New Nut?

kyral210 · #1 09-07-2009, 04:26 AM

I own a '97 Fender American Precision Bass Deluxe, and am considering changing the standard nut for a Graphtech TUSQ (not black TUSQ) nut.

Should I do this?

202dy · #2 09-07-2009, 10:36 AM

Why do you want to change the nut?

JLS · #3 09-07-2009, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyral210

I own a '97 Fender American Precision Bass Deluxe, and am considering changing the standard nut for a Graphtech TUSQ (not black TUSQ) nut.

Should I do this?

Do you have a problem w/the existing nut? If not, I'm going to weigh in with, "No".

electracoyote · #4 09-07-2009, 12:35 PM

If the existing nut is plastic, you can hardly do worse, so I say go for it. Otherwise, you may want to research to find out the effect of the various materials first.

jd858us · #5 09-07-2009, 12:41 PM

Don't think the American basses use plastic, but if so, I'd replace it.

electracoyote · #6 09-07-2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jd858us

Don't think the American basses use plastic.

I'd be surprised, but this is Fender. I once bought a Martin acoustic, USA made, that had a plastic nut from the factory.

Steveaux · #7 09-07-2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jd858us

Don't think the American basses use plastic, but if so, I'd replace it.

Why?

TUSQ is just a different plastic.

electracoyote · #8 09-07-2009, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steveaux

Why?

TUSQ is just a different plastic.

Isn't it a kind of plastic (or composite) that tries to more closely emulate bone rather than your run-of-the-mill cheap plastic nut?

kyral210 · #9 09-08-2009, 03:33 AM

Well, im not a professional guitar tech, but I hold a 1st class degree in Product Design, and worked as an industrial designer before I started my PhD. I am also experienced in modifying guitars. I don't know what material the nut is. I know it isn't TUSQ, and its not the same cheap plastic you find on low-mid (and some high) guitars. The plastic feels kind of sticky, not because anything has been spilt on it, but because it is very soft and 'sticky'. Maybe this is a good thing?

Here is a video I made about Graphtech TUSQ on an acoustic, to experiment and see what difference it made over the cheap as hell plastic it came with.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pccGikT2cvE