Rotosound Black Nylon string fitting

[badboy1984]

I decided to restring my bass this morning and discover the rotosound set doesn't sit probably on the nut on my fretless bass. My bass originally have some black nylon strings on but clearly is not the full set because the original E and A string looks like the same gauge .......

Altho the string sits on the nut but is not fully press and I tune it up and it play ok unplug.

Will this cause a problem? or shall I go and buy some sand paper and open the hole a little to fit the strings?

[Legion]

The Rotosound Tru Bass 88 strings are a 115 gauge E string, so I would expect you to need to adjust the nut to fit them. Be careful of using them as you are as there is always potential to crack the nut if you have a string that's too large, resting on a slot that's too small.

[KiOgon]

You'll need to open up the nut slot, the proper files for the job are too expensive for a one off job, you could get a local tech do do it for you or perhaps buy a round needle file & carefully use that.
Sandpaper is not really going to do it.

Cheerz, John

Edit: Similar to - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3mm-x-140mm-Round-Diamond-Coated-Needle-File-for-Art-Craft-Jewelry-Making-/171056037178?pt=UK_Crafts_JewelleryMaking_GL&hash=item27d3bbfd3a

Edited December 19, 2014 by KiOgon

[badboy1984]

hmm. The bass is at home at the moment, I was thinking about a small round needle file that properly work better.

[Conan]

Would widening the nut slot cause a problem if one were to go back to strings of a lesser gauge?

[Legion]

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1418982251' post='2635378']
Would widening the nut slot cause a problem if one were to go back to strings of a lesser gauge?
[/quote]
Yes, you can get some annoying buzzing noises etc

[badboy1984]

The string does go in but not fully press, it leaves a very very small gap at the bottom. Doesn't sound like it will cause a problem in terms of tone and sound unplug. I need to plug it in an amp tonight to try. I just need to widening a little bit.

[Geek99]

if the string is a wider bore, surely the nut will need to be both wider [b]and [/b]deeper ? Or it will sit relatively higher to the old smaller bore string. Sandpaper definitely wont do depth, not with any degree of reliability anyways

[Conan]

[quote name='badboy1984' timestamp='1418982472' post='2635381'] I just need to widening a little bit.
[/quote]

I would be careful, unless you intend to stick with these particular strings on this bass from now on...

[badboy1984]

I've got no option unless I leave it as it is and see how it goes. I may buy a low gauge one from a different brand. No damage done so far, the strings sit on the nut but just not fully press ........

[Twincam]

A set of welder tip cleaners are cheap and come multi size are perfect for nut work. They wont be up to cutting a new nut but for widening or small depth adjustments there good.

[KiOgon]

[quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1418986509' post='2635455']
A set of welder tip cleaners are cheap and come multi size are perfect for nut work. They wont be up to cutting a new nut but for widening or small depth adjustments there good.
[/quote]They don't go anywhere near .115" but yes they're OK for light work on the smaller string slots.

[badboy1984]

To behonest, is a very small adjustment I need to file, it probably only need to do the E string only. I will buy a set of needle files and try to fix it. The worse case get a new nut. If i don't try i don't learn .......

[Twincam]

Oh and if you have a old set of roundwounds you can use them to widen the gap a little there not as good as files but there not overly rough so theres not much danger of over widening etc.

[alyctes]

[quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1418994233' post='2635547']
Oh and if you have a old set of roundwounds you can use them to widen the gap a little there not as good as files but there not overly rough so theres not much danger of over widening etc.
[/quote]

Clever

[badboy1984]

i see what you mean, i may give this a try because i do have some old rounds not being use.

[Paul S]

If you fancied black nylon flats but not fiddling with your nut (ooh err etc) to fit the Trubass strings, Status do good black nylon flats that have the same woody tone but in reasonable gauges - I think the heavy gauge Es are still only 105s. £16.99 a set. I have my fretless Thunder 1A fitted with them and they sound fantastic. I'm sure you could move on the Trubass on here easily enough.

[deepbass5]

I had to adjust the nut on my Status in the same way but that is the beauty of basses with a zero frets as you aren't going to mess with your bass action. so take care as you do not need depth. If you go deeper you could mess up your open notes so take care just to widen the shoulders of each slot. Also +1 for Status black nylon but they are faily low tension so would recomend the heavier gauge.

[badboy1984]

I went and bought a set of needle files in B&Q and it fix the problem.

My fretless sounded great with the black nylon strings, nice double bass sound. Is normal to get less mwah sound with nylon strings? My sustain is good but not much mwah.

I'm getting a ebow to play around on a fretless.

[gsgbass]

Try D'Addario ETB92 Nylon Tapewound strings. They fit most standard nut sizes. Gauges, .50, .65, .85, .105. they work, and sound great.

[badboy1984]

Is all fix now. Just a small adjustment on the nut and i lower the action as well. play nicely now. Just trying to get more mwah tone

[Nodd]

Nylon strings have less 'mwah'
they seem to have less sustained 'energy',
but I find the action height is also a function of 'mwah'.
(now back to the laboratory...)

[badboy1984]

Is a very tough one in terms of string choice. I only got 1 fretless and i need a double bass sound on certain songs which the black nylon strings help and i sometimes need more mwah but i guess i need rounds for that .......