fixing my action

[British Kid]

i'm trying to optimize my Geddy Lee jazz at the moment, and i think i need a new nut for it. for a correct setup, the strings need to be about halfway out of the nut, right? Right now, the strings are pretty much flush with the top of the nut. That's the way it was when i bought it, but i've recently started to incorperate using a pick in my playing in addition to fingerstyle and the action near the headstock is a bit low for it and i get some buzzing. what other things can i try other than replacing a nut? how do i replace a nut?

[rh15951]

Fill the bottom half of the nut?

[Hardinge]

take it to a professinal

[British Kid]

is it really tha hard to replace a nut? is it a more delicate procedure than truss rod adjustment? i really don't have the money to get a proffesional setup now, and i'd like to do it myself, if possible.

[British Kid]

*bump*

[Krazy Bass]

why not just raise the action?
and if you just want the height of the srings in the nut raise just stick a little folded paper underneath the strings in the nut.

i assuem there is enough pressure there to hold the paper in place and it shouldn't affect the sound too much.

this is just me theorizing though, and i could be completely wrong.

[darrell]

Bring it to a music store and ask them to take a look at it. Nothing formal, just ask them what you should do.. whether replace the nut or something else. A decent store won't jerk you around...

[Moon Flavor]

DOesn't sound like a nut problem, my strings are almost flush to the top of the nut. I'd say it's more of a truss rod thing, if it only happens on the lower frets. Bring it to a pro.

[SenòrThump]

Installing a new nut is harder than you'd imagine. Where the strings sit in the nut all depends on your style of playing. Do you play hard, soft? If the strings are flush with the top of the nut, then that's a pretty good height, maybe a little too low for a hard player. If your action is an issue, then it's better to get the truss rod and bridge saddles sorted, rather than screw around with the nut. Good luck!