My nut won't stay in the slot! (Not as rude as it looks...)

Evil Undead · #1 01-24-2011, 11:43 AM

Argh! I am having a problem with my bass... the tension of the strings appears to be dragging the nut out of its slot (towards the E string).

I've pushed it back in several times which requires putting the edge of the nut that's poking out on to the corner of a cab and pushing hard. Which isn't ideal of course, so I wanna get it fixed. But how?

Is it just the glue that's wearing away, or are the strings pulling weirdly? (That would be odd as it doesn't seem any different from any other string tension.)

It's a reverse headstock, which I've never had on a bass before, don't know if that makes a difference. Or maybe it needs a string tree...??

I feel I may be rambling, so I'll shut up, and here's a photo. Thanks for any advice!

4001 · #2 01-24-2011, 12:00 PM

Get some glue that bonds brass and wood well. Use enough for the job, clean up any runs and clamp it together overnight.

String it in the morning and jam all day.

elgecko · #3 01-24-2011, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skitch it!

Spot of glue fella, not too much in case it needs to be replaced in future ; )

Evil Undead is a lady!

Skitch it! · #4 01-24-2011, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elgecko

Evil Undead is a lady!

Ah, then please excuse my faux pas

Slacken/remove the strings, make sure you line the nut up nicely when you set it down after applying the glue into the slot (I've used a couple of spots of Superglue, it seems to do it, not too much but enough, wipe off the excess squeezed out the sides of the nut).

When you replace the strings back into the nut, hold them up above the nut with your thumb and index and tighten them, drop them down into the slots when you have enough tension on the string to keep the nut in place and leave it for 30+ mins. Don't tune them for a bit, (that will pull the nut toward the headstock because of the friction if the glue hasn't set, drop them in from above and leave for a while) this will hold the nut in place until it's nicely set, or just leave them off until it's dried/set completely, won't take long, 30+ mins or so?

Evil Undead · #5 01-24-2011, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elgecko

Evil Undead is a lady!

well, not much of a lady, but definitely female! I'm used to being thought of as a lad on here though, definitely not offended

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4001

Get some glue that bonds brass and wood well. Use enough for the job, clean up any runs and clamp it together overnight.

String it in the morning and jam all day.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skitch it!

Ah, then please excuse my faux pas

Slacken/remove the strings, make sure you line the nut up nicely when you set it down after applying the glue into the slot (I've used a couple of spots of Superglue, it seems to do it, not too much but enough, wipe off the excess squeezed out the sides of the nut).

When you replace the strings back into the nut, hold them up above the nut with your thumb and index and tighten them, drop them down into the slots when you have enough tension on the string to keep the nut in place and leave it for 30+ mins. Don't tune them for a bit, (that will pull the nut toward the headstock because of the friction if the glue hasn't set, drop them in from above and leave for a while) this will hold the nut in place until it's nicely set, or just leave them off until it's dried/set completely, won't take long, 30+ mins or so?

So a couple of dots of super-insanely strong superglue should do it then? Awesome. I don't have a clamp... any suggestions as to what I could use in place of one?

When I try to push the nut back in after slackening the strings, it's not possible to push it in with thumb or finger pressure, which is why I need to rest it on a cab and use a lot of force. Is this normal?

Also, one more question (sorry) - not having much experience with basses, I'm wondering if the way the bass is strung could be the problem? Looking at this photo, the strings are pulling very tightly towards the left of the picture - if I strung them so the wraps were the other way around on the E, A and D, would this help alleviate the problem? Would make tuning a bit confusing though haha!

ThatGermanDude · #6 01-24-2011, 01:18 PM

Restringing them definitely looks like it would make for a straighter pull so it would definitely help.

Evil Undead · #7 01-24-2011, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThatGermanDude

Restringing them definitely looks like it would make for a straighter pull so it would definitely help.

Yeah I thought so too. Makes sense. But, after I posted that, I did a google image search for basses with reverse headstocks, and they're all strung up the same way as mine...

Damn, basses are so confusing

tinman 1967 · #8 01-24-2011, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThatGermanDude

Restringing them definitely looks like it would make for a straighter pull so it would definitely help.

Yep....... definately. You guys beat me to it

Skitch it! · #9 01-24-2011, 01:57 PM

I see the problem in that shot now, you will have to remove the strings completely, using them to clamp after re-fixing the nut is going to pull it down.

You may get away with just the Super glue, worth a try. When you get your next set of strings, try to get 3 wraps or more on the capstan so they run at a slightly lower angle, slightly less pull?

I've never actually clamped the nut, but just seated it nice and tightly in place with a good pushdown, you could use just a weight on top of it to hold it in place, be careful though because the top face of the nut isn't flat, it may take a little balancing to keep the weight and nut straight and in place. Failing all this, time to consider a string tree for the running angle maybe?

Try the S-glue first, it might just do it, in fact I reckon it will, 90% ; )

grisezd · #10 01-24-2011, 02:20 PM

I'd string them all the other way around. That shape of headstock always does pull funny, not much else to do about it. If you wind them all the other way around the tension will pull at least equally not straight.

But, a good bit of super glue, only in the bottom of the slot, then maybe just tape around and around with some electrical tape or similar overnight. If the brass is yucky on the bottom you might hit it with some sandpaper or an emery board or something just to get a fresh surface to glue.

Try not to use so much glue that it runs out, but use as much as you think you can get away with!

Skitch it! · #11 01-24-2011, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grisezd

I'd string them all the other way around. That shape of headstock always does pull funny, not much else to do about it. If you wind them all the other way around the tension will pull at least equally not straight.

But, a good bit of super glue, only in the bottom of the slot, then maybe just tape around and around with some electrical tape or similar overnight. If the brass is yucky on the bottom you might hit it with some sandpaper or an emery board or something just to get a fresh surface to glue.

Try not to use so much glue that it runs out, but use as much as you think you can get away with!

+1 Clean those contact surfaces up, and the tape may be a nice solution to the clamping deal, cool ; )