correctly as this may skew your measurements and subsequent nut adjustments.

Riis