daz Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 (edited) I had to replace the stock plastic nut on my old Westfield P bass, due to its having slots far too wide for a normal string because I adjusted it to try the Rotosound Tru Bass plastic coated strings (after seeing Jah wobble and having a chat with Nige 'Mr Rotosound' Clutterbuck, one day) So after some consideration I thought instead of going straight for the bone nut option, that I was planning. That I would like to try something different first. Such as a metal nut, maybe copper, brass or ally. The Ally nut has been cut to size and is on the bass now, awaiting me finding a dremmel to borrow off someone to cut the slots (anyone in Chester have a Dremmel to lend for a day ?) So my Q is, has anyone else ever tried a metal nut, and if so what was the outcome ? Edited September 23, 2012 by daz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrdreadful Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 I put a brass nut on my EB-3 copy. It's definitely true what they say about it improving sustain, even with the crappy floating bridge it keeps going for ages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 (edited) Well cut nut over badly cut nut makes more difference that a metal nut vs another suitable material, like bone or hard plastics. Plenty of bad material nuts about though. Phosphor bronze is about the ultimate because its hard, and self lubricating. Ali is probably a bit soft and makes your fingers go black if you touch it much, although that depends on the alloy. Edited September 23, 2012 by Mr. Foxen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 I used to have an Aria with a brass nut. I don't think it made any difference and I can't see how it could make a difference once you are fretting a note. What matters with a nut is that it is cut well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3below Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1348398475' post='1813073'] .... I can't see how it could make a difference once you are fretting a note. What matters with a nut is that it is cut well. [/quote] Agree fully on this one. Metal nut might make the open strings sound similar to fretted (if they did not before). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 Nuts do have an effect on fretted strings also, but the significance thereof is a taste call: http://www.edgeguitarservices.co.uk/rout_serv/nut_geom.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gub Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 Got a brass nut put on my jazz and it defo makes a difference for the better , thinking of putting one on the jag now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Dave Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 Brass for me , on my 73 Precision. I bought the bass in 1978 and my Dad made it for me a couple of years later out of a yale lock he got off a building site bog door. He used my old strings as makeshift 'files' to fine finish the slots to the correct width (a procedure I've copied with other nuts since). Took him hours. No more Dr Dad , I'm sad to say. But it's my most precious musical item. You can burn the bass for all I care so long as I get the nut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 Brass nuts were "de rigeur" in the '80's, so I've had loads - I think they do add a tad of sustain as well as looking a bit classier than plastic The only aluminium one I've had is on my '75 Travis Bean - no sign of wear from nearly 40 years of use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 My s/h P came with a brass nut on it. To my best recollection, I've never played another P, so I can't compare tonal attributes. But no-one's ever remarked on my P sounding different to any other P, so who knows? As for aluminium nuts - my Danelectro U2 (guitar) has one and it doesn't seem to have worn any quicker or 'stick' anymore than the nuts on any of my other guitars. I wonder - were nuts ever made out of - er - [i]nut[/i]? Or were they always bone until someone invented plastic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 I think the best idea would be to have the nut made from the same material as the frets so that it all sounds the same... Saying that, I've never had a problem with a plastic one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Dave Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 [quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1348413725' post='1813300'] I think the best idea would be to have the nut made from the same material as the frets so that it all sounds the same... [/quote] Go one stage further and choose an instrument with a 'false' fret. Should play and sound the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 The nut on one of my GBs is nickel (same as frets) - although that was done for cosmetic reasons above anything else. Does it make a difference? I'm not sure. A well cut nut as stated above is the most important... although the bass with the nickel nut does seem to sustain for a lifetime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daz Posted September 23, 2012 Author Share Posted September 23, 2012 (edited) Thanks for the interest. Well I borrowed a Dremmel of my bro, so Ill let you know how it goes tomorrow. Plenty mention brass nuts. I don't have any brass at the mo' so I will try some copper, as I have plenty of that in I/8 thick slabs. Could be interesting, as copper is softer than Aluminium and brass, but still harder than bone. Edited September 23, 2012 by daz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 [quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1348398321' post='1813067'] Phosphor bronze is about the ultimate because its hard, and self lubricating. Ali is probably a bit soft and makes your fingers go black if you touch it much, although that depends on the alloy. [/quote] Phosphor Bronze will make your sweat turn green though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaydentaku Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 whilst we are on brass, it's all about brass frets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey R Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 The bass in my avatar orinigally had a plastic nut, which snapped right in half. Its got a zero fret, so I wasnt expecting any difference in tone, but with the brass nut it really does make a difference. It may be to do with the added mass, rather than the hardness of the surface, I have no idea why, but with these fingers playing this particular bass, it was enough to notice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 [quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1348426052' post='1813499'] Phosphor Bronze will make your sweat turn green though. [/quote] Its pretty corrosion resistant, its what then use in parts of the inside of brass instruments to resist breath and spit. Its plain copper than greens you up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simwells Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 (edited) Never tried an ally one but the early T-40s had Zinc nuts if I remember right and mine's still going strong 32 years on. As for sound differences it's very hard to say without comparing the exact same bass with the different nut materials. Edited September 23, 2012 by simwells Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daz Posted September 23, 2012 Author Share Posted September 23, 2012 [quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1348426052' post='1813499'] Phosphor Bronze will make your sweat turn green though. [/quote] As long as it doesn't make my blood turn green like a Vulcan, I don't mind a bit of green sweat. It might even start a trend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 FWIW my sweat makes brass/copper and "gold" hardware turn green. Phosphor Bronze strings turn black when exposed to my perspiration... Zero frets are the way to go, although they're not [i]exactly[/i] the same as they're often hardened to offset the increased wear that they experience. This is caused by the fact that the strings are always pressed against it, whatever note you're fretting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daz Posted September 25, 2012 Author Share Posted September 25, 2012 (edited) Job done and its not at all bad actually. Might knock up a few blanks in copper and bronze so I have some ready. I wonder what an 18 carot gold nut would be like ? Edited September 25, 2012 by daz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTractor Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 [quote name='daz' timestamp='1348545084' post='1815005'] wonder what an 18 carot gold nut would be like[/quote] Ask Skank. He knows these things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlungerModerno Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 [quote name='daz' timestamp='1348545084' post='1815005'] Job done and its not at all bad actually. Might knock up a few blanks in copper and bronze so I have some ready. I wonder what an 18 carot gold nut would be like ? [/quote] Soft? It'd be pretty shiny more than likely. I'd go with plated rather than solid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 [quote name='simwells' timestamp='1348430743' post='1813595'] Never tried an ally one but the early T-40s had Zinc nuts if I remember right and mine's still going strong 32 years on. As for sound differences it's very hard to say without comparing the exact same bass with the different nut materials. [/quote] I seem to remember that the bridges were made of Zamak (a zinc alloy) so I'd guess the nuts were the same. Gibson uses the same material for their tailpieces and bridges. [size=1]I might have just plumbed new depths in bass related nerdyness. [/size] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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