Jazz bass fretless nut replacement?

[minkey1980]

Hi

Bought an old 90s fender fretless j bass yesterday. There was terrible buzzing and looked at nut and it was worn out. Can anyone recommend a good pre cut replacement? Or do I just buy a graph tech one from eBay for £8

Let me know

Thanks

[brensabre79]

Unfortunately it's not a simple case of popping a new pre-cut one in. It'll need to be filed down and set up properly by someone who knows how - sadly a dying art these days!
I've had replacement nuts done by highly recommended luthiers only to have to take them down quite a bit further when I get them home.

On a fretted bass i think the nut should be set just very slightly higher than the first fret with the string open. I.e. the same difference between the 1st and 2nd frets. So many basses have the nut really high and it makes playing the first fret really hard work.

On a fretless bass the nut needs to be surprisingly low, i.e. just a tiny amount above the fingerboard, and whilst it may look worn out compared to a fretted bass it could be that it's right (I don't know) and the buzz is down to neck relief. but nut height is just as personal as action height, it might just be you're a heavier player than the previous owner and need a slightly higher nut.

Pictures would be a real help. But to answer your question, a graph tech one will be more than fine. It's just how it's fitted that will make the difference. Personally I would go to a luthier (and I mean a good one, not a guitar shop repairman) who will have the right sort of nut and the knowledge to fit it properly.

[minkey1980]

No it was definitely the nut that was causing the buzz. As soon as i placed paper over the a slot it stopped. Anyway it's just snapped in half now when I took it out so I've no choice now anyway.

I suppose it will be a graph tech one then.

Thanks

[Zenitram]

I took my defretted bass to my local guitar shop, and they charged me a tenner, all in. It's fine.

Edit: to put a new nut in, that is. And yes it's very very low. The strings are almost touching the fretboard.

Edited June 11, 2014 by Zenitram

[minkey1980]

A tenner? Now that's a good value deal.

I've found one on bay for exact size as mine.

I'll have a think and phone round a few shops tomo.

In the meantime I'm super gluing to test the old one. Ever the resourceful

[Zenitram]

I just gave the bass to the shop and let them worry about which nut to use.

It's only a bit of plastic. If it's not right, it can come out again.

Edited June 11, 2014 by Zenitram