velvetkevorkian Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Hey all, I've been getting a sneaking suspicion my strings are a bit too high on my DB to make it easily playable- been doing some reading on TB and it seems the height at the nut should be about a credit card's width- mine is substantially bigger than that right across the board, and it makes half position a right pain in the neck. Does anyone have experience fiddling with this? Is it something I should be able to fix myself or would I be better taking the bass in for a full setup? Also, if I do it and f*** it up, I'm assuming the nut is replaceable without having to re-do the entire fingerboard- is this correct? Thanks in advance. Kyle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBus Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 (edited) Hi Kyle I would go along with the strings being about a credit card height at the nut. My first DB had strings that were way too high and it just about destroyed my fingers. I would take it to a luthier who knows about DBs and have a chat to him or her about it. Tell them what you want and what style of music you play. I think classical players have a higher action to give more volume and jazz players have a lower action. I play jazz and folk on mine and have quite a low action, particularly at the nut. I wouldn't be tempted to try it myself. Just seen you are in Glasgow. You'll no doubt be aware of The Violin Shop in Blackie Street. They will sort it for you. I bought my DB there. Good luck and let us know how you get on. Graham Edited March 2, 2009 by BassBus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
endorka Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 It's easy enough to do - just get some of those thin circular files and file down the grooves one by one, a little at a time, replacing the string frequently to check the height. You could use something like a credit card or other thin thing to reference the height of the groove relative to the fingerboard. If you make the height too low the string will rattle, but filing & checking frequently should avoid this. Should this happen, you probably won't even need a new nut, let alone a new fingerboard; I imagine it would be possible to put a thin bit of wood between the nut and the neck to act as a spacer to raise the height of the nut again. In saying that, I agree with Graham that the guy in the violin shop will do a good job on this! Jennifer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low Down Dave Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 To check your nut height, fret the string at the 4th fret and hold it down then with the other hand press down at the 2nd fret there should be a tiny amount of play, if there is anything more significant you nut needs adjusting. You can use a credit card as a rough gauge, but as the average credit card is around 0.79 or 1/32” thick so it should be a tight fit, if it slips easily in and out it is too high for most players, unless they want a high action. You might also want to check your neck relief as too much relief can make the nut action seem too high, and you may find some videos on youtube regarding setup. But general speaking if you don’t like the way your bass plays I’d take it to a guitar tech, a decent setup makes the world of difference. BTW dropping the action at the nut rarely means replacing the nut and is an easy job with the right tools, but it is very easy to bugger up if you are not sure what you are doing and do not have the right tools. Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guyl Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 Don't forget to rub a bit of soft pencil in your newly filed grooves to keep the string happy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBus Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 (edited) [quote name='Low Down Dave' post='423122' date='Mar 2 2009, 12:51 PM']BTW dropping the action at the nut rarely means replacing the nut and is an easy job with the right tools, but it is very easy to bugger up if you are not sure what you are doing and do not have the right tools.[/quote] £73 for four files from Allparts you might only use once, unless you have them already. It might not cost much more to have the job done professionally. Edited March 2, 2009 by BassBus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velvetkevorkian Posted March 2, 2009 Author Share Posted March 2, 2009 [quote name='BassBus' post='423033' date='Mar 2 2009, 11:43 AM']Just seen you are in Glasgow. You'll no doubt be aware of The Violin Shop in Blackie Street. They will sort it for you. I bought my DB there. Good luck and let us know how you get on. Graham[/quote] The Violin Shop did the initial setup when I bought the bass- I had though they had done some work on the nut but not sure now if its been enough. [quote name='Low Down Dave' post='423122' date='Mar 2 2009, 12:51 PM']To check your nut height, fret the string at the 4th fret and hold it down then with the other hand press down at the 2nd fret there should be a tiny amount of play, if there is anything more significant you nut needs adjusting. You can use a credit card as a rough gauge, but as the average credit card is around 0.79 or 1/32” thick so it should be a tight fit, if it slips easily in and out it is too high for most players, unless they want a high action. You might also want to check your neck relief as too much relief can make the nut action seem too high, and you may find some videos on youtube regarding setup. But general speaking if you don’t like the way your bass plays I’d take it to a guitar tech, a decent setup makes the world of difference. BTW dropping the action at the nut rarely means replacing the nut and is an easy job with the right tools, but it is very easy to bugger up if you are not sure what you are doing and do not have the right tools. Dave.