Nut is too high!

[Andyrew]

I'm playing a fretless EBMM Bongo. The neck is barely bowed and the action above the 9th position is right where I want it. I'm thinking the problem is that the nut is holding the strings too high, because the lower positions have much higher action.

SO I'm wondering if anyone knows how to deepen the nut, or even if that's possible. I've read people advising against deepening the nut, but I don't know if that's to avoid buzz, or cause it can break the nut...

PLEASE HELP ME

[walterw]

it's a basic part of any proper set up.

you'd need to buy $75 worth of special files and then spend a bunch of time practicing on other basses to learn how to use them, so just have it done by a good tech.

it'll make a world of difference over the entire neck, not just at the nut.

[Benjamin Strange]

Originally Posted by walterw

it's a basic part of any proper set up.

you'd need to buy $75 worth of special files and then spend a bunch of time practicing on other basses to learn how to use them, so just have it done by a good tech.

it'll make a world of difference over the entire neck, not just at the nut.

If you want to do it right, this is the way to go.

If you want to experiment, you can head down to the hardware store, get yourself some round files, and try it yourself. The trick is this - set your neck DEAD straight first, then file the nut slots down to where they just BARELY clear the 1st fret when fretted at the 3rd (I'm talking thousandths of an inch here). Once you're happy with this, put your relief back into your neck, and carry on with your setup.

[stflbn]

You 'can' also use a discarded set of roundwound strings to slowly saw at that specific strings nut slot to lower it slightly.

[GlennW]

You can also remove the nut and sand the bottom (if it's flat). I like 400 on the kitchen countertop.

[JLS]

Originally Posted by GlennW

You can also remove the nut and sand the bottom (if it's flat). I like 400 on the kitchen countertop.

Wrong way, sorry--if the nut slots are too high, you file them, VERY CAREFULLY, deeper, individually.

[M0ses]

Originally Posted by JLS

Wrong way, sorry--if the nut slots are too high, you file them, VERY CAREFULLY, deeper, individually.

If the nut slot isn't radiused, there is no reason why you can't sand the bottom. It's a lot easier, actually. If it is radiused, though, you'll ruin your nut.

Filing the slots is quite difficult, because if you go even a little bit too far then you've ruined it. That's why most people don't do it. It's probably safer to take it to a tech, because they have the experience. I don't want to discourage you though. Nuts are cheap.

[walterw]

Originally Posted by JLS

Wrong way, sorry--if the nut slots are too high, you file them, VERY CAREFULLY, deeper, individually.

Originally Posted by M0ses

If the nut slot isn't radiused, there is no reason why you can't sand the bottom. It's a lot easier, actually. If it is radiused, though, you'll ruin your nut.

Filing the slots is quite difficult, because if you go even a little bit too far then you've ruined it. That's why most people don't do it. It's probably safer to take it to a tech, because they have the experience. I don't want to discourage you though. Nuts are cheap.

sorry, JLS is right on this one. bone nuts are not cheap, especially when you break one or tear up the wood around it trying to get it out with the wrong tools.

also, you'll never get the accuracy you need doing it this way.

filing the slots individually is how it's actually done by the pros.

[Let It Fall]

give it time your nut will drop

[hdracer]

Nuts are like strings. Wareable and disposable. You can get 2 double edge nut files from Stew-Mac and a couple extra nuts for under $100.00, or you can take it to a tech and pay him $25 - $40 to do it for you now and every time it needs ajusting or replacing. You have a very expencive bass. It should be set up to play the way you want it to. What's a hundred bucks at this point??

[Widdershins]

Originally Posted by Let It Fall

give it time your nut will drop

Hehehe... I LOL'd

[DaveAceofBass]

I vote to take it to a good tech.

[mcapote]

Originally Posted by walterw

you'd need to buy $75 worth of special files .

damn dude you got ripped off my files were $15



but yeah I'd pay an expireinced tech before experimenting on a bongo

[hdracer]

Geez, we are not talking about refretting here. With the proper file and a set of feeler guages it takes all of a half hour to do it right. Set the feeler guage to the hight you want, set them on the finger board and file from the headstock. Go easy untill the file touches the feeler guage. Restring and try it. This isn't that hard. Once you get the hang of it you can play with difernt hights and find what you like and set all your basses up the way you want them. Not how some "tech" wants them

[Benjamin Strange]

Originally Posted by M0ses

If the nut slot isn't radiused, there is no reason why you can't sand the bottom. It's a lot easier, actually. If it is radiused, though, you'll ruin your nut.

