Nut Height

[TheArchitect]

Having reviewed the setup videos, they recommend a .022 gap between the first fret and the string bottom. Have most of you found that to be solid, or do you prefer something different? I can setup a guitar in my sleep but I am not as familiar with the finer points of bass setups

 

[202dy]

Nut height by Turnaround.

Search is your friend.

 

[60bass]

Having reviewed the setup videos, they recommend a .022 gap between the first fret and the string bottom. Have most of you found that to be solid, or do you prefer something different? I can setup a guitar in my sleep but I am not as familiar with the finer points of bass setups

.022 is what I use and it's always good. Any higher than that and IMO the bass feels "stiff" when played down low. For all my basses I use .010 neck relief. 5/64th action height at 17th fret and the .022 top of fret to bottom of string for nut height. GO SLOW and take your time. Baby steps and make sure you use nut files designed for bass. I use the HOSCO set for bass and they work great.

 

[Turnaround]

The problem with setting nut height at a set amount (like .022") is that is goes not account for the player's preference in overall string height. If you like really low action, .022 will be too high. It's a compromise that works OK for many players, but it is a compromise, in much the same way that factory specs are a compromise. And like factory specs, the compromise will be on the high side.

So if you want to be "safe", .022" is satisfactory. If you want to optimize it will likely be different.