Nut Height On Thunderbird IV

M

MrChusma

Mar 9, 2024
2
0
31
#1
Hey there. I've recently became an owner of Epiphone T-Bird IV and immediately brought it to my bass class. My teacher told me that one of the mods I might consider for this bass is changing the nut.
It feels like nut is way higher here than on the other basses(see photo). As a result playing on the 1st fret is a bit harder.
IMG_6523.jpg


1. Is it some T-Bird design thing or just Epiphone making their plastic nuts in more rough manner?
2. If I ask luthier to make it lower wouldn't this break something? (like buzzling of the strings on the headstock etc?)
3. Would you recommend some aftermarket nuts? (I am considering to purchase the one that is made of bone).

T-Bird owners please share your experience if you may. Big thanks in advance!!!
 
#2
That's a common setup failure often found on less expensive basses. The depth of the nut slots should be such that the action at the first fret is just as low as the rest of the frets. Any decent luthier or setup person can do it for you, you can even DIY if approached carefully (warning - it's easy for clumsy amateurs like me to cut too deep).
 
  • Like
Reactions: MattZilla and Goatrope
#3
MrChusma said:
Hey there. I've recently became an owner of Epiphone T-Bird IV and immediately brought it to my bass class. My teacher told me that one of the mods I might consider for this bass is changing the nut.
It feels like nut is way higher here than on the other basses(see photo). As a result playing on the 1st fret is a bit harder.
View attachment 5379542

1. Is it some T-Bird design thing or just Epiphone making their plastic nuts in more rough manner?
2. If I ask luthier to make it lower wouldn't this break something? (like buzzling of the strings on the headstock etc?)
3. Would you recommend some aftermarket nuts? (I am considering to purchase the one that is made of bone).

T-Bird owners please share your experience if you may. Big thanks in advance!!!
Click to expand...
What are you measuring? The determining factor of nut height is the clearance between string and the first fret.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bholder
#4
Thanks everyone for replies. Highly appreciate that!
Sorry if didn't express my thoughts in more clear manner. This space on the photo is the one I've referred to. Is it just me or the space between the neck and the string is to big?
The truss rod as well as the bridge are both tuned fine to provide comfortable string height for me, except for 1st and mb 2 frets...
IMG_6528.jpg
 
#5
Show us the height at the first fret, we can't answer your question without that. Proper nut height depends on fret height.
 
#7
Eyeballing lines on a scale to measure Δz to the surface of the fingerboard is useless.

Measure the gap with a feeler gauge set at the first fret while fretting the strings at the third fret (so the endpoints of the string are the nut and the second fret).

Bring it to a reputable luthier who specialises in fretted instruments and be prepared to leave it there for up to three weeks while they work through their queue of other instruments other people dropped off before yours. They’ll eventually get around to being able to spend 10-20 minutes making your bass play correct below the seventh fret. Should be $40-60 depending on their overhead (rent or mortgage & taxes).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zooberwerx
#8
As Turnaround said, unless the bass is a fretless the string height over the fretboard at the nut is irrelevant and will depend on the height of the frets. The measurement needs to be taken at the first fret. If that measurement is too high it’s a fairly quick and easy fix. You don’t list your location which might help in recommending someone.
 
#9
I have an Epi Tbird with high nut slots as well. I filed the nut slots and it played great. I also rounded the sharp edges off.

OMG, It wasn’t as high as your nut though. Yours is way high. Any decent tech should be able to get that nut in order… or you can replace it with a Tusq or bone nut if you prefer. Either way you’ll have to file it to get it right.
 
#10
This is definitely way high. Working on the nut requires some skill and it is possible to make the nut too low which at a best case will cause back-buzz, and ven if the string does not buzz on open. It might be tempting for you to get a set of bass fret files from Amazon, but be prepared to ruing the nut altogether. The nut actually need to be a little higher than the rest of the action. The same as the rest of the action is a guitar thing, on a bass A string and thicker are vibrating quite a bit on both sides of the fretted note and too low of the nut will cause a quite horrible sounding buzz between the nut and the fretted note.
Last nut I made, I had about 0.33mm between the 1st fret and open E, while if the E is fretted on the 1st, it ended up being about 0.15 between the 2nd fret and the E string. So it is + 0.18mm comparing to the 1st fret action. In inches, it is about 7 thousands. For intonation I get perfect A# on the A string 1st frett, However, E string is 1 cent sharp F fretted in 1st. D and G strings are also 1 cent sharp. D and G ideally should be lowered more, which I might do at some point later. There is no back buzz on this bass with a minimal neck relief
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back