high c on 5 string fretless

[nelsonhays]

I'm thinking I'll buy an ibanez artist series 5 string fretless, and get a new nut made to run a high c and ditch the low b.

I searched a bit about doing the work myself, but I don't have much time I'm scared to death of screwing up a new instrument...

here's a thread i found about the string setup -
5 string to use with high C instead of low B



I live in Alaska, so I'd like to order the Ibanez in from Seattle, Washington area and have a new nut put on before it's shipped up to me.

does anybody have recommendations on how to proceed here?

thanks

[Freddels]

I have two 5-string basses and they're both strung with high C. One is a custom fretless I had made and the other is a Zon Sonus. I have not changed any nut on any of my basses. You most likely will not need to change the nut.

[midnightsin]

You wouldn't need to have the nut changed if you were going to a lighter gauge string. The only reason you would need to change it is if you were going to a heavier gauge string. So I'd say just order it and let 'er rip.

[nelsonhays]

the research I did (lots of searching on this forum) pointed out that a certain percentage of basses needed the new nut due to buzzing on the E and C strings. I like a fairly low action, and don't want to push it.

I guess I'll get the bass, see how it works, and if need be I'll get the nut made. does this sound like the wise path?

thanks a lot

[Turnaround]

Quite a timely question since I just finished making a new nut for a 5-string E-to-C.

The bass is a model with a string hold-down spanning all 5 strings. Was it necessary to make a new nut? In this case, yes. When we strung it up on the original nut with a high C there were issues on the open E and C strings. A new nut with the correct slots corrected the problem.

Would I bet that a new nut was absolutuely necessary in all cases? - no. But in this case I put in a new bone nut, replacing the rather poor plastic that was there with my favoured material. It cost the owner $75 but he got a better nut, better fitted than the original, and much better adjusted than the original.

Instead, I might have put more pressure on the string hold-down and that might have worked OK. But the owner didn't buy this bass because it was OK - he bought it because he thought it was excellent. How could I possibly give him a solution that would just get by?

So the question is - do you need to replace the nut? The answer is, if you really care then yes. If you care more about saving some bucks and getting by with and OK solution, then perhaps not. But the latter choice can be iffy - you might find out you care more about the end result than you thought you would.

[funkybassplayer]

I haven't needed to get a new nut for either of my 5ers tuned EADGC. Give it a try and then if you think you need to then go with the new nut.