Hardware help.

whitefuneral · #1 09-22-2011, 07:48 AM

I hate having to retune my bass every time I go to play it, and I think most of you do as well. But I remember seeing a device on a guitar that was attached to the headstock just above the nut that 'clamped' to the strings and this kept it in tune.

It looks a little like a capo but attached to the headstock. Would any of you guys happen to know what it is?

tbirddad · #2 09-22-2011, 08:12 AM

Perhaps you should look into new tuners.

STEWMAC.COM : Bass tuners

Bass Tuning Keys | Allparts.com

I'm not sure how out of tune your bass gets between playing, but if it is a lot, or it won't hold a pitch with normal playing, new tuners may be your answer.

whitefuneral · #3 09-22-2011, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbirddad

Perhaps you should look into new tuners.

STEWMAC.COM : Bass tuners

Bass Tuning Keys | Allparts.com

I'm not sure how out of tune your bass gets between playing, but if it is a lot, or it won't hold a pitch with normal playing, new tuners may be your answer.

It's a pretty old bass but I'm not worried about that its just that I'm getting a new one and I'd like this 'clamp' on it.

202dy · #4 09-22-2011, 08:27 AM

A guitar tuned to pitch should stay in tune for a very long time. This means weeks, sometimes months given there are no extreme environmental changes or frequent tuning changes.

The most common reason a guitar needs to be re-tuned often is that it is not strung and/or tuned correctly.

The nut will store slack between the tuner and itself.
A string can only be raised in pitch.

So what does this all mean? When a string is lowered in pitch (detuned) some slack is stored between the tuner and the nut due to friction. If the player tunes the string higher than the target pitch and subsequently lowers it with out releasing the slack that slack will be released gradually as the string is played. The remedy for this is to detune the string below the target pitch and then "stretch" then string before raising the string to pitch. "Stretching" is simply giving the string a quick solid pull with a couple of plucking fingers.

The same protocol is used when installing new strings. Tune to pitch, "stretch", tune again. Usually it takes a few repetitions until the string will hold pitch.

Properly sized, angled, and polished nut slots go a long way toward minimizing slack storage. It will not eliminate it entirely because of the friction caused by the downward pressure of the string.

As an aside, when a guitar player complains that their trem will not return to pitch reliably, it is invariably slack storage that is the cause.

bunnykeeper · #5 09-22-2011, 08:58 AM

Are you thinking of a locking nut?

+1 on the string stretching, btw.

whitefuneral · #6 09-22-2011, 09:02 AM

That's a nice point 202dy I'll keep that in mind but bunnykeeper just found exactly what I'm looking for. Cheers for all the advice guys.

/thread close

whitefuneral · #7 09-22-2011, 09:36 AM

About to get a new 5'er and am looking at a locking nut to go with it. Chances are I will not change the tuning (BEADG) or strings until they break

So if there is any out there please can I have some names and general ideas of what I'm getting into.

Handyman · #8 09-22-2011, 10:04 AM

What are you trying to accomplish with a locking nut? I don't think I've ever seen one on a bass.

bassgod0dmw · #9 09-22-2011, 10:31 AM

+1. Unless you're installing a bass vibrato it would be pretty much pointless...

whitefuneral · #10 09-22-2011, 03:33 PM

I just hate having my guitar tuned out even half a note.

Darkstrike · #11 09-22-2011, 04:00 PM

The tuning won't stay locked in tune permanently, even with a locking nut.

whitefuneral · #12 09-22-2011, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

The tuning won't stay locked in tune permanently, even with a locking nut.

Obviously it'll just last longer.

Handyman · #13 09-22-2011, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitefuneral

Obviously it'll just last longer.

Only if you're moving around the tuning keys. Locking nuts are an inelegant solution created to keep string windings from slipping/moving around the post or binding on the nut when a tremolo system is aggressively used. Unless you've got a whammy bar on your bass, a locking nut isn't going to do anything useful.

When's the last time you've seen a locking nut on a bass? I've never seen one.

mdogs · #14 09-22-2011, 06:02 PM

Even under aggressive playing a good bass should stay in tune for quite a while, if yours is not, you need to fix the issue and a locking nut is NO solution...

bassteban · #15 09-22-2011, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitefuneral

Obviously it'll just last longer.

Really? Let us all know how that works out.

walterw · #16 09-23-2011, 12:15 AM

do you have a bass bridge with fine tuners to go with it? a locking nut is useless otherwise.

maybe you just want a steinberger.

whitefuneral · #17 09-23-2011, 12:58 AM

Well I play pretty aggressively and it just seems like it de-tunes quickly.
So if anyone knows a locking nut please tell me, all other comments will be acknowledged but ignored.

elgecko · #18 09-23-2011, 01:10 AM

Sounds more like the strings aren't installed properly.

ehque · #19 09-23-2011, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

do you have a bass bridge with fine tuners to go with it? a locking nut is useless otherwise.

+1.

I've never seen a bass with a locking nut, and even my guitarists with locking nuts need to tune at the bridge regularly.

Ric5 · #20 09-23-2011, 03:49 AM

There are no basses with locking nuts. There is no demand in the market place for that product.