My bass nut broke off while playing

cubano1147 · #1 12-11-2010, 11:53 PM

I was just playing my 5 string bass and the nut on the B string just popped off. I'm wondering what do i do? Do i take off my strings?

FromTheBassMent · #2 12-12-2010, 12:00 AM

I broke a nut tonight while playing bass, but it wasn't ON my bass....

You need to take your bass to a good luthier/repair shop and have them replace the nut. It's not an expensive repair. What kind of bass do you have? A lot of inexpensive basses use fairly soft plastic nuts that break easily. You should go with bone if you want a classic tone, graphite if you want something more modern sounding, or brass if having "nuts of brass" is at all appealing to you.

cubano1147 · #3 12-12-2010, 12:05 AM

it's my first 5 string so it's a cheap brand. lol. It's called a Johnson bass. How much does a new nut cost?

djcorn · #4 12-12-2010, 12:20 AM

About as much as you bass did, $5.00!

cubano1147 · #5 12-12-2010, 12:22 AM

lol. alright. thanks. hey, you know any strings that can cut through distorted guitars while played in low tuning?

FromTheBassMent · #6 12-12-2010, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cubano1147

lol. alright. thanks. hey, you know any strings that can cut through distorted guitars while played in low tuning?

Yes. DR DDTs... the ones with the nasty spider on the package. They come in horrifically huge guages. This could be part of the problem with your nut... if you use a string guage that's too fat for the groove cut in the nut, you'll break it for sure.

spaz21387 · #7 12-12-2010, 02:08 AM

its not the strings its the way you eq your bass

cubano1147 · #8 12-12-2010, 02:31 AM

cool. thanks. yea, i know about sanding down the nut to fit the heavy gauge strings. The string that broke cam with the bass though so i guess i just picked it too hard on an upstroke. You know anybody who sells them cause i know that guitar center in my area doesn't see them. The only one's they sell and recommend for deep tuning's are GHS bass boomers which i don't really like.

scotts42 · #9 12-12-2010, 02:37 AM

If you want to cut through, more mid. I don't care if your playing death metal, more mid cures all (almost all) problems.

Labi · #10 12-12-2010, 03:18 AM

You broke your Johnsons nut? That sounds bad

parsons · #11 12-12-2010, 06:35 AM

I cant believe no one has asked whats the best bass for metal yet...

Bassdirty · #12 12-12-2010, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FromTheBassMent

Yes. DR DDTs... the ones with the nasty spider on the package. They come in horrifically huge guages. .

Best strings for metal?...??

bassplayer8953 · #13 12-12-2010, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by parsons

I cant believe no one has asked whats the best bass for metal yet...

In the spirit of this thread, what's the best bass nut for metal??

FromTheBassMent · #14 12-13-2010, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cubano1147

cool. thanks. yea, i know about sanding down the nut to fit the heavy gauge strings. The string that broke cam with the bass though so i guess i just picked it too hard on an upstroke. You know anybody who sells them cause i know that guitar center in my area doesn't see them. The only one's they sell and recommend for deep tuning's are GHS bass boomers which i don't really like.

The only strings GC carries that I would ever buy are DR Marcus Miller Fat Beams. You want a good selection of strings, point your browser to www.juststrings.com. They carry everything, their prices are good, and they ship same day. One of the best online retailers I've ever done business with.

darkstorm · #15 12-13-2010, 02:17 PM

How does a nut pop off a bass with the strings on it? The strings under tension hold even unglued nut on since they also go thru nut slots. I know this for a fact cause an expensive bass I used to have arrived with the nut only held on by string tension, mfg forgot to glue nut on. Untill I took all the strings off to replace defective pups that the bass also arrived with, the nut was held on by the strings just fine. I have seen plastic nuts break off an end due to cheap plastic (on several kramers from the 80's). I dont see how a brass nut would break though. Its a metal. Perhaps it was cheap brass colored plastic?

lethargytartare · #16 12-14-2010, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkstorm

How does a nut pop off a bass with the strings on it? ...I have seen plastic nuts break off an end due to cheap plastic...

I think he was saying that part of the nut snaped off under/at the B string.

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkstorm

...I dont see how a brass nut would break though. Its a metal. Perhaps it was cheap brass colored plastic?

?? don't think he ever said it was brass...misread?
"My bass nut broke off" not "My bRass nut broke off"

joeyl · #17 12-14-2010, 11:11 AM

so you got a nut on your johnson?

4001 · #18 12-14-2010, 11:18 AM

You keep playin' like that, not only will you break your nuts, you'll go blind!

THand · #19 12-14-2010, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeyl

so you got a nut on your johnson?

Lol!

I think his johnson needs a nut job.

BigOldHarry · #20 12-14-2010, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by parsons

I cant believe no one has asked whats the best bass for metal yet...

I think that, given the testosterone level of most "metal", the twin concepts of "Metal" & "Broken Nut" would be mutually exclusive...

Then again, it might be ironically appropriate...