Replace nut with different string gague?

[Eviljohn½]

Hi all. Hope you are very well indeed. 

I have an Aria gt series 5 string. I put labella ltf's on when i got it. Very happy with the strings but i don't really use the low B. I'm looking to move each string over, get hold of a .030 or .035 rotosound and use that as a high C or B. For reference, i tune all my bass's and guitars to D standard, hence looking at the .035 gague for the higher string.

If i do the swap will i need to replace the nut with narrower slots to accomodate the strings as the current nut fits the strings as they are? 

Thanks for stopping by and any guidance you are able to give. 

[itu]

I have a Status MM4 neck that Rob and his team customized the nut to accommodate BEAD tuning. I couldn't play it that well. Just changed the set to an ordinary EADG set and the bass plays like a dream. Try a thinner set first. If you meet any issues, see a luthier. 

[PaulThePlug]

If the nut is not glued in... i'd get a new nut from the bay/AliExpress and give it a go...

If not the baking soda / supeglue fix - a little blob in each slot - might be all it needs

Edited December 28, 2025 by PaulThePlug

[Eviljohn½]

Okay cool. Thank you. 

[PaulThePlug]

 

Low Jazz Nut

[Eviljohn½]

Thanks for that. I have a couple of needle files kickin about. I'll give that a whirl when i get around to picking up the spare higher string. 

[Maude]

On 28/12/2025 at 19:36, itu said:

I have a Status MM4 neck that Rob and his team customized the nut to accommodate BEAD tuning. I couldn't play it that well. Just changed the set to an ordinary EADG set and the bass plays like a dream. Try a thinner set first. If you meet any issues, see a luthier. 

This ^^^

 

Just try a thinner set, or moving them over a slot, and see how it goes. 

I bought a Ibanez Talman 30 when they were silly cheap to try a set of piccolo bass strings on, EADG but an octave higher so guitar register and gauge, I didn't have to change the nut and it's fine. The tension keeps the strings in the bottom of the oversized 'U' shape, you'd have to play really hard to move the string across and up the slot. 

[Eviljohn½]

Moving the strings over is exactly what i plan on doing. Remove the low string, move each string over and replace the high string with a .035. 

I like the glue-baking powder trick so i may give that a go if there are any issues with the nut. 

Thanks for the responses peoples. Much appreciated.