Metal piece on 5-string headstock

[keiser8339]

To some this thread may seem misleading, and to some very pointless, but I'm pretty sick of trying to find out what purpose this metal piece serves on some 5-string bass guitars. My guess would be it's just a saddle or something, kind of like a piece on some four strings, and if it is, I'm sorry I wasted a lot peoples time.
I'm going to buy a Peavey Millennium 5 AC BXP soon, and was just curious. Thanks.

5-string - http://www.elderly.com/vintage/items...tock-front.jpg

4-string - http://img406.imageshack.us/i/jcbjpg.jpg/

[Rockingbird]

String tree. It holds the strings down and stops them from popping out of the nut.

[colcifer]

Yup. If you don't have the strings at the right angle that side of the nut you can have some problems.

[Chasarms]

Originally Posted by Rockingbird

String tree. It holds the strings down and stops them from popping out of the nut.

Not exactly. I don't think they are going to pop out of the nut, but what it does do is insure that the strings break at a sharper angle over the nut so there is a strong, clean witness point at the nut in prevent odd intonation issues and weird artifacts with open strings.

[keiser8339]

Originally Posted by Rockingbird

String tree. It holds the strings down and stops them from popping out of the nut.

Dude thanks. I knew it was a noob question, and I was a little concerned about posting it, but it was driving me mad. Thank you.

[Jazz Ad]

If you remove it, you will instantly understand its purpose.
It's pretty much mandatory on basses that don't have an angled headstock.