Buzz coming from the nut

[Ryan Faber]

There's a buzz I began to notice when playing drop D on my bass, and now it buzzes in standard tuning. Found that it's coming from the nut. Is there any way to fix this myself?

Thanks

 

[Zooberwerx]

Need pics of the headstock including a lateral view.

Multiple suspects:

*Inadequate string wraps around the post
*Inadequate break angle
*No witness points
*Poorly cut nut slot

Finding a buzz is like looking for a cricket. It may appear to emanate from the nut or bridge but may actually originate anywhere along the string path including the afterlengths.

Riis

 

[96tbird]

Listen to Riis.

My bet is break angle.

But a Riis said, without pics/details it's difficult to help.

Straight head? (Fender). Angled? (Gibson, Ibanez, etc, etc).

 

[lz4005]

Could also be from a cracked nut, too wide nut slot, loose tuning key, loose string tree or loose truss rod cover.

 

[Ballin'bass]

if you find that it's definitely a matter of the nut creating the buzz from having too deep of a slot, so that there is open string buzz, then there is an easy fix. but i wouldn't do it until i was sure it's the nut that's the problem. but the fix goes as follows:

take some super glue (thin liquid, NOT GEL!) and squirt a bit onto a tray. apply it to the problem nut-slot with a toothpick (you might want to put tape down around the nut to avoid getting glue anywhere else on the bass). if you apply it right, there should be a super thin, < 1mm thick layer of glue that naturally sits in the slot because of the surface tension. let that dry for at least an hour or two, until it's extra, fully hardened. restring it and try it out. if it still has a problem, try adding another little dap of glue with the same process. you shouldn't have to do more than 2 or 3 applications most likely.

The beauty of this trick is if it ends up not working, it's easily reversable with some high grit sandpaper.

HOPE THAT HELPS !