View Full Version : ITT: I pull the dumbest bass-related move to date
So get this..
I was just sitting here on my bed, surrounded by about 3 packs of strings, most out of the package, in a huge mess. I'm trying to remove the evil Elixers and restring my POS bass with EB's. I set down the G I was about to replace for one second, and got distracted by my laptop.
While not paying attention, I pick up the wrong string, (a thin gauge D) and try to string it up. Of course, it was a little too thick, and... *snap*. Bye, plastic nut. A little piece broke off on the G string side. It went flying, so I have no clue where it is.
Basically, what is it going to cost me to fix this? I am assuming I will have to get a brand new nut, and suffer the embarassment of having to tell them what happened to it (which is bad enough).
Don't worry. You are not alone in this.
I was stringing up my Warwick and managed to break the little plactic clips that hold the adjustable nut in place. The nut itself was fine, it just falls off now when I change strings. Rather annoying.
From the sounds of it, you will need to get a new nut. I am not sure on the cost side of it, but I imagine it will vary depending on what type of material you want to use e.g. graphite, brass, bone or plastic.
mastrrbasser
08-22-2006, 01:28 AM
you can get a plastic one for like 5 bucks.
I guess I'll get another plastic, there's no point in investing a lot of money into a Samick bass. Most of the cost will come from the labour I am assuming.
What's the deal with the adjustable nut anyway? What does it do?
you can get a plastic one for like 5 bucks.
I dont know how to cut it.. nor do I have a file. I'm also left handed so I doubt they'll have one (I tried to buy a left handed guitar nut with no luck).
If they do have to cut a new one, I'll have to pay for the labour.
mastrrbasser
08-22-2006, 01:31 AM
more options when it comes to action and whanot.
thelowsoundofbass
08-22-2006, 01:32 AM
A nut is a nut, turn it the other way around and you are fine. A plastic one will cost maybe $5 and will take about 10 minutes to do. So total of about $10, when I broke mine on my fretless it cost a total of $11.
lowsound
I guess I'll get another plastic, there's no point in investing a lot of money into a Samick bass. Most of the cost will come from the labour I am assuming.
What's the deal with the adjustable nut anyway? What does it do?
The adjust-a-nut from warwick has two screws in the nut that allow you to raise or lower it.
Obviously this means that the nut itself in to attached to the neck, but rather held in place by two plastic clips, one on each side of the nut.
So when I was restringing the one day, and being very stupid to boot. I strung up the bass with the E and A first, thus putting too much pressure/tension on theone side of the neck and then, PING, there goes the one little plasctic clip.
As a result, I now string up the bass with the A and D first i.e. from the centre out.
mastrrbasser
08-22-2006, 01:34 AM
i busted the clip too, but it's not that big of a deal.
warwicks patented "bust-a-nut"
Shinobi_sniper
08-22-2006, 01:35 AM
so, you busted a nut?
A nut is a nut, turn it the other way around and you are fine. A plastic one will cost maybe $5 and will take about 10 minutes to do. So total of about $10, when I broke mine on my fretless it cost a total of $11.
lowsound
I mean since I'm left handed I wont be able to buy a precut one, and therefore have to pay for the labour.
That's it? I was told to get a new nut for my 5 string would be about $40.
As a result, I now string up the bass with the A and D first i.e. from the centre out.
Do you remove all of your strings at once?
sunshineplaysbass
08-22-2006, 01:40 AM
Do you remove all of your strings at once?
for the most part, i do, and then when i put on new ones i start with the G, then put on the E, to level the tension. once those are tightened its all good.
mastrrbasser
08-22-2006, 01:41 AM
sometimes i restring my bass string for string(ie. take off the E, and put on a new E, then the same with A,D,and G.)
But when i want to clean/condition my fretboard, i take them all off.
Criss Frantic
08-22-2006, 01:42 AM
I was dissapointed. I thought by "dumbest bass-related move" you meant you were practising swinging your bass around your body and smashed it into a tree or something.
Do you remove all of your strings at once?
Yep. All the strings come off first before I even think of putting on a new set.
If you are worried about the truss rod don't be.
