Trimming the nut

[MIKMAN]

I have just received my new bass, a fully carved, well flamed beauty constructed in China by Mr Guofeng, owner of the Tiange factory. I'm dealing with this factory for three years with excellent results in hand made instruments with an astonishing sound. The bass came with the typical factory set up and applying my luthier's modest knowledge i trimmed the bridge and the nut according to my preferences (and Ken's specifications as for the strings height in the FB). However the action still seems a bit high. Do i have to trimm the whole nut low (up to the "credit card space" ) or is better to file the strings grooves in the nut so the space between strings and FB in the nut is the "credit card's" space?
As you see living in a country without bass luthiers has its problems, so the Greeks bass players have to ask and improvise.
Michael

[arnoldschnitzer]

File the grooves, a little at a time. Make sure you maintain the spacing between strings, and also make sure you set the width of the groove properly for each string. When you have it playing well. remove the strings and file the nut down to where about 1/2 the string is protruding from each groove. One warning: make sure the fingerboard does not dive down toward the nut. If this is the case you will need to leave the nut higher.

[MIKMAN]

Thanks Arnold, your advise has been valuable for one more time. I'm starting right now.
Michael

[Matthew Tucker]

Originally Posted by arnoldschnitzer

One warning: make sure the fingerboard does not dive down toward the nut.

Arnold, do you mean a kind of "reverse scoop"?? Is this common?

[arnoldschnitzer]

Originally Posted by Matthew Tucker

Arnold, do you mean a kind of "reverse scoop"?? Is this common?

Yes, done fairly often by hack luthiers when they run off the end of the fingerboard with their sanding blocks or other tools.

[robobass]

Don't forget! File the grooves so that they fit the string well. Not to tight, and no sharp angles. You can sometimes find Chinese made fine needle files in the tool section of dollar stores. They work just fine. Badly cut grooves can damage the strings. For extra protection, rub the grooves with a carpenter's (or any soft) pencil.

Originally Posted by arnoldschnitzer

Yes, done fairly often by hack luthiers when they run off the end of the fingerboard with their sanding blocks or other tools.

Yes, and I also want to mention that badly dressed boards sometimes go the other way, with the last inch or so standing above the general curve. This can also make fine-tuning the nut height difficult. You can check for this with a straight edge and a lamp, and should do it before you start filing the nut!

Robobass