E string comes out of nut

[Travisx2112]

Hey guys long time no see!!

I bought some new strings recently (D'Addario Nickel Wound XL: .045, .065, .085, .105) and My E string keeps popping out of the nut on my Geddy Lee Jazz. All of the other strings are fine and I just checked my P-Bass (which has the same strings) and it doesn't have this problem. The string on the Geddy seems to be sitting on top of the nut, as if it is too thick. Any suggestions?

[ByF]

Since you just replaced the strings, it sounds like the slot in the nut is too narrow for the new E string.

Look at the string and the nut very carefully, with a magnifying glass if necessary. The string should be sitting in the bottom of the slot. If it's not, you need to widen the slot WITHOUT MAKING IT ANY DEEPER!

A small round or flat file will do that--only file on the sides of the slot, don't touch the bottom AT ALL. You could buy an expensive fret file from StewMac, or for just widening a slot you could use the smallest "jeweler's" files you can find at a hardware store.

Just don't touch the bottom of the slot. If you have them, put a stack of feeler gages on the fretboard, to prevent the file from reaching the bottom of the slot.

You probably only need to take off a few thousandths of an inch (the thickness of a piece of paper), so go slow and check the width with the string often.

Just be careful. Don't scratch the headstock with the tip of the file.

Ed

[Travisx2112]

What will happen if I accidentally file the bottom?

[wicked_child]

Originally Posted by Travisx2112

What will happen if I accidentally file the bottom?

you might make it deeper and this will mess up your string height

[sonic assassin]

is the string wound low on the tuning peg? ive had this problem by stringing it up to fast and letting it sit parallel to the top of the nut.

[ByF]

Originally Posted by wicked_child

you might make it deeper and this will mess up your string height

And then you'll hear buzzing noises coming from that string when you play the first few frets.

Ed

[Travisx2112]

Originally Posted by sonic assassin

is the string wound low on the tuning peg? ive had this problem by stringing it up to fast and letting it sit parallel to the top of the nut.

This was the problem I believe! I re-strung it and now it doesn't seem to want to pop out. Thank you!

[peterbright]

Sounds painful. Stop using the string ends for scratching.