Double Bass Nut width for wackers?

[Kax]

I recently bought a used Engelhardt c1 and love it. i just got a set of weedwackers and was wondering what to use to widen the nut on my bass to make way for the weedwackers. and does the bridge also need work? if i widen the nut could i still put steel strings on it or would the nut be to large? i really do not want to go to the local luither and pay big bucks... i like diy. thanks for readin!

 

[clothsnake]

are you referring to the nut and bridge 'grooves'... 'saddles'... 'seats'... whatever we're calling them..?
just how big are these strings..?

 

[Gufenov]

Use a rat-tail file to widen the string slots in the nut and the bridge. Be sure to lubricate the slots with graphite before installing the strings.

CAUTION: If you widen the slots and then don't like the whackers, you may not be able to simply reinstall your old strings. You might have to recut the bridge top and/or replace the nut. Have you considered putting on the whackers and seeing how you like the sound first?

 

[Johnny L]

...what to use to widen the nut on my bass to make way for the weedwackers. and does the bridge also need work? if i widen the nut could i still put steel strings on it or would the nut be to large?

Yeah a rat tail file works for me too. The bridge slots may need to be widened also.

Be careful that you don't file too deeply while you do the widening. A feeler gauge works pretty well to keep me safe...but when I've gone too deep, I've put business cards underneath the nut to raise it a little.

I've never had a problem with the nut or bridge slots being too wide when I put on thinner strings, but I have had others tell me it didn't look quite so pretty. I don't think bridge adjusters are pretty either, but I have those on my bass too.

 

[Kax]

so i need a rattail file. well thanks for the info, i gotta get a rat tail file and get to work. would not having the nut wide enough effect the volume? i put the E string on and i was suprized how quiet it was..

 

[Gufenov]

i put the E string on and i was suprized how quiet it was..

That's a compromise you'll likely have to make for the easy slappin'. A lot of players use synthetic strings for the D & G and stay with steel for the E & A for that reason.

 

[Kax]

i got the rattail file and the graphite and went to work, i got the weedwackers on and got my string hight to 9mm and tuned em up. there great. the weedwackers are so much easer to slap and thanks for the help with the nut.