E string slipping from the nut?

[GeneralElectric]

I just put TI flats on my 67 P-bass and the E string keeps popping out of the nut. It seems I've got enough wraps around the tuning post but the string seems to want to be a mm or two towards the edge of the neck and puts out of the saddle whenever I play it. Is it possible the nut is cut too high?

 

[ehque]

2 things to check.

1. Is the nut sitting firmly in the saddle? Gauge differences may lead to strings sitting on top of the slot instead of inside it.

2. Is the part of the nut between the E string and the edge broken? I've had some guitars like this.

Nut slot depth should be set based on proper setup rules. If it already is cut at the right depth and you cut it deeper to prevent it from jumping out, your open string will buzz against the first fret.

 

[walterw]

yep.

i'd say by definition there isn't enough wraps on the post.

 

[GeneralElectric]

I don't really cut my strings and I only trimmed off a few inches so when fully extended it reaches the G tuner. The string is inserted all the way down in the post, and the string is wrapped correctly with the leading end all the way down towards the bottom of the post to to the nut.

The nut isn't broken but it doesn't look very high. It just doesn't want to seem to want to stay in the nut slot. There were 95s on this bass originally and now I think its 100s or whatever gauge TI uses.

 

[walterw]

...the string is wrapped correctly with the leading end all the way down towards the bottom of the post to to the nut.

It just doesn't want to seem to want to stay in the nut slot...

so your E comes close to "hitting bottom" on the post?

hmm, i guess that does indeed steer us back to looking at the nut.

if the slot is the right depth, meaning it can't be deepened any without the string buzzing against the first fret, and it's the right width, meaning the string sits in it, not over it, then your two options are to butcher up your vintage P with a second string tree (no!) or get a new nut (yes!).

actually, a good tech can pop your old one out, shim it up a little with a slice of nice hardwood veneer, then re-cut all the slots to the right height again, giving you deeper slots with the same action.

 

[ehque]

If you're replacing the nut i'd just go with a new one, so you can replace it if you ever decide TIs are not for you, or if you want to sell the bass.