Plastic Nut vs. Bone Nut

CorryJobin · #1 01-13-2012, 02:55 PM

Hello TBers,

"Back in the Day" I was a much more aggressive bass player than I am now and I was breaking E and A strings on my StingRay5 right at the nut. I had the bone nut filed for burrs and then it happened a few more times.

So... I switched to a plastic nut and its still on today (9 years). I do notice a tiny bit of buzzing, but its not all that noticeable.

Is it sacrilegious to have a plastic nut on a StingRay? I am scared to go back to a bone nut for fear of breaking strings again, but I want the bass to play and sound as good as it can.

Your thoughts would be appreciated...

DeadHeadSF · #2 01-13-2012, 03:13 PM

I'm not entirely sure a bone vs plastic nut makes much of a difference in sound - at least on bass. However, a lot of folks have been happy with nuts (and bridges as appropriate) made of Tusq. Some say it's better than bone. I have one guitar with a Tusq bridge and nut and I compared it with bone - no perceptible difference in sound.

ranjam · #3 01-13-2012, 03:25 PM

On the one hand, unless you play all open strings all night, you won't 'hear' the nut. Any note you finger; your finger becomes the nut.
Playing Devil's advocate, you can try graphite, tusq, teflon, or ebanol. Whatever floats your boat. All available from AllParts, and all about $12.50 each to try and decide what works for you.