Brass nuts?

[derrico1]

I just bought an e-bay neck that came with a brass nut, which floats in the nut slot (i.e., there's no adhesive to hold the nut in place in the slot).

The neck is a 70's style w/ binding, so the nut won't slip out; however, it just *seems* like the nut ought to be glued in place. Is there any compelling argument one way or another regarding whether to glue a brass nut in a bound neck?

[lowb1970]

Originally Posted by derrico1

I just bought an e-bay neck that came with a brass nut, which floats in the nut slot (i.e., there's no adhesive to hold the nut in place in the slot).

The neck is a 70's style w/ binding, so the nut won't slip out; however, it just *seems* like the nut ought to be glued in place. Is there any compelling argument one way or another regarding whether to glue a brass nut in a bound neck?

Hi there, I've owned a couple basses with brass nuts.... They were custom basses and I always asked the builder why he did that. His answer was that the brass nut helped the open strings to sound more like the fretted notes. The brass was more like the fret material and therefore gave equal sound to a musical passage played with both fretted and open notes. I hear a difference personally, but can't say for certain this is the only advantage. Hope you find this somewhat helpful

[derrico1]

Thanks, Brian. Do you remember if on those basses the nut was glued?

[RobertUI]

I've been told by several luthier's that they don't use glue at all on any of their nuts, as the string tension will keep everything where it should be. Case in point... my Taylor acoustic has a nut that isn't fixed in place. That being said, when I install a nut (done MANY of them) I just use a DROP of white glue (elmers etc) just to keep things in place while I'm stringing up. I have done this with all materials including brass.

Hope that helps.

- peace

[derrico1]

Originally Posted by RobertUI

Hope that helps.

Thanks, Robert. I'll just let it float and stop worrying about it.

[jsm81]

When I changed out the plastic nut on my neck for a brass one, I was advised to glue it in place. Have had at like that for the past few months and really couldn't say it's lacking anything in tone because of the glue. My plastic nut had broken free and floated around and when ever I'd pull or bend a string the nut would move around on me.

[iriegnome]

Almost all of my early 1980's basses have brass nuts. All are very securly glued in place. All original and factory furnished.
Glue the damn thing. The last thing I would want is to pull off a note on a lower fret and have the nut slide out of position.
Yada Yada Yada string tension crap. Glue it and be sure it won't move.

[spectorbass83]

Last year I ordered a new brass nut for my Spector since the previous one was really worn out, the previous owner filed it a little too much.

The nut is held in place with some glue, but it can be popped off without much force when there are no strings on the bass.
With the strings on the bass its not gonna go anywhere.

I personally have not noticed much of a difference between a brass nut and a bone nut from one bass to another. I only got a brass one on my Spector because thats what they originally come with.

[PilbaraBass]

Originally Posted by RobertUI

I've been told by several luthier's that they don't use glue at all on any of their nuts, as the string tension will keep everything where it should be. Case in point... my Taylor acoustic has a nut that isn't fixed in place. That being said, when I install a nut (done MANY of them) I just use a DROP of white glue (elmers etc) just to keep things in place while I'm stringing up. I have done this with all materials including brass.

Hope that helps.

- peace

+1 I use a small drop of PVA (aka elmer's or white glue) on all my nuts, brass, or plastic