Should I shoot my new bass? (Modding the Harley Benton MV-4MSB)

[Whying_Dutchman]

From a technical POV of course no argument, as the string distance is exactly the same.

Discussed it also on the German forum and one guy installed the abm 6240 also on a 38mm neck.
He filed it to fit and says it’s great!

But I appreciate your input, @MikeC ^^
Need to think about it though…

Pic from German forum:

[Al1885]

@howard

@Whying_Dutchman

@Al1885

just put the LSR roller nut

You’re even worse than me

No, because his are the correct width

No I took chunk out of my rosewood that’s pretty wide cool. I practiced on my Squier so moving on it would be pretty easy.

The next one is going to be epic. I’m installing the graph tech lock on tuners and VegaTrem on the Cutlass.

[Barney]

@Whying_Dutchman

I just stumbled over a spare ABM 6240 adjustable brass nut that I had hidden somewhere., so I would not do anything stupid with it.

This one: ABM 6240 Nut

I have put the same model on my now (almost) forgotten Blackstar travel bass and quite liked it, both in terms of flexibility and tone.

And Ronin looks at me dejected and whispers: “moooooood meeeeeeeeee!”

Hmmm … so the ABM is 40mm (width) * 5mm (depth) * 5.5mm (height) and the factory nut is 38mm (width) * 3.6mm (depth) * 5.4mm (height).

I could file the 40mm to 38mm and increase the nut gap on the neck from 3.6mm to 5mm, no problem.

Also it looks like the string positions are exactly the same on both nuts.

Should I do it? Or would that be … nuts??!

Billy Madison 1995 -(HD) Clip 'Everyone is this room is now dumber'

[Whying_Dutchman]

Ah, @barney … what took you so long?
But … I understood from our Billie Joel discussion that you like it dumb??!

Haven’t watch the video, as it is likely not about my nuts … but do you need advise?

Cause:

[Whying_Dutchman]

@Al1885

I took chunk out of my rosewood that’s pretty wide cool.

I must quote @howard here: “Seriously, just buy a nut that fits”

[howard]

Honestly yes

[Barney]

@Whying_Dutchman

Ah, @barney … what took you so long?

Who me? Oh I’ve just been playing bass. Enjoying making music. Rather than looking in my kitchen for a spoon that I can turn into a poorly fitting output jack. You know, something stupid and pointless like that.

[Whying_Dutchman]

@Barney

stupid and pointless

There is a lot of vocabulary like that going on here! Are you ok?
But nice that all that playing does not keep you from coming to this thread, reading and even posting a video!?

We are approaching post #1000 by the way. Keep 'm coming

PS Just installed a spoon on Pink’s Hot to improve sustain. I heared orange is the colour that makes everything better (except soccer) ^^

[Barney]

@Whying_Dutchman

There is a lot of vocabulary like that going on here! Are you ok?

I’m ok thanks because I’m not the one who’s autistic. Enjoy your day.

[Whying_Dutchman]

A few hours practicing in the park (a former graveyard), at my favourite spot to play The Cure…

Sustain did not improve with the orange spoon, so I removed that again.

[Al1885]

@Whying_Dutchman

@Al1885

I took chunk out of my rosewood that’s pretty wide cool.

I must quote @howard here: “Seriously, just buy a nut that fits”

Yes definitely and highly recommend. It’s not reversible there’s no going back so unless you know or willing to experiment it’s probably not a good idea.

[Whying_Dutchman]

@Al1885

so unless you know or willing to experiment

You know me: I will never run away from an experiment, so you have my 100% understanding!!!

[howard]

@Whying_Dutchman

We are approaching post #1000 by the way. Keep 'm coming

It’s like the high view counts on Darwin Awards videos

[Whying_Dutchman]

994!

[qenden]

[Whying_Dutchman]

FATTER IS BETTER!

Not an actual mod, but I finally replaced the D’addario EXL170S (045-065-080-100) with D’addario EXL160S (050-070-085-105).

Should have done it earlier, cause:

• 100% fit for my short scale. Ok, no surprise here - but I read about short scale strings that do not fit properly.
• Less buzz, cause a little stiffer. So I can set string action height even lower, yay!
• Plays better (I like it stiff ^^)
• Fuller sound on standard tuning, finally very good tone on Drop D too. Both the EMG GZR and even the DP126 pickups are not too shy anymore to make themselves heared.
• D and especially G do not sound “metallic” anymore (don’t like the tone of D and G on most basses though).
• Muting feels somehow “instant”, which is great!

So, that was a cheap and easy way to further improve something already great
PS I really don’t understand why 050-070-085-105 is not standard on many short scales!?

[terb]

@Whying_Dutchman

I like it stiff

105 on a short scale is not stiff, it’s still quite light … compare it with a 110 on a long scale …

But yeah 100 on a short scale is really too light in my opinion, almost unplayeable. I won’t go lighter to 105 on a short scale, and it’s even really on the light side.

[Whying_Dutchman]

@terb

I won’t go lighter to 105 on a short scale, and it’s even really on the light side.

Yeah, I was thinking about GHS 3070 Brite Flats Short Scale, which are 049 062 084 108.
They are not “real” flats, but I really wanted round wound, not flat wounds.
108 sounded good to me though … 049 not so much!
Zzzee Zzzzermans love them…

Which heavier short scale strings would you advise? I haven’t unpacked the other string set yet, so I can test someting else…

[terb]

it’s very personnal, some kind of “die and retry” thing !

[Whying_Dutchman]

As the French say: “Fetchez la vache!”

That means: give me specific advice on heavy short strings! Right?