Need 8 string bass nut

eight21 · #1 02-25-2009, 09:54 PM

I am putting together an 8 string (octave) bass and can't find a nut for it anywhere. Since, this is the first 8 string bass I've done I was just going to purchase a pre-made one, then I figured I could make a template to go off of in the future if I do anymore. Please help with any info you may have on where I could find one. I've even scanned ebay a few times recently and the only 8 string nuts I can find are for mandolins. I already have all the other hardware needed to finish this one, I just need to find the nut so I can finish the neck I'm making for the body. Thanks for any help you may have.

jordan_frerichs · #2 02-25-2009, 10:29 PM

what bridge you using? i am in the same spot. a nut rule might help. i am saving up for a nut file set. this is one of the downsides of an 8 string build i guess

eight21 · #3 02-26-2009, 07:28 AM

I've had the bridge for quite sometime now, and it's not stamped anywhere as to what brand. It's black and its makings have similiar traits Gotoh, but don't hold me to it, and I don't know for sure if they ever made one. I will be over at my shop later today and will try to remember to look it over again for any sign of who made it. Yes, if I had a nut rule for the 8 string bass I would do it myself as well. I just emailed stewmac to see if they have one by chance. I saw your posts on the bass you were making. Is it finished? I didn't bother to see how long ago that post was. I'm a bass player by choice, but also play guitar whenever needed or when the urge hits. I built my first back in HS and been doing it as a hobby since. Been doing too many guitars lately so I figured it was time for me to do a few basses in my spare time. I'm currently doing a 4 string, 5 string, and the 8 string.

Low Main · #4 02-26-2009, 07:40 AM

Stew Mac has a nice nut slotting rule. Not cheap, but worthwhile. Like a lot of their stuff.

You can see it in their online catalog.

I think you'll need both bass and guitar nut slotting files - more cost built into the job if you don't have those already.

I was thinking - make a quick layout nut out of maple or something similarly workable. Not for slot depth, just spacing and string width. Then you can use that test nut for a template.

Probably quicker doing that than doing the online research looking for an existing nut.

I don't know how people like to set up for 8 strings in hi-lo octave pairs - whether they slot the nut so that the tops of the light and heavy strings in a pair are level, so the bottoms are level, or so the centerlines of the strings are level.

If you went for having the bottoms of the strings level, I was thinking that an 8 string may be a good place to use a zero fret.

eight21 · #5 02-26-2009, 07:53 AM

Got the files, thanks. It just didn't state in the description, that I saw, on stewmac whther or not their file had spacing for an 8 string octave bass. That's what I was thinking about doing, making my own template for this one, after no luck online so far. I hadn't decided which way I was going to have the strings set-up, but the zero fret is a good suggestion, if I choose that route. The 12 string guitar I used to have had the top of the stings level, but with a bass I guess you could choose anyway you really wanted depending on your playing style/comfortability.