loose nut slotting :(

[wshines1892]

I am changin out a set of Daddario Pro Steels to a set of Chromes on my P bass. The only problem I'm running into is the nut slots are too wide and the string isn't making a good enough contact at the nut. What to do?

[M0ses]

It's cool, man. As long as the slots aren't too small. My TI's have been sitting in too-big slots for ages and they still sound great. They're making plenty of contact, trust me.

[wshines1892]

they're all fine except the A string, when I play it open it just makes a rattling noise at the nut and has no sustain. The rest are fine.

[thirtypoint87]

D'oh! Next time wind on the entire string or cut it off a couple of inches past the end of the headstock. Those extra wraps will give the string enough downward pressure on the nut to prevent that rattle.

[wshines1892]

woohoo fixed! I just took the string off then re wrapped it upside down, with the string running in the bottom of the wrap and the cut end looping into the slot at the top. It gave me jsut that little bit of downward pressure, but it seems like it was just enough to remedy my problem.

[M0ses]

Good job. Now you know how to wind strings properly.

[JLS]

Originally Posted by wshines1892

woohoo fixed! I just took the string off then re wrapped it upside down, with the string running in the bottom of the wrap and the cut end looping into the slot at the top. It gave me jsut that little bit of downward pressure, but it seems like it was just enough to remedy my problem.

That's the right way!

[wshines1892]

haha, had no idea it was the right way. Only been playing a year, just picked up a fretless one day and decided it was the instrument for me and started playing in the high school jazz band didn't think for a second that little thing would actually make a difference.