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Musicman Compensated Nut

superblues

superblues

Oct 5, 2006
1,210
292
#1
Keeping the talk going on the EBMM Compensated Nut.

1. Is it possible to get replacements? If not, would I really have to have a new nut made from an oddly sized blank?

2. Pros and Cons. Better intonation? Difficult to replace? Discuss.

(Discussion continued from here. Sort of.)
 
#2
I thought, regardless of the *technique side turn* it took, that thread was still viable, and could have been cleaned up.

That said, apparently Ernie Ball doesn't offer replacements. Buzz Feiten has a system. Earvana has systems, but not for basses. They are out there, and it's not that new tech, it's just usually at the bridge end...but combined with this tempered nut, it is overall more accurate...the subtle displacement of the break angle helping overall intonation.
 
#4
1. Is it possible to get replacements? If not, would I really have to have a new nut made from an oddly sized blank?

Possible if your bass came with one, but not if it didn't. The route is a different size entirely - the compensated nut being bigger.

2. Pros and Cons. Better intonation? Difficult to replace? Discuss.

I don't see any "con" to it. Even if the intonation is only slightly better, it's still better. And even if it remained the same, there's no upcharge for it. Difficult to replace, not really, as long as the instrument came with the compensated version.

Jack
 
#7
CapnSev said:
I have the compensated nut on my newer SR5, and compared to my old SR4, I can't really tell a difference. I still have to intonate my SR5 as much as my SR4.

I really don't see how it helps that much.
Click to expand...

The intonated nut should affect the intonation most at the first through fifth frets. This is a rather important distinction if you're a guitar player, playing chords. We bassists....well, not as much, but better is still better.
 
#8
Thanks bovine.

Sorry that I didn't specify. I did intend to discuss replacing a compensated nut with a compensated nut.

Does EBMM require that you send your old nut to them before they'll send you a replacement? Doing so would seem kind of silly to me, just for a nut, especially considering the length of time the bass could be out of commission while waiting on a replacement. But I do get the concept in theory.
 
#9
Jack, is that the case with the Earvana system?
Click to expand...

I have no idea what that IS! Sorry!


superjesus said:
Thanks bovine.

Sorry that I didn't specify. I did intend to discuss replacing a compensated nut with a compensated nut.

Does EBMM require that you send your old nut to them before they'll send you a replacement? Doing so would seem kind of silly to me, just for a nut, especially considering the length of time the bass could be out of commission while waiting on a replacement. But I do get the concept in theory.
Click to expand...

I don't think it would be a big deal with just the nut, although I'm really not the person to ask.
 
#10
bovinehost said:
The intonated nut should affect the intonation most at the first through fifth frets. This is a rather important distinction if you're a guitar player, playing chords. We bassists....well, not as much, but better is still better.
Click to expand...


I always appreciate better intonation. I suppose a compensated nut would be somewhat out of place on a fretless, though.
 
#16
Since in the other thread, there was a lame pic posted of the compensated nut, here is a better one lifted from The Perfect Bass site:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

just for a reference standpoint in case someone wanted a good pic of it to actually see what the deal is with this mysterious nut....
 
#17
eastcoasteddie said:
Since in the other thread, there was a lame pic posted of the compensated nut, here is a better one lifted from The Perfect Bass site:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

just for a reference standpoint in case someone wanted a good pic of it to actually see what the deal is with this mysterious nut....
Click to expand...

Of course, this picture illustrates two things...one, the compensated nut is shown more clearly, but two, not all fretless EB basses have standard nuts.
 
#19
they probably put them on ALL versions. It's probably more cost effective to do this than to have 2 different nut styles in the factory and have to set the routing machines up 2 different ways for the installation of a $6 part (maybe $1 if bought in bulk).
Also, they probably crank out 3 times as many fretted instruments as they do fretless ones, all the more reason to use only one type of nut.
 

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