Nut question (bass)

[clifchamb]

I was changing the strings on a Yamaha bass that I just picked up and noticed that without the strings on it, the nut was removable and I had to hold it in position while I restrung it, the nuts on my other basses do not move. Is this natural?

clif

 

[bdbdbuck]

clif,
don't know about BASS, but if my 6 string had that problem, I'd glue it back on. I dunno maybe there is sucha thing as a "floating nut".

bd

 

[Toki987]

You can apply 3 or 4 tiny pinpoints of adhesive to the bottom of the nut and reset it. If left loose it can dampen the string vibrations thru the neck, as well as move when you apply a sideways tension on the strings while playing. Like when bending strings.

 

[christiaan]

yup, it's a potential sustain killer. You should fix it.

 

[badassmak]

Elmer's Weather-tite Wood Glue, is what I use fur nutty situations, its a good idea to let it dry first before stressing it I have also found. The head stock and tuning pegs must be fairly well inline with everything else for you not too have noticed this while playing before.

 

[clifchamb]

Thanks for all your feedback. I will glue it on right away.


clif

 

[bdbdbuck]

clif,
this is off the subject, but I was listening to your x-jam. What drum machine do you use? I'm looking into the zoom rt 123, and wondered if you know anything about it.

 

[clifchamb]

clif,
this is off the subject, but I was listening to your x-jam. What drum machine do you use? I'm looking into the zoom rt 123, and wondered if you know anything about it.

Hmm. Don't know much about the zoom rt 123. The drumms and syth on X-jam came from my Boss Dr-5 (Dr. Rythum Section). It is fairly old in Drum machine years (came out mid nineties I think) but I bought it used off of E bay for 150.00. I am terrible at sequencing and I cannot play a keyboard, so I found the Dr-5 to be perfect for me. You can sequence 3 other instruments besides drumms for each pattern. You then connect these patterns to become songs. Pretty simple. The key pads correspond to a guitar fret board, so picking notes and chords are in my languange. Hope this helps. I don't know if you have a keyboard bd, but I would recommend looking at a drum machine that can provide other sounds as well. Why not thow an Oboe or bagpipe into the mix, know what I mean?


clif

 

[bdbdbuck]

Clif,
I read ya. I was going with economy and one piece at a time. I thought I would get the oxygen-8 to provide the oboe etc. after I acheive the basic ryhthm with the zoom. I will say I like the features of your machine because I too am a guitarist. Although I do read music (slowly) and I do have an acoustic piano. I think I will check out ebay.

thanks bud,
bd

 

[bdbdbuck]

clif,
I found a Boss dr-5 for 167.50 (current bid) It has midi in and midi out which would work better than the zoom with the oxygen-8. thanks for the tip.


bd

 

[clifchamb]

clif,
I found a Boss dr-5 for 167.50 (current bid) It has midi in and midi out which would work better than the zoom with the oxygen-8. thanks for the tip.


bd

Always glad to help. Just bear in mind that the samples are a little dated and although some people swear by them, some people don't like them anymore. I used to have a ROLAND XP-50 workstation and I sold it becasue I never touched it or used the sequencer, so for me it is more about ease of use rather than "oh I think the piano algorythum emulator is far superiour on my sound source than the DR-5". You may also want to consider the yamaha QY100 sequencer. lot's of people really like it.

clif

 

[bdbdbuck]

clif,
Actually since my last post, I ran across a lot of the BOSS machines. I went to the MF page and they are still selling them new. UH...they list for over $400! There are a ton of em on ebay for less than $200. I will check out the Yamaha. Thanks.


bd

 

[DaveM]

You may not need this but if the nut is already off, you may want to check it for and bad grooves. If the strings are really biting into it, then you may want to replace it. Also, you can lower the action a little bit too if you want by filing down the bottom surface of the nut, slowly and resetting it to see how the action is. Basically, you can file down a pencil so it is completely flat on one side. Run if over the first and second frets and mark a line on the nut to see where the bottom of the strings are in relation to that line. If the string depth is above that line, then you can sand down the bottom a bit. If it's below that line then you should replace the nut.

Just my $0.02

Dave

 

[Tom Hicks]

At my work-bench here at Rhythm Band,I use superglue (StewMac #10 thin cyanoacrylate) to re-seat nuts on guitars,ukes etc.Put a drop on the tip of a toothpick and drag it across the nut shelf.Put the nut into place and use the strings' tension in their slots to set the final placement.Put graphite shavings from a #2 pencil lead into the slots for lubrication and to stop the string binding during tuning.