Nut gone nuts?

D.Don · #1 01-25-2009, 04:37 AM

Stingray fretless, truss rod adjustment and everything works fine on the ADG strings, 12th fret I can adjust 2-2,5 mm between the bottom of the strings and the fretboard without any problems and there's no rattling what so ever, E string isn't quite there, have to go above 3 mm, and to remove all rattling on the E-string, actually even a lil more.

Could this be the nut being too deep slotted on the E-string? I have had some problems with that nut on the E-string rattling at the nut (seems the nut was too wide or just uneven, new nut ordered and files on their way), but I adjusted the string after the nut on the head side towards the machines so I got a steep angle when winding it to the tuner, and that killed it.

Strings are La Bella Jamerson so it's pretty thick gauged pipes on that baby...

I strongly suspect that nut, but have to bring it up here to get some experienced opinions.

Thanks!

D.Don

bass_gino · #2 01-25-2009, 05:03 AM

Had the same problem on a fretted MM Sting Ray 4: all strings worked fine on ADG and E until 14 fret, then it was rattling quite badly.

After some trials and truss rod adjustment (ending up with extra high action) I realized the neck was not exactly aligned with the body. At the bolts, it joined the body with a slight angle toward the back; therefore even a high action or a great neck curvature was needed for the strings to be away from the frets when pressed.

I believe the neck socket base was not cut parallel to the fretboard, or something similar.

Anyway, I tried first to put some spacers on the external part of the socket, toward the headstock, to correct the attack angle. Plastic first and than paper. It worked, but I had the suspect that it missed a little of sustain.

In the end I brought it to a shop. I didn't mention the problem to them, but the bass came back fully fixed, with apparently no spacers or whatsoever. The chap who serviced it was not in, so I couldn't ask what was wrong. As a note, they charged me only for he set up.

Hope this helps,

Gino

D.Don · #3 01-25-2009, 05:27 AM

Wow, that last part certainly made me curios at least!

"In the end I brought it to a shop. I didn't mention the problem to them, but the bass came back fully fixed, with apparently no spacers or whatsoever. The chap who serviced it was not in, so I couldn't ask what was wrong. As a note, they charged me only for he set up."

It'd be very interesting to hear a qualified opinion about this!

Thanks!

D.Don

JustDavid · #4 01-25-2009, 07:03 AM

Capo'ed at 1st position, to rule out the nut?

D.Don · #5 01-25-2009, 07:42 AM

Was thinking maybe the string is too low due to the nut (fretless)... so capo wont fix that I guess.

Or?

Thanks!

D.Don

JustDavid · #6 01-25-2009, 08:09 AM

Setup is setup. Capo'ing at the first position takes the nut out of the game.

Got into this while learning setup on an Epi Viola with an incredibly high 0 fret. My first experience with a 0 fret, I setup everything else properly & the thing had horrid action. Tried a capo on the 1st fret & shazamm; sweet & low. Therefore the problem was what I had just removed from the equation; the zero fret.

D.Don · #7 01-25-2009, 08:30 AM

Will give that a shot (if I can find my capo, I am in the middle of packing for moving house, leaving this flat on saturday morning for a 800 km move to south of france...).

Wanted to setup the stingray before packing her down to be able to see if the move had affected her when packing up in a week...

Thanks!

D.Don

D.Don · #8 01-25-2009, 11:24 AM

Since the rattle is there even if I play fretting the first fret (or where it'd be on a fretted bass), nut can be ruled out.

Strange indeed it is, now I leave the bass for today and will see how it is tomorrow letting the neck adjust during the night.

D.Don

JustDavid · #9 01-25-2009, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D.Don

Since the rattle is there even if I play fretting the first fret (or where it'd be on a fretted bass), nut can be ruled out.

Quite likely, but not completely. Try dampening the string on the nut & back towards the tuner. Faint chance it's something rattling head-ward of the capo. Faint, but let's rule out that direction completely before looking in the other direction.

D.Don · #10 01-25-2009, 11:38 AM

Rattle is way down on the neck, no problems on top of the neck at all here.

D.Don

JustDavid · #11 01-25-2009, 11:40 AM

Sounds good. Down the neck we go.

Bridge? Truss rod?

D.Don · #12 01-26-2009, 12:40 AM

Well, I set the action so all the other strings have a lil bit less than 2.5mm as mentioned above, following this tutorial (see below), but the E string just doesn't cut it, no matter how I do I end up adjusting the saddle to more than 3mm on the E-string..

http://garywillis.com/pages/bass/bassmanual/relief.html

D.Don