Fender Fretless Jazz Bass Nut

[Ziechn]

Hey Guys!

I'm new here and I have a question about the Fender Standard Fretless Jazz Bass my friend just bought.

The Nut on this bass doesn't raise the strings off of the fretboard, it actually just lets the string lay on the fretboard and I was wondering if that was normal. If I had a picture I would show you but I don't at the moment.

I guess the easy question is are fretless strings supposd to lay so close to the fretboard? Seem like it might cause some fret-buss.

PS: The bass isn't set up get so the neck has a lot of relief or else I would answer this myself.

 

[Gord_oh]

It sounds like it might be a little too low. A fretless is supposed to make the sound of a double bass, classic string bass. The string needs to be raised, even though there are not any frets, for them to vibrate and make a sound. They will sit a little lower than a fretted bass, but if they are hitting the fretboard it will sound like crap.

 

[lonote]

The nut is lower on a fretless because it doesn't have to raise the strings above the frets.

 

[Aurel]

Even though the nut on a fretless can be lower than on a fretted bass, it should be high enough so the open strings ring loud and clear when played.
In your case you might need to set up the bridge appropriately and/or raise the nut.

 

[lonote]

The OP didn't say anything about the bass sounding bad.

 

[kevin_lindsay]

That's normal for fretless basses. Here's my Musicman Stingray 4 - same sort of nut height as described on your bass

 

[WillBuckingham]

IMO the nut on a fretless should virtually level with the fingerboard. I wouldn't mess with it.

 

[kevinmoore73]

My Douglas fretless came with a nut that was cut for a fretted bass. I filed the slots down so that I could fit a piece of paper (maybe two, depending on the paper) between the strings and the fingerboard.

 

[mellowgerman]

i bought a fender fretless MIM about a year and a half ago. the bridge pickup was messed up so the store let me exchange it for a new one. on both the nut was at fretboard level. after setting it up properly (truss rod and bridge) it played and sounded fine.