4003 Nut Filing question

eddied · Post by **eddied** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 2:29 pm

Hi all. My new 4003 MB has a nut that seems extremely high and the action is not nearly as low as it should be. After tweaking the truss rods and adjusting the string heights, the action is still too high. I would like some easy to do advice on filing the nut notches down my self. I have the proper files, etc, but is there an angle to the filing, and is there a rule about how low the notches should really be without damaging the nut? Any info would be great...

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 6:08 pm

Easy does it, just file a little bit and check to see how high off the fret it is, I put mine very low almost like another fret, and I have no problems, just be careful that's all. I just follow the natural angle that's there, the new ones are round aren't they?

dave4004 · Post by **dave4004** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 8:14 pm

The string should rest on the front edge of the nut (i.e. the neck side, not the heastock side), the slot should fall away toward the headstock, make sure you maintain this angle and maintain the round shape of the bottom of the slot. If your files don't have a rounded profile then you can use a short length of roundwound string to abrade the last little bit.

Like Bob said, the slots can be as low as the frets, but I wouldn't go quite that low. Fret between the second and third frets, use a feeler gauge just inside the first fret to determine the height from the board to the string, then move the feeler gauge to the nut and mark a line transferring that height onto the nut. Don't file below that line.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 8:36 am

I like that idea of using a round wound string to keep the bottom of the nut's roundness, good idea!
By the way I found a better way to salvage a nut (at least temporarily) if you go too low, use a litle bit of super glue (cyanocryalate [sp?]) the slower drying stuff, takes two to three hours to dry and works great, much better than Elmer's glue on other than wooden nuts. Then file as Dave suggested.

eddied · Post by **eddied** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 9:42 am

Thanks for the great suggestions guys! I will follow your instructions.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 10:59 am

Somebody should make a bass with a nut that has an independent height adjustment for each string ....

jps · Post by **jps** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 12:52 pm

Warwick does or at least did!

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 2:18 pm

Thats what I love about Alembic and Warwick. If I were to design a bass, it would definatley have an adjustable nut. Someone could make a fortune with a good replacement design.

dave4004 · Post by **dave4004** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 9:23 pm

ABM does make a height-adjustable brass nut, Allparts carries it. Frankly I don't think the demand is that great.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Feb 29, 2004 7:09 pm

Warwicks are ugly and the stock pickups and preamps are very soft sounding ... no bite ... the smart warwick owners replace the pickups and preamp

marty · Post by **marty** » Sat Jul 17, 2004 3:50 am

I know this post has been around for a while, but what size nut files are needed for a 4003 nut and anybody know where to get them online?

I had to lower the slots on my 4003 and used some needle files and sandpaper.
Not a perfect job...it's OK ,but I wouldn't mind having a go at cutting a new nut myself.

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 9:02 am

Martin, here's one source of bass nut files:

http://www.warmoth.com/common/frames/supplies.htm

then click on "Files" in the navigation bar on the left. Here is the description given:

NFSB7 Nut File Set of 7, Bass $70.00 set

This is a full set of 7 nut slotting files for basses. Each file has a twin 4" cutting edge to help produce a clean and accurate string slot. Gauges included are: .050", .058", .062", .078", .093", .109" & .125"

There is also Stewart-MacDonald (Stew-Mac):

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Files.html

Their prices run $12.55 per file, but the files can be purchased individually and would be cheaper for just four of the desired sizes.

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 9:09 am

Oops! Forgot to list the standard Rickenbacker string sizes:

Rickenbacker round wound nickel, bass, 45/55/75/105 (RIC Part # 95511)

Notice that the Warmouth file set doesn't match well with these diameters, so maybe Stew-Mac is the way to go.

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 11:43 am

I just ordered four nut files from Stew-Mac in sizes to match standard 4003 nickel round wounds and they worked out great.