Whats the wee bar for?

[colroyd]

Hi guys n girls,

Can someone tell me what the actual purpose of the little bar above the nut at the top of the neck is?
Ya know the one with the two self-tapping screws at either end of it and runs across all four strings!

Tightening the screws lowers the bar and thus makes the strings tighter. Loosening the screws raises the bar and obviously has the opposite effect. What is it called and how does it affect bass set up in the greater scheme of things?

I do realise that this is all probably obvious to all, what it does and why and no doubt what it is called. Nevertheless, I do not have a clue and have thought about it. :O)

So if anyone one can tell me where I can find "Bass Guitar for dummies" or tell me the answer (which would be the preferred option for me) it would be mucho appreciated.

Thanks


Russ and his Yamaha guitar

[bassteban]

If it's what I think it is, it's there to pull the strings tightly against the nut; if it weren't there the strings would likely rattle or buzz when plucked. Read the stickies at the top of the page in this forum for more info.

[T-Bird]

Hi.

I believe that it's called a string tree even if it covers more than the usual pair of strings.

Like basssteban said, its purpose is to increase the break angle and pressure between the string and the nut (/zero fret, if any).

Regards
Sam

[GlennW]

It's aka a string retainer.

[colroyd]

Tanks guys.

I found some other bits of info and with your replies I have a much better idea of it purpose. The one thing i dont seem to be able to find is does it effect set up and if so how so and how do ya set it up correctly ?

[bassteban]

The ones I'm familiar w/are not adjustable, unless I'm mistaken, in which case they simply need to be there(on some basses)or again- the strings will buzz or rattle when played open.

[colroyd]

Yes this one is adjustable dude.
It is a straight bar with screws either side which take the bar up or down.

[Bootzilla]

I think that as long as the strings don't rattle or slip out of the nut and the angle of the strings is not too sharp (if there are edges your strings could brake if the angle is extremely sharp and there is too much pressure). Just set it up so the strings are more angled but not over the top you will be fine.

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Got a pic?

Regards
Sam

[colroyd]

This is a similar bass to mine also from Yamaha.
You can see the bar just above the nut.

What I cannot get my head around is the different heights at which this bar could be set.

The lower the bar the tighter the strings, surely this effects relief and action and maybe intonation?

The head is straight on the neck and not angled. Had the bar been more like a string tree` like the ones found on fender, I would not be asking as they are just screwed flat to the wood. If I did the same with this, the chances are I would break something or at least the screws would come through the back of the head.

[walterw]

Originally Posted by colroyd

Attachment 152894

Had the bar been more like a string tree` like the ones found on fender, I would not be asking as they are just screwed flat to the wood.

actually, they're just like fender string trees, which have a standoff so that they're still up off the face of the peghead, keeping the string angle from being too steep.

in your case, you want that bar just tight enough to touch all four strings and push them down a little, but that's it. any more just makes it harder to tune due to the drag under the bar and over the nut.

all it needs to do is keep the strings from rattling around in the nut slot (like fenders can do on the A string since it isn't under a tree).

[line6man]

I don't believe string retainers are meant to be adjustable.
The reason that yours adjusts is that it's simply a bar held in place by screws, and if you turn screws, obviously they will move. The string trees on Fender style basses are not adjustable, because you screw them all the way down.

The purpose of a string retainer is to give you a good downward tension over the nut so that the strings will not buzz.

If you were to adjust the bar, it would change the tension on the strings until you retuned them. Intonation is unaffected, as the length of string between the nut and saddles remains the same.

I wouldn't advise tightening those screws any more than the way bass came. They probably didn't drill the holes very deep, so you are just going to split the wood.

[Lizooki]

I would find some small spacers and put on the screws so that once I had it where I wanted it and tightened it down, it would stay. They are not meant to be adjustable.

Matt