Hi! I plan on reducing the string size on my 5 string bass, specially the low B, which is currently a 135. I want to go as small as I can without having a rattle at the nut. Can I go as small as a 125?
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Reducing string size without readjusting the nut?
- Thread starter Inconnu
- Start date
Shouldn't be a problem going down by .010.
My 5-string Yamaha came with a 130B originally, but I've used a 120B with no issues.
Kinda depends (on things like if your headstock is angled or if you can get the string winding low, and if the nut is well-cut or not), but my guess is you should be fine.
Briefly, before I traded my 5-string for a 6-string, I'd strung it EADGC. It was an Ibanez SR with a good angle for the B, so the E seemed not to mind it; no rattle or anything.
Briefly, before I traded my 5-string for a 6-string, I'd strung it EADGC. It was an Ibanez SR with a good angle for the B, so the E seemed not to mind it; no rattle or anything.
This is probably the best answer. In general, you should be just fine. I’ve changed a few basses from BEAD to EADG without a need to change the nut.
Been doing it countless of times...
Most of my basses have gone through some string gauge changes, but never any of them had the nut altered. The one I mainly take out to gig came from factory with a 130 B roundwound. Some years ago I had the low-B changed to 135, which I used for a couple of years. Now it carries a 120 B, no change to the nut.
One of my fretlesses that came with flatwounds, which low-B was a 132, had strings changed to tapewounds at one time, which low-B was a 135. Now, I've put flatwound strings on again, but with a 120 B. Never the nut was changed.
The key is, all of these different string sizes have to be able to stay put on the bottom of the U shaped nut slots. It is important to make sure the string path after the nut towards the string post is angled down, which then tuning the string to pitch creates the needed down force to keep it from rattling on the bottom of the pit.
Most of my basses have gone through some string gauge changes, but never any of them had the nut altered. The one I mainly take out to gig came from factory with a 130 B roundwound. Some years ago I had the low-B changed to 135, which I used for a couple of years. Now it carries a 120 B, no change to the nut.
One of my fretlesses that came with flatwounds, which low-B was a 132, had strings changed to tapewounds at one time, which low-B was a 135. Now, I've put flatwound strings on again, but with a 120 B. Never the nut was changed.
The key is, all of these different string sizes have to be able to stay put on the bottom of the U shaped nut slots. It is important to make sure the string path after the nut towards the string post is angled down, which then tuning the string to pitch creates the needed down force to keep it from rattling on the bottom of the pit.
