Ebay Precision Brass nut?

[mattsbass]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Slotted-Brass-nu...3286.m20.l1116

I have a spare Mexican P bass neck and I am thinking about changing out the nut because its really "custom".

Does anyone have any feedback on this nut?

The nut width for the MIM neck is 41.3mm but this nut is 41.5mm. Would the spare .2 mm be ok?

Thanks!

[T-Bird]

Hi.

You must be from a country that uses the Imperial system to be concerned about a thing like that .

No, I don't have any feedback as I haven't used one, but it doesn't sound too expensive if the slots are cut correctly.

And that .1mm on both sides won't probably matter as You have to smooth and shape the edges of it anyway.

Just my 0.02€
Sam

[JLS]

Be aware, that if this doesn't fit perfectly, you've got a chore on your hands. If you need to file the slots (this is pretty much a given), and you go too far, you'll have to remove the nut, add shimming underneath it, and re-file.

Brass nuts are a PITA, I'm glad they've mostly fallen from favor.

[cynical1]

As T-Bird mentioned, 1mm on each side is not much to be concerned with. For reference, it's .03937", or just a hair over 1/32".

And as JLS noted, the extra length will be the least of your problems. Pre-slotted nuts rarely just drop in perfectly. You will probably need to file the aforementioned "pre-slots" to fit your string gauge and achieve a good set-up.

From my experience, a brass nut will make your open strings brighter.

Nut material and the tone created is generally a matter of personal taste, and some people tend to be a bit fanatical about it.

Before you go through all the effort of changing the nut out, see if your local music store has a bass with a brass nut and try it out. If you love it, go grab one. If you don't, then you save 15 bucks and the work involved with changing the nut.

Happy Trails

Cynical One

[kyral210]

Would the spare .2 mm be ok?

That would equal 0.1mm either side, roughly the same as the thickness of an average sheet of paper. Will it matter? No?

I would be more concerned with every other dimension as the depth and height will be more crucial to fitting the nut.

Personally, I would recomend one of these:
http://www.graphtech.com/products.ht...2&CurrencyID=2

[60bass]

Originally Posted by JLS

Brass nuts are a PITA, I'm glad they've mostly fallen from favor.

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. I have a P that I had a local Luthier install a brass nut on back in the early 80's. That nut is still on my bass with no problems ever. That P was my main gigging axe for over 15 years straight road work in clubs 6 nights a week, 6 sets a night.

Maybe I got lucky with mine. It really makes the open strings sing with the Rotosound RS66's I use. Very piano like sound when combined with the BA II bridge.

Would I do it again today? Probably not, as amps and PA's are way better now and I can EQ to get that type sound. I agree they have fallen from favor, but not because they were bad. The hi-fi type gear we have today gets that sound easily. So why bother.

But 20 years ago, you betcha!

[line6man]

Originally Posted by mattsbass

I am thinking about changing out the nut because its really "custom".

Your doing this because you think it will make your instrument look customized? Who is even going to notice?

FWIW, 0.2mm absolutely makes a difference...
I had a bass where the nut protruded ever-so-slightly to the bass side, and it annoyed the crap out of me, even though it wasnt a big deal. I would make every effort to grind it down to the proper width.

[debassr]

Brass is not my favorite nut material by a longshot - I like bone.