1995 Alembic Essense 4 String Bass : nut height too high

[Thomasio]

Hello -

just acquired a 1995 Alembic Essense bass, and did a full setup.

One unexpected thing is that the nut height (as measured at the first fret) is about 50 thousandths of an inch at the E string, and about 42 thousandths and the G string.

The nut is fully seated against the (nut plate?), so it is as low as it can be adjusted.

Unless i hear otherwise, my plan is to file off about 15 or 20 thousandths in the string grooves and see how it plays.

Side notes: truss rods are set up correct, the intonation is set, and the string height is set (at the 12th fret). The only remaining variable is the nut height.

[Thomasio]

FYI strings are .105, .090, .065, and 0.045 (RotoSound RS66LD).

[JimmyJ]

Hey Thomas,

An alternative is to remove some material from the underside of the top part of the nut.  Slightly simpler because it's flat so you needn't cut each individual slot.  As you probably know - the center bolt is the one that holds the nut down while the outer bolts are used to raise it.  So removing that center bolt will free the top piece.  And that bolt does not need to be tightened down too hard when you put it back...

Jimmy J

[Thomasio]

Thank you. Yes, I have a honing block and I was considering doing exactly that.

(But .020 is easier to file from the string slot than to hone across the whole nut.) Still unsure which I will do.

[Thomasio]

I spent about an hour with the brass nut and a honing block. Removed 10 thousandths of an inch, now I'm happy with the nut height.

[bluemoonbasix]

Hello everybody, I am new here to this site, I have been playing a '77 Series 1 at least 40 years now,
(yes, I lucked out when I got this baby as a young man 25 years old), So I've never had need, or thought to join this club,
like anybody who's been around since long before internet.
I look forward to meeting you, great group of folks, I reckon.
So here I am last hour trying to post a question for anyone and can't find which icon or what to select.
Anybody?

[JimmyJ]

Good work Thomas!  Glad you got that thing adjusted to your liking.

Hey Michael L, welcome to the party.  You might want to start your own thread with that same howdy-do.  You'll find instructions under "Help" just below "Hello bluemoonbasix" (see pic).  From there, click on "Posting" for instructions.  Oh, and we enjoy pictures in here so if you can post some of your '77 that would make us real happy.

Jimmy J

[rv_bass]

Welcome, bluemoonbasix, glad you found us

As Jimmy mentioned, you can post your into under the link below by clicking on the new thread button at the top right of that page.

https://club.alembic.com/index.php?board=712.0

You can add photos and info about your bass in the Showcase section by starting a new thread on the showcase page as well (top right corner).

https://club.alembic.com/index.php?board=675.0

Poke around, lots of good stuff here