[/quote] Thanks for the advice Dave but I posted this in the Double Bass section for a reason- no frets or neck relief per se here. [quote name='BassBus' post='423500' date='Mar 2 2009, 06:33 PM']£73 for four files from Allparts you might only use once, unless you have them already. It might not cost much more to have the job done professionally. [/quote] Make that 5 files- I have a low B as well. Thanks for the thoughts folks- at this point its academic as my bank account has just been emptied by a mortgage/council tax double whammy so I can't afford any new tools or a pro setup just now, but I will have a root around in the tool box and see what I can find. Cheers Kyle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 So far, I've not been impressed by the set-up work on basses in the Violin shop. I'm sure they're generally competent, but there isn't anyone working there who really plays bass (as far as I know). I think luthiers who specialise in other instruments assume basses are [i]always[/i] hard to play, and consequently don't get the setup as good as it could be. If you're really short of cash, it's quite feasible to carefully deepen the slots using small round needle files (cheaper than specialised nut files). I did it on one bass I owned in the past, and had no problems, though I guess you could deepen the slots too much or widen them if you're not careful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockabilly drummer Posted June 14, 2009 Share Posted June 14, 2009 HI, I'm on the look out for a new double bass player for a new project i'm starting up. a rockabilly style band, i play drums and i have the most amazing guitarist/singer, but im looking into possibly having a female vocalist. anyone interested should contact Del [email protected] Cheers Del. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rslaing Posted June 14, 2009 Share Posted June 14, 2009 [quote name='velvetkevorkian' post='422630' date='Mar 1 2009, 09:26 PM']Hey all, I've been getting a sneaking suspicion my strings are a bit too high on my DB to make it easily playable- been doing some reading on TB and it seems the height at the nut should be about a credit card's width- mine is substantially bigger than that right across the board, and it makes half position a right pain in the neck. Does anyone have experience fiddling with this? Is it something I should be able to fix myself or would I be better taking the bass in for a full setup? Also, if I do it and f*** it up, I'm assuming the nut is replaceable without having to re-do the entire fingerboard- is this correct? Thanks in advance. Kyle[/quote] Is this any use to you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted June 14, 2009 Share Posted June 14, 2009 [quote name='velvetkevorkian' post='423552' date='Mar 2 2009, 08:20 PM']The Violin Shop did the initial setup when I bought the bass- I had though they had done some work on the nut but not sure now if its been enough.[/quote] How long ago? If still in warranty period or soon after, It's probably worth talking to them further anyway. [quote]Thanks for the advice Dave but I posted this in the Double Bass section for a reason- no frets or neck relief per se here. [/quote] Actually, there is relief in just the same way as electric bass, just no truss rod. A DB tech can alter the relief by planing the shape into the board - seriously skilled stuff not recommended for home consumption! [quote]Make that 5 files- I have a low B as well. Thanks for the thoughts folks- at this point its academic as my bank account has just been emptied by a mortgage/council tax double whammy so I can't afford any new tools or a pro setup just now, but I will have a root around in the tool box and see what I can find. Cheers Kyle[/quote] Those engineering/jewellers files are just the job for bass. Nice and cheap, see what you can find. Usually those multi-sets are a good source.. [url="http://www.screwfix.com/prods/71313/Hand-Tools/Files-Rasps/Forge-Steel-Needle-File-Set-150mm-10-Pc?cm_re=SEARCHPROMO%2d%5f%2dNEEDLE%20FILES%2d%5f%2d71313"]http://www.screwfix.com/prods/71313/Hand-T...20FILES-_-71313[/url] Take it steady; if you go too far it's much harder to build the slot back up than it is to drop the string, file again and retighten. If you knack up, you can get DB nuts from most decent music or violin shops.. poss a special order item but generally available. I've done my own nut slots on both my first DB and the one I'm on these days, using these tools. Went by feel rather than measurement. Tired arms from all the string winding! Then again, I'm into tweaking gear.. if you're not confident, far better to get a proper fixer-of-these-things to do the job. If you just ask for nut slots, not a full setup, they will do it as long as you understand that's all you're getting for now. Once you can afford it, get the full individual attention.. it's amazing the difference it makes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velvetkevorkian Posted June 14, 2009 Author Share Posted June 14, 2009 I didn't buy the bass from them, they just did the setup once I received it (it was brand new, soundpost down etc). It was a couple of years ago anyway. I do now have a set of files which I used quite successfully on my bass guitars; I just need to get over my nerves before tackling the big beast. Thanks to all for your help, will keep you posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny-lad Posted June 14, 2009 Share Posted June 14, 2009 [quote name='BassBus' post='423500' date='Mar 2 2009, 07:33 PM']£73 for four files from Allparts you might only use once, unless you have them already. It might not cost much more to have the job done professionally. [/quote] I got a set of small files from Focus DIY for around a tenner and lowered my double bass nut no problems...just take your time and accept that if you do mess it up you'll have to have it done professionally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velvetkevorkian Posted June 20, 2009 Author Share Posted June 20, 2009 Just thought I'd let you all know that I finally got it together and files the nut slots down, and the action is much more manageable now- I can actually sustain an E flat in half position without feeling like my fingers are going to fall off. I used a cheap set of files from a local hardware shop that cost about £3 and some masking tape to protect the board. Now I just need to get practising again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velvetkevorkian Posted June 20, 2009 Author Share Posted June 20, 2009 But now my Realist appears to have died! Boo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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