Nut Slots

[selowitch]

Do some manufacturers/luthiers customize the slots on the nut of a bass neck to fit the specific gauges of the strings being used? I realize this would lock that bass in to using a particular gauge, but is this done at all? It seems like only about 20-30% of the string's mass actually contacts the nut anyway, so it can accommodate a certain range of string gauges.

But what do I know? I'm a noob.

[walterw]

a slot that's a little too wide is not a problem, but one that's a little too narrow is.

part of setting up the instrument is filing the slots so the given strings slide freely through them.

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Since people rarely change the gauge of the strings after they settle down to their preferred one, the nut is usually "locked to the gauge" as You said.

As walterw said, too wide isn't usually a problem, too narrow always is. If the slot is too narrow, the string will bind, the witness points will be irregular and if the nut material is fragile, the nut will crack.

Regards
Sam

[Floyd Eye]

The nut should be cut for the gauge of strings you are using, regardless of whether it's a guitar or a bass. There can be some wiggle room for similar gauges but for the most part this is true.

[selowitch]

Originally Posted by Floyd Eye

The nut should be cut for the gauge of strings you are using, regardless of whether it's a guitar or a bass. There can be some wiggle room for similar gauges but for the most part this is true.

So you have to account horizontally and vertically for the size of the string for each slot?

[Floyd Eye]

Originally Posted by selowitch

So you have to account horizontally and vertically for the size of the string for each slot?

The width is less important than the depth IMO, but you most certainly can cut a nut too wide. If you are not experienced at filing nuts I would either learn on an inexpensive instrument or just leave it to a good local tech.