Fretless - Advice on string height at the nut

[spiltmilk_2000]

Hi guys, I have purchased a cheap squire VM fretless p bass and it feels a little high at the nut. On a fretted bass I'd measure distance from the first fret with feeler gauges and simply (carefully!) file the slots down a little. With no frets I have no idea how to measure or how far to file. Any advice??
Thanks
Russ

[Doctor J]

I bring it right down to the fretboard, almost as if you fretted (I know) it at the nut. Since that's how every other note will sound, why would you want your open notes any different?

[Lo-E]

The trick that has worked for me for 25 years is to use the cover of a matchbook. File the slot until the file just starts to scrape the shiny coating off the paper matchbook cover and you're done.

Adjust to taste if necessary.

[BassBus]

I would take the nut down to a point that the open string just holds a piece of paper under it. Status fretless basses have the strings coming out of the nut right onto the end of the finger board. Don't forget to look at the rest of the setup as well. That's just as important.