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Bad nut, I'm thinking....?

Discussion in 'Hardware, Setup & Repair [BG]' started by Greywoulf, Jul 27, 2003.

  1. Jul 27, 2003 #1
    Greywoulf

    Greywoulf Supporting Member

    Sep 15, 2000
    Freehold, NJ. USA
    Nah, not me, the bass... d];>]} I just inexpensively got me a used Peavey Foundation bass and the action is way too low on it... I like this bass because of it's slim and fast neck, and am willing to put up with a little buzzing from the electronics occasionally, but after changing the strings I can barely adjust the bridge high enough to keep the strings from buzzing on the frets; the bridge is set just about at it's upper limit... Tried putting the old strings back on again, but same thing.. The neck looks okay as far as tension and straightness goes, so I suspect the nut is worn in its grooves and probably needs replacing... Anyone familar with this bass and this problem?
    I've read about people putting shims under the Foundation's bridge (like using nickels), but I'm wondering if this is really neccessary if maybe all it really needs is just a new nut?
    Thanks for any info...
    Greywoulf
     
  2. Jul 28, 2003 #2
    Gander

    Gander

    Jun 5, 2002
    Texas
    Hi Grey, My Foundation has a neck tilt adjustment. Check the plate where the neck is bolted on and see if there's an opening for an allen wrench there. You can go to the Peavey site and download an owner's manual for the Foundation which will tell you how to adjust neck tilt. I like to set my bridge height adjustment screws about half way then adjust the neck tilt. To check the nut height, press each string in turn between the 2nd and 3rd frets. As you press them, check the clearance between the strings and the first fret with a sheet of paper. If you have clearance, your nut is probably ok. Also, sight down the neck. If your neck is flat or bows up in the middle, your neck needs adjustment. It needs a slight bow to play correctly. Peavey sells an adjustment tool for this. The parts phone number is available at their website. This should give you some things to check to get the old Foundation playing right. BTW, I installed hipshot ultralight tuners, and EMG P/J set and custom pickguard on mine and turned it into a very nice bass. Hope this helps.

    http://www.mrgearhead.net/faq/basssetup.html
     
  3. Jul 28, 2003 #3
    Greywoulf

    Greywoulf Supporting Member

    Sep 15, 2000
    Freehold, NJ. USA
    Hi
    Thanks for the help, both you guys... I ordered (from Peavey) their special torsion bar wrench, (only $5), and it should be here in a few days, so I can try to adjust the neck relief with it then. In the meantime I did adjust the neck tilt, and this made it a little better on the bottom frets, but not at all on the upper ones. I tried the paper test, and with the strings held down between the 2'nd and 3'rd fret there is 1'st fret clearance on the E and G strings whereby the paper would fall out if the neck was tilted. The A and D strings, however, hold that piece of paper down so tight so it would never slip out! (And those are the strings I have raised the highest on the bridge too...) So it very well may be the &^#@* nut! But before I take it to the local luthier (wno charges about $50 for a nut replacement)I'll wait on the wrench and see if adjusting the relief helps.
    Greywoulf
     
  4. Jul 29, 2003 #4
    Gander

    Gander

    Jun 5, 2002
    Texas
    Hi, Hold down the strings between the 2nd and 3rd frets and tap the strings in turn right over the first fret. You will get a ping if there's clearance and a thud if they are touching(bad thing). The link below gives a repair procedure for the low slots. I've used this fix a few times and it works well. If you don't feel up to the repair, Peavey parts can furnish you a new nut(they sent me one for free). FYI, the Peavey nut is radiused on the bottom, so it would be cheaper to take the nut to a Luthier than to have one made from scratch. Sounds like Josh has you covered on the neck adjustment. One other thing, my Foundation neck adjusts very easily, so don't over do it. Maybe a quarter turn at a time, retune and wait a day to readjust. Good luck and keep us posted.

    http://www.musicianshotline.com/archive/monthly/guitar_er/12_02.htm
     
  5. Jul 29, 2003 #5
    Greywoulf

    Greywoulf Supporting Member

    Sep 15, 2000
    Freehold, NJ. USA
    Ok, I can get a slight ping for all strings at the first fret when I'm holding down at the 3'rd fret. But, so what? The strings are still too low! Because if I play open A-D-G strings just a bit too heartily (and I don't really play that hard either,) on each string I get a loud fret ringggging buzz...

    Also, checking relief when holding E sting at 1st and 18th fret, I can see a very slight bowing that leaves air beneath the 5th to 11th frets. But maybe that's not enough of a bend? I dunno?
    And again, this is all with the bridge set almost as high as it will go for the A+D, and with using light gauge strings too.

    Best bet I think is to wait for the Peavey wrench and try bowing the neck a little more first before replacing the nut. But I still suspect this nut is the problem as the D string moves around a little in it from side to side even when tuned, and all the strings (except the E)seem to sit pretty low in it also. There's no way I could put heavier gauge (or maybe nylon flats) strings on this bass the way it is now; they'd never rise high enough off'a the fretboard to play...
    Greywoulf d];>]}
    PS>>> Anyone ever use Carvin's Hipshot bridge as a replacement on a bass similar to this? Does it work well? I don't think too much of the puny, old fashioned style bridge on this bass either...
     
  6. Jul 29, 2003 #6
    pkr2

    pkr2

    Apr 28, 2000
    coastal N.C.
    The micro-tilt adjustment is set wrong.

    Without disturbing the relief at all, turn the string height screws untill about 1/16" protrudes from the bottom of the rollers. adjust the microtilt screw untill the string height is around 3/16" above the end of the fingerboard. Fine tune each string height at the bridge.

    If you want to be certain whether or not the nut is too low, fret any note that rattles when played open at the first fret. If the rattle goes away, the nut is too low. If the rattle is still there when fretted, the nut is definitely not the problem.


    Pkr2