Official Luthiers Forum!

Hey, I'm new here and could not work out how to search the foums, so I thoughtI may as well ask in a new post.

I'm making a solid-body 4-string bass with a glued-on neck, whose body is mahogany and fingerboard is ebony (reclaimed, I hasten to add ), and I'm near to the stage where I will need to order a top nut. I've heard a few opinions on which materials are best, the general advice being 'go for something conductive'.

I had originally planned on carbon fibre, but got a little carried away with a train of thought involving new zealand jade, which would look amazing against the black ebony fingerboard and headplate. For those who don't know much about jade, it is a durable semi-precious stone which can be worked into surprisingly elegant shapes, and is harder than steel so very conductive.

Aesthetics aside, is this a good choice? what will it do to the sound? If it is not a good choice, what else would you recommend?

Cheers

If it's harder than steel -how will you cut the slots and make it to size??

Brass is good for a Bass-
Now to really get makers going -once you fret a note the nut is out of the picture!!
The string from the fretted note to the bridge is only picked-up by the pick-ups!
I'm a bass player-Love Jack Bruce!!!!!!

Mike

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Mike Collins

Cow Bone.

You can make your own from a pet store chew bone.

Bleached.

Or since this is an electric bass, brass is pretty common.

I would think a hardware store might have something that would work.

Of course, you can order from LMI or StewMac, they've got em.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

So is ease of acquisition and expense the only reason not to use jade? If so, then I think I will go for it. It can be cut and shaped with the right tools, as can steel, though to be honest I am better tooled up for milling steel than I am for jade; still it would not be too expensive to commission a nut from someone who had the skill and resources. It is a surprisingly versatile material:

http://www.aotearoa.co.nz/bones/pounamu/korutwist.html
http://www.donnsalt.com/jade%20images%20II/Halberg%20Trust%20Trophy.jpg

Please explain... why is brass or bone a good choice? Presumably used because of their high density, which would add to the sound clarity. Is that right?

You're correct in that both brass and bone work well because of their higher density and ability to transfer vibrations. Also, they are easily workable with files and regular abrasives.
A plus for brass is the tonal variation between open and fretted notes is minimal, given that most fretwire is 85% brass also.

Cal

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Remember, there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers!

Thanks Cal... useful answer. I'll have a look at brass, and see how the materials compare. Cheers

Mastedon tusk or walrus tusk is good.I have picks made out of it as well.

Use bone or carbon fiber. Both are plenty hard, work well and easily and bone has proven
itself to be a great tonal contributor on most of the finest vintage electric basses ever made.

There's only one nut on the bass so the term "top nut" isn't necessary. The other end of the
strings cross the saddles at the bridge, but the nut by the headstock is the only one.

It's also true that once a string is fretted, the nut is pretty much out of the tone loop since
the length of string behind it becomes a nonvibrational consideration for all effects and
purposes.

Regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars