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Why aren't B string nuts cut larger?

#22
The factory puts strings on the bass cuz they have to in order to sell the bass. It is usually set up optimally for the OEM strings. If you want to use different strings, set the bass up appropriately for the different strings, no big deal. If you have to cut the nut or replace the nut, go for it! This is kinda like instrument ownership 101. The manufacturer just picks a middle-of-the-road specification that will work for some players.
 
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#24
Interesting that I'm seeing this today.

I had to have the nut on my brand new American Elite Jazz 5-string slightly lowered and the grooves widened today to accommodate the strings I use (050, 070, 085, 105, 135). The need to widen the grooves wasn't a big surprise, the nut height was to me and the tech. I've told this story before, but it was fine right out of box and I went straight to a gig from the music store. The strings that came on it were too light and they were dead an hour into the gig. I put my usual strings on and high and narrow nut grooves became a problem. Heck, I tried to put the strings on through the body, but the dang hole for the B string was too small, so I strung through the bridge.

The tech spent an hour on it and now it's great! Might not be optimum for smaller gauge strings, that's not an issue now.
 
#26
I'm coming in for a quick hijack--please forgive. I play 4 strings only but the last two basses I owned--and sold-- the string nut was TOO HIGH. These were Ibanez basses. You would think that a company like Ibanez would know better. But down by the first nut you could see too much daylight between the fretboard and string.

So, I agree with you all on this. Thanks for listening.
 
#32
Doner Designs said:
Easy to enlarge a nut slot, very hard to shrink it.
Click to expand...

And the corollary to this is that it is easy to make a nut slot deeper, hard to make it shallower. If you buy a custom bass then the nut should be cut to your preferences. If you buy a mass produced bass then it is entirely reasonable to expect to have to do some nut adjustments if your tastes are far from the norm. I suspect I would not like a nut cut the way some of you do and I am glad that Fender, Ibanez, etc do not cut them that way!
 
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#33
KickingBass said:
So what gauge would a balanced B be?
Click to expand...

We'll use Kalium strings as they have a tension calculator that's easy to use.
Link Removed

Every brand is a touch different so this will obviously be a broad overview, and does not apply to flatwounds as they have higher tension at a give gauge, (but i'd think the same principles would apply.)

We'll take a standard-ish set:

.045 - 46.5lbs
.065 - 52.97lbs
.085 - 51.26lbs
.105 - 43(ish)lbs
.130 - 35.98lbs

So the average tension for the standard 4 strings is right around 48lbs., you'd need a .150, to get there. For that matter I use a .114 on my E string as well. The A, D, & G stay the same.
 
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#34
It's simple. Because unbalanced sets are the standard, and have been since the bass guitar was invented.

Even 45-105 is unbalanced, let alone 45-100, or 5 string sets where the B string is far floppier than the rest.

I use 45-135 because that is the best balance you can get with commercial sets.
 
#35
KickingBass said:
So what gauge would a balanced B be?
Click to expand...

That depends on the gauges of the other strings. Most standard sets are not balanced and you could not make them balanced by changing the gauge of just the B string. Some folks argue that string gauges are selected to make the string to string tone even but I think that if that were true then standard set tensions would vary in some logical fashion. Here are some examples of standard sets from GHS. Not picking on GHS, in fact I use their strings a lot:

Bass Boomer Light G--33.6--35.2--35.9--36.1--31.3--B
Bass Boomer Med Light G--44.8--50.1--45.0--37.8--33.2--B
Bass Boomer Medium G--44.8--50.1--49.4--42.2--38.5--B
Pressure Wound Five G--43.3--48.3--47.2--48.0--34.0--B

As you can see some sets are fairly balanced, some are quite imbalanced. If tone were the driving factor then I would expect the tension to rise or fall monotonically from string to string, instead it varies almost randomly although the A and D strings are frequently the highest tension. I think that in truth the driving factor is how few string gauges can we manufacture while still offering string sets that will appeal to consumers? That minimizes costs.

I tune in fifths so I have to buy custom sets and I try to pick gauges that will give me around 40 pounds of tension for a 34 inch scale bass. String makers build too few different gauges of any type of string to allow you to do that exactly although Kalium comes closest, they do quite well in fact. Kalium does sell balanced tension sets so if you play rounds you can look at their string sets to see what balanced tension gauges look like. They make a vast array of them. Link Removed It is a little confusing to use since it does not identify the octave the notes are in so you have to know a little about what gauges give your tension in what octave to use it. If you look at the chart then you can see that for a 34 inch scale:

Kalium Hybrid Gauges For 40 lbs Tension G--41--57--76--102--136--B
Actual Tensions For These Gauges G--38.5--40.36--40.19--40.35--39.25--B
 
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#36
Manufacturers have to leave the nut tall just in case the player chooses to use Rotosound 66's. In 3 string changes they will file the nut to the optimal depth themselves. After that I hope you have a zero fret to feed them!
 

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