I was playing my Kay (desperately needs some basic setup work when I can find a good luthier and the money) and, when I plugged it in, I started getting a choked buzz from the open A string. It looked to me like the nut had worn down enough that the open string was buzzing against the fingerboard. I had a small piece of foam lying around that I slid under the string that solved the buzz, but now, for obvious reasons, the string sounds pretty dead. Is there anything I can use to raise the string up that won't deaden the sound or do I just need to add 'new nut' to the list of things I need to do?
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Double Bass Nut repair
- Thread starter Fletcher Lanning
- Start date
Superglue and baking soda. Temporary fix, but it's very reliable.
Put a few drops of superglue in the string slot. Pour a pinch of baking soda on it - it will harden instantly, so plan ahead. Then file a new slot as needed. It's not a substitute for a new nut, but it will fix the situation quickly.
I did this to my viola a year ago, with the intention of installing a new nut eventually, and I still haven't.
George
Is the nut glued in place? (Many are not...)
If it is loose, you can remove the nut and add an ebony shim underneath it to bring the top up to the level you want. If it is glued, the job is the same except that you have to pop it loose first.
The shim is glued to the nut, then trimmed, and becomes quite invisible. Obviously, if the nut is not ebony, you can make the shim out of matching hardwood, or dye it to match. The top of the nut can be adjusted with files, to get the strings exactly where you want them.
If it is loose, you can remove the nut and add an ebony shim underneath it to bring the top up to the level you want. If it is glued, the job is the same except that you have to pop it loose first.
The shim is glued to the nut, then trimmed, and becomes quite invisible. Obviously, if the nut is not ebony, you can make the shim out of matching hardwood, or dye it to match. The top of the nut can be adjusted with files, to get the strings exactly where you want them.
Not only will it harden instantly, it will get VERY hot and quite possibly release a curl of smoke (ebony won't catch fire doing this, but balsa can if it is even slightly damp...). Don't breathe CA vapour, still less that smoke.
Matthew Tucker
Commercial User
- Aug 21, 2002
- 2,686
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- Owner: Bresque Basses, Sydney Basses and Cellos
+1 I use black fiber lining of varying thickness for shimming nuts. A thin piece of ebony is just too much work. Might as well just carve a new nut..
Jake deVilliers
Commercial User
- May 24, 2006
- 6,349
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- Owner of The Bass Spa, String Repairman at Long & McQuade Vancouver
What!? I just glue some ebony offcut on the bottom of the nut and run it on the belt sander when its fully bonded. It hardly takes any time at all...
Well hopefully the whole issue will become moot when I get an adjustable bridge next month. I'm just going to get a full setup if I find a luthier nearby. I finally decided to go adjustable so I can try out a Full Circle pickup.
Happened to me recently on my g string. Turned out the nut had shifted to the side. The buzz went away when I shifted it back.
About a year and a half ago, I took the Obligatos off my bass, and installed a new set of Spiro Weichs. Apparently, the Spiros are a smaller guage than the Obligatos. causing the string to sit lower in the nut slot. It immediately developed a buzz on the open A string. I had no idea what was causing it. A few months later, I loaned the bass to Bribass, for a concert he was doing down here in Naples. He noticed the buzz, and instantly knew what it was. He put a piece of paper in the slot, under the string, and solved the problem. I have been meaning to get that fixed ever since then. Today, I finally pulled that old piece of paper out of there, and applied the old CA glue and baking soda trick, as described earlier in this thread. It worked like a charm. No more buzz. Thanks for the tip, guys. 
About a year and a half ago, I took the Obligatos off my bass, and installed a new set of Spiro Weichs. Apparently, the Spiros are a smaller guage than the Obligatos. causing the string to sit lower in the nut slot. It immediately developed a buzz on the open A string. I had no idea what was causing it. A few months later, I loaned the bass to Bribass, for a concert he was doing down here in Naples. He noticed the buzz, and instantly knew what it was. He put a piece of paper in the slot, under the string, and solved the problem. I have been meaning to get that fixed ever since then. Today, I finally pulled that old piece of paper out of there, and applied the old CA glue and baking soda trick, as described earlier in this thread. It worked like a charm. No more buzz. Thanks for the tip, guys.
Glad the superglue+baking soda worked out for you. I'm still sporting that fix on my viola - too lazy to replace the nut.
On a side note: Since switching to a thinner string caused the string to sit lower, does that mean that the original (thicker) string was getting pinched by a slot that was too narrow for it? Meaning, the original string wasn't in full contact with the bottom of the groove?
George
I don't think that it was, but I'm not 100% sure. All I know is that the Obligato A didn't buzz, but the Spiro did. The rest of the strings were fine.
I don't think that it was, but I'm not 100% sure. All I know is that the Obligato A didn't buzz, but the Spiro did. The rest of the strings were fine.
Maybe it was a case of side-to-side action within the groove when using a thinner string.
Whatever the case was, you obviously solved the problem.
George
i do it the ez way. metal bag tie covered in nylon. snip a piece and lay in groove with string on top. If you need to you can double or triple even to adjust amount of rise needed. Doesn't kill the tone whatsoever and it works! the wire is such small gauge that it works. I did this years ago and avoided a luthier trip all together (sorry folks).... better for the pocket and since it isn't a valuable instrument who cares?.... not like anybody says hey cheapo what is that under your strings..... LOL