Filing the slots is quite difficult, because if you go even a little bit too far then you've ruined it. That's why most people don't do it. It's probably safer to take it to a tech, because they have the experience. I don't want to discourage you though. Nuts are cheap.

Totally false, and easily a good way to muck up an ok nut. We're talking about tolerances in the thousandths of an inch - if you sand the bottom even slightly off, the whole nut is ruined, and completely unsalvagable. The height of EACH string should be addressed, not the entire nut as a whole.

[walterw]

Originally Posted by mcapote

damn dude you got ripped off my files were $15



but yeah I'd pay an experienced tech before experimenting on a bongo

4 x $15 (one sized for each string) + $10 shipping = $70.

+1 on messing with bongo basses; the nuts are finished in, so ruining one would be a real headache.

[fenderfunker]

Originally Posted by hdracer

Geez, we are not talking about refretting here. With the proper file and a set of feeler guages it takes all of a half hour to do it right. Set the feeler guage to the hight you want, set them on the finger board and file from the headstock. Go easy untill the file touches the feeler guage. Restring and try it. This isn't that hard. Once you get the hang of it you can play with difernt hights and find what you like and set all your basses up the way you want them. Not how some "tech" wants them

I did mine this way. The feeler guages I used to get the heights from my other bass, that has the right height. Also, the slots should slope down, towards the tuners. Go slowly, restringing/checking, after a few passes. Each string is a different height too.

[walterw]

Originally Posted by hdracer

Geez, we are not talking about refretting here. With the proper file and a set of feeler guages it takes all of a half hour to do it right. Set the feeler guage to the hight you want, set them on the finger board and file from the headstock. Go easy untill the file touches the feeler guage. Restring and try it. This isn't that hard. Once you get the hang of it you can play with difernt hights and find what you like and set all your basses up the way you want them. Not how some "tech" wants them

right, and that's how i do it, but the key is the phrase "proper file".

that should be "proper files", and that does not mean tapered rat tail files from the hardware store. actual nut slotting files are the same thickness along their entire length so they don't jam up in a slot and crack the nut, and you'll need a few different sizes to do it right.

it would be way easier and cheaper for the OP to just get it done properly.

[BadB]

Originally Posted by Andyrew

I'm playing a fretless EBMM Bongo. The neck is barely bowed and the action above the 9th position is right where I want it. I'm thinking the problem is that the nut is holding the strings too high, because the lower positions have much higher action.

SO I'm wondering if anyone knows how to deepen the nut, or even if that's possible. I've read people advising against deepening the nut, but I don't know if that's to avoid buzz, or cause it can break the nut...

PLEASE HELP ME

Since this is a fretless bass and your action varies so significantly, I would be absolutely sure that your neck relief is correct before you go and chop up the nut. I have never seen a Music Man with a poorly cut nut.

[hdracer]

This is taken from the Stew Mc web site
http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/Nuts...es/a-nuts.html

"Final slot height
Take the slots to their final height with all the strings on and tuned to pitch. Double-edge Nut Files are good for this job.

As you get close, use stacked feeler gauges as an accurate way to stop at the string height you’re after. (Our frets in this example are .040” tall, so when we add .030" for string clearance we get a slot height of .070”.) Stack the feeler gauges to this combined measurement, and file the slots until the file just nicks the feeler gauges.

Now you’ve got a good general string height, and you’re ready to fine-tune it if you like: leaving the heavier strings a bit high, while the treble strings get lowered, following the radius of the fretboard. Many pro players prefer to set the low-E string clearance to about .020”, and the treble E-string at .010” (give or take a few thousandths). The strings between are at graduated heights following the fretboard radius."

That is for a guitar but a bass would be similar. Seeing it is a frettless you would use 0 as fret hight and ad in just your clearance. I like my frettless to be a little on the low side for a little extra growl. When ever I have to make a new nut I always make 2. That way I have a spare when needed and it only takes a few min to replace it.