Unless of course you take 6 days to put the new strings on.
mastrrbasser
08-22-2006, 01:45 AM
I was dissapointed. I thought by "dumbest bass-related move" you meant you were practising swinging your bass around your body and smashed it into a tree or something.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2414763151290372585&q=bass+swing
Yep. All the strings come off first before I even think of putting on a new set.
If you are worried about the truss rod don't be.
Unless of course you take 6 days to put the new strings on.
I used to take them all off at once all of the time, sometimes leaving them for a good hour while I cleaned the parts. Just wondering.
I was dissapointed. I thought by "dumbest bass-related move" you meant you were practising swinging your bass around your body and smashed it into a tree or something.
I'm not THAT stupid.
HELLonWHEELS
08-22-2006, 01:54 AM
When i first got my bass i was trying to tune it and i didn't know which string corresponds to which note(I had looked at tabs before so i had all the strings upside down so to speaker) so i was trying to tune my G string to E and well it say the least i snapped the string..... I went to music store as said it was a defect and they gave me a new string :)
Yesterday i was tuning my acoustic guitar and i was looking at the tuner and i realized after about a turn i was holding the wrong tuning peg so move the right one. When i got the string i had just acidentaly moved i just touched the peg and the string snapped and it left a nasty welt on my hand
Yesterday i was tuning my acoustic guitar and i was looking at the tuner and i realized after about a turn i was holding the wrong tuning peg so move the right one. When i got the string i had just acidentaly moved i just touched the peg and the string snapped and it left a nasty welt on my hand
I've snapped a string with my hand on the wrong peg before.
The worst instrument for restringing I've come across has to be a classical guitar. If you don't tie them exactly so at the bridge, they come loose. Once my high E unwravelled and flew up and cut the side of my hand. The strings also take FOREVER to stretch, so for the first few weeks you have to retune every few minutes you play.
thelowsoundofbass
08-22-2006, 02:11 AM
I mean since I'm left handed I wont be able to buy a precut one, and therefore have to pay for the labour.
That's it? I was told to get a new nut for my 5 string would be about $40.
You can buy a precut one, it is cut the same way, turn it the other way. That is like saying that there are left handed amps and strings.
lowsound
You can buy a precut one, it is cut the same way, turn it the other way. That is like saying that there are left handed amps and strings.
lowsound
Some nuts are not symmetrical so you can not reverse them. For example on my Studio 5, classical guitar, and Fender acoustic I used to own they have a curve on the headstock side.
However after examining the nut on this bass, it might be reverseable.
thelowsoundofbass
08-22-2006, 02:32 AM
Some nuts are not symmetrical so you can not reverse them. For example on my Studio 5, classical guitar, and Fender acoustic I used to own they have a curve on the headstock side.
However after examining the nut on this bass, it might be reverseable.
Most plastic nuts are cheep and therefore reversible, the one on my sixer isn't neither is the brass one on my ibanez.
lowsound
Most plastic nuts are cheep and therefore reversible, the one on my sixer isn't neither is the brass one on my ibanez.
lowsound
The nut on my Studio 5 is plastic and non-reversable, same with my classical guitar.
I broke the Samick nut though, luckily and I think it is.
thelowsoundofbass
08-22-2006, 02:41 AM
The nut on my Studio 5 is plastic and non-reversable, same with my classical guitar.
I broke the Samick nut though, luckily and I think it is.
Just buy a reversible one, $5.
lowsound
Just buy a reversible one, $5.
lowsound
I don't know if anywhere around here sells precut ones. I don't know if I should attempt to change it myself either, I've never really done that type of repair and would probably rather leave it up to a pro.
thelowsoundofbass
08-22-2006, 02:48 AM
I don't know if anywhere around here sells precut ones. I don't know if I should attempt to change it myself either, I've never really done that type of repair and would probably rather leave it up to a pro.
Any shop should sell them, if they don't ask them to cut it for you. The nut, cutting and instal shouldn't cost more than $15. It cost me $11.
lowsound
sunshineplaysbass
08-22-2006, 02:56 AM
me and my friends found a sweet trick where if you pull unravelling strings it makes a whirly razor thing
snapping cables are no good. take a guitar stringx1000 and its deadly...a cable at our lock and dam used to pull the lock gates snapped once and cut a guy in half
HELLonWHEELS
08-22-2006, 02:57 AM
You could make a nut out of wood....
mastrrbasser
08-22-2006, 03:51 AM
stuff about warwick nuts
what kind of 'wick do you have?
what kind of 'wick do you have?
