Page 2 of 2
Re: Brass Nut for 4001
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 2:40 pm
by tallpat1
Check stewart Mcdonald website
http://www.stewmac.com you may have to file the nut yourself but they do have preformed nuts for fender jazz and P basses.
Good luck
Re: Brass Nut for 4001
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 8:08 pm
by rickfan60
You will definitely have to file and shape. They won't have a drop-in replacement. Making a brass nut is not a big deal, but the stuff clogs up a nut file real fast, so you'll need to clean your files constantly. I like the stock RIC nuts, but I just made one out of white plexi for my 4004 5-string conversion and I think it sounds great. Ideally I suppose a nut made out of the same stuff the frets are made of would be the best.
Re: Brass Nut for 4001
Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 6:04 am
by aceonbass
Contrary to popular belief, the nut does affect the string's tone when fretted. Making a brass nut is not a big deal, but the stuff clogs up a nut file real fast, so you'll need to clean your files constantly. I like the stock RIC nuts, but I just made one out of white plexi for my 4004 5-string conversion and I think it sounds great. Ideally I suppose a nut made out of the same stuff the frets are made of would be the best.
Re: Brass Nut for 4001
Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 10:54 am
by rickaddict
aceonbass wrote: Ideally I suppose a nut made out of the same stuff the frets are made of would be the best.
Enter, the zero fret!
http://rickresource.com/register/user_i ... llsize.jpg
Re: Brass Nut for 4001
Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 8:57 pm
by rickfan60
aceonbass wrote:Contrary to popular belief, the nut does affect the string's tone when fretted. Making a brass nut is not a big deal, but the stuff clogs up a nut file real fast, so you'll need to clean your files constantly. I like the stock RIC nuts, but I just made one out of white plexi for my 4004 5-string conversion and I think it sounds great. Ideally I suppose a nut made out of the same stuff the frets are made of would be the best.
Probably, as the nut is part of the string anchorage. The string angle above the nut and the patent head would also play roles in the overall sound. I believe the tonal effect of the brass nut is far more apparent on open notes than fretted though.
Re: Brass Nut for 4001
Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:11 pm
by rickenbrother
aceonbass wrote:Contrary to popular belief, the nut does affect the string's tone when fretted.
Dane, you may be right, but I don't think most people could tell the difference in the tone of fretted notes from using nuts of different materials installed on the same bass.
Re: Brass Nut for 4001
Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:34 pm
by cjj
rickenbrother wrote:aceonbass wrote:Contrary to popular belief, the nut does affect the string's tone when fretted.
Dane, you may be right, but I don't think most people could tell the difference in the tone of fretted notes from using nuts of different materials installed on the same bass.
I know when I put the brass nut on my 4001 way back when, I really couldn't tell the difference on fretted notes. Almost couldn't tell any difference on open strings, not enough to make me want to bother to do it again...
