Brass Nut

[FunkMetalBass]

Well, I think I've decided that the ebony nut on my bass needs to go and shall be replaced with a brass nut.

I have a feeling that the brass will be a slower process, so it will be a great exercise in patience. Also, I've got some 3/16" x 1/2" x 3" stock lying around.

The reason for the change is the nut string spacing. It's an 8-string (unpaired) bass and the original nut is filed so that the string centers are evenly spaced. This normally wouldn't be a big deal, but with the .200 to .021 string variance, some strings have a 3/16" gap, while others have a 5/16" gap, so I plan to even that out.

Anybody have any experience or suggestions for filing a brass nut? Am I wrong in thinking that string gap spacing is preferable to string center spacing?

[T-Bird]

Hi.

About the only advice I'd give is to copy the existing nut shape and fit as close as possible before starting to slot.

Oh, another advice would be to choose an easier material .
Especially if You don't have a full set of nut files.

I'd experiment the different spacings with other nut materials than metals though.

Regards
Sam

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by T-Bird

Hi.

About the only advice I'd give is to copy the existing nut shape and fit as close as possible before starting to slot.

Oh, another advice would be to choose an easier material .
Especially if You don't have a full set of nut files.

I have no experience about paired strings on a bass, so no ideas about that. I'd experiment the different spacings with other nut materials than metals though.

Regards
Sam

I have a set of diamond files and another set of coarse files at my parents' place, so I imagine I've got the tools I need.

No, it's unpaired, not paired/coursed/octaved. Between the F# and B, it's a ~3/16" inch, and between the high C and high F, it's ~5/16"

[delta7fred]

Brass is a very nice material to work just use sharp tools, nothing beats a good sharp standard file for brass.

If they are not really sharp all you will do is polish/burnish it, then it becomes hard work.

[mikeyswood]

360 brass is the alloy that you want.