Corvette $$ (Double Buck) 4 String.
I basically just cut the other plastic clip off and sanded it down so that it was smooth.
mastrrbasser
08-22-2006, 04:07 AM
Corvette $$ (Double Buck) 4 String.
I basically just cut the other plastic clip off and sanded it down so that it was smooth.
nice. i have a passive standard corvette. The double buck is the only active warwick i like.
nice. i have a passive standard corvette. The double buck is the only active warwick i like.
I actually really want a Corvette Standard in Bubinga.
I love how heavy the suckers are.
Jimbobntnr
08-22-2006, 06:26 AM
http://guitarpartsdepot.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Category_Code=BNS&LNG=en-US&Product_Code=GSBN4L&Screen=PROD&Session_ID=4cf94c3391713b84e59c88ad334deab2&shop
FunkMetalBass
08-22-2006, 11:56 AM
I mean since I'm left handed I wont be able to buy a precut one, and therefore have to pay for the labour.
That's it? I was told to get a new nut for my 5 string would be about $40.
That left-handed bit doesn't mean sh*t. You flip the nut around. End of story.
I've never purchased a nut for a 5-string, but my 4-string plasict nut cost me $.50.
I don't know where the Hell half of you guys are getting this $5 crap for a plastic, because you can buy a 5-string, pre-slotted graphite nut from Carvin for $3.99 (minus shipping). You can also buy a flat nut from carvin for the same price. If you take the latter option, all you need are some narrow files to file the slots. It's a very simple procedure.
$40...psh.
That left-handed bit doesn't mean sh*t. You flip the nut around. End of story.
$40...psh.
Not all nuts are reversable, as we mentioned earlier. I didn't check my bass to make sure it was first. If it were my 5 string or classical, I would have to get one cut because they are not reversable. End of story.
$40 is what I was quoted to get one cut by a professional luthier who owns his own local music store and builds all of his guitars and basses. Naturally they are going to be expensive (many of his guitars cost well over $2000 canadian).
PainKiller8191
08-23-2006, 04:34 AM
one time, changing strings while high, mixed up the D and A strings, didn't realize it till the day after
pitchfork
08-23-2006, 05:40 AM
You think that supid, listen to this:
My mate who just recently moved up to nottingham phoned me last night because he wanted to test his new phone out and he told me that his E string on his bass was buzzing so instead of adjusting the action he decided to tune up to the next octave. You know the rest.
You think that supid, listen to this:
My mate who just recently moved up to nottingham phoned me last night because he wanted to test his new phone out and he told me that his E string on his bass was buzzing so instead of adjusting the action he decided to tune up to the next octave. You know the rest.
We can only hope that when the string did snap it knocked some sence into him
FunkMetalBass
08-23-2006, 10:30 AM
Not all nuts are reversable, as we mentioned earlier. I didn't check my bass to make sure it was first. If it were my 5 string or classical, I would have to get one cut because they are not reversable. End of story.
$40 is what I was quoted to get one cut by a professional luthier who owns his own local music store and builds all of his guitars and basses. Naturally they are going to be expensive (many of his guitars cost well over $2000 canadian).
Could somebody post pics of a reversible vs. a non-reversible nut? The concept isn't working for me.
Also, I did suggest somewhere in my previous post that for around $5 you can purchase a graphite nut (without grooves) and file it a bit.
Jimbobntnr
08-23-2006, 10:46 AM
non-reversible:
http://images.music123.com/products/full/Gibson/229525.jpg
reversible:
http://elderly.com/images/accessories/GAPT/1210_end-view_sm_.jpg
but yeah, fmb, if you buy a blank it doesn't matter if it's going on a right or left handed bass.
PaulSimonon
08-23-2006, 10:22 PM
Cutting a nut is a pretty simple thing to do as well... I bought a set of needle files for 5$ and used some scrap purpleheart, and cut it in about 5 minutes(not counting shaping the nut down to size and all).
Just have a set of strings with you, and use them as references for the size and depth of the cut keeping the radius of the board in mind. I had my nut angled on the top for a cleaner break, but it's not necessary at all.
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