Looking for an electric guitar with a zero fret...

cur · Post by **cur** » Fri May 29, 2015 1:15 pm

Freddy V-C wrote:What is actually the benefit of having a zero fret?

A zero fret is just a way to make a nut. It controls the string height to about as low as it can go. You fret the guitar and then level the frets. The zero fret will be the perfect height to give you the lowest action for the guitar. It works in combination with string retainers. Basically, you don't have to worry about cutting the nut to the exact depth.. Really it is a smart way to go and it makes the initial setting up of the guitar much easier, that is why clever companies such as Danelecto and Silvertone did them.

I have an old teisco with a zero fret, the one disadvantage is they will get grooved from the strings over time (like over 60 years) and can click out of the little slots worn in them when bending. Only one fret would need to be fixed to solve the problem and a designer could use an extra hard material for the zero fret for this not to happen every 50-60 years.

George · Post by **George** » Fri May 29, 2015 1:17 pm

if you're doing a lot of open tuning/string stuff i can imagine theres somewhat of a benefit. all i know is i love the DC12 with open tuning and an aluminium nut but it's probably jangly for other reasons too and i may not even notice a regular nut

George · Post by **George** » Fri May 29, 2015 1:20 pm

JEFF wrote:
Freddy V-C wrote:What is actually the benefit of having a zero fret?
A zero fret is just a way to make a nut. It controls the string height to about as low as it can go. You fret the guitar and then level the frets. The zero fret will be the perfect height to give you the lowest action for the guitar. It works in combination with string retainers. Basically, you don't have to worry about cutting the nut to the exact depth.. Really it is a smart way to go and it makes the initial setting up of the guitar much easier, that is why clever companies such as Danelecto and Silvertone did them.

I have an old teisco with a zero fret, the one disadvantage is they will get grooved from the strings over time (like over 60 years) and can click out of the little slots worn in them when bending. Only one fret would need to be fixed to solve the problem and a designer could use an extra hard material for the zero fret for this not to happen every 50-60 years.

most guitars with a zero fret still have a nut though i thought?

and a well cut nut can do all of those things anyway but the string radius can be controlled better

cur · Post by **cur** » Fri May 29, 2015 2:15 pm

George wrote: most guitars with a zero fret still have a nut though i thought?

and a well cut nut can do all of those things anyway but the string radius can be controlled better

A nut does two things: controls string height an has a slot cut to maintain the string spacing. The nut, if you want to call it that, for a zero fret guitar is only there to maintain the string spacing. So it is not really a nut. The height and string sound from the material it is pressed against is coming from the zero fret.

A well cut nut takes time to do and to get set up well. That is why anything under $400 usually has a cheap pre formed nut. You would have to pay for a set up to get it to the correct height. And you would have to drop more $ to get a bone nut made.

Mo Law-ka · Post by **Mo Law-ka** » Fri May 29, 2015 7:36 pm

I just ordered one of the ZeroGlide nuts for my mandocaster. Once it comes in, I'll give a review of it for you if interested.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Fri May 29, 2015 9:33 pm

Dew it Mo. Do an WOMANTONEZ ((hellyeah))

dezb1 · Post by **dezb1** » Fri May 29, 2015 9:47 pm

Mo Rawka wrote:I just ordered one of the ZeroGlide nuts for my mandocaster. Once it comes in, I'll give a review of it for you if interested.

Would be very interested

Mo Law-ka · Post by **Mo Law-ka** » Wed Jul 01, 2015 12:54 am

I've finally gotten and installed the ZeroGlide nut for my mandocaster. Full disclosure about this review: I am (hopefully) being compensated for this review, as seen behind the spoiler. That said, I'm going to give it a fair review.

► Show Spoiler

I ordered two mandolin nuts, one of each width. The wider one was the one I used for this. It came with the nut and 4 zero-frets of varying heights. All of these frets were guitar width, but were easily clipped with some wire cutters and made to not slice open my hand with the $10 set of files I ordered for this project. The nut part is a similar material to bone in terms of workability, but it was waaaaaaay too thick for the application. That said, the instructions do indicate that some prep will be needed to fit it to your instrument. For me, that required roughly 2 weeks on-and-off of filing during TV watching to get it to fit. I kinda lacked the regular tools for it at my apartment, so after filing it to fit, the zero-fret was too long, but made for easy clipping with a pair of wire cutters I had at my parent's house. Once the ends were clipped and filed, it was great. The zero-fret is much easier to navigate than a standard nut when first installing it, which is what I was doing here. I used the tallest zero-fret to make sure it cleared all the other frets, and it worked perfect. There's some buzzing on the neck due to it being fresh out of Cooterfinger's workshop and still settling in, but that's not a function of the nut. The zero-fret really makes things easier in terms of installation and creation, and, as discussed in this thread, the open chords sound as "full" as chords further up the neck.
Long story short: I'd recommend the ZeroGlide if you're willing to put a bit of work into tinkering with it. It's got all sorts of cool mojo arrows and from a set-up perspective really simplifies setting string height at the nut.

dezb1 · Post by **dezb1** » Wed Jul 01, 2015 1:26 am

Cool, cheers for the review I shall probably be ordering one at the end of the month.

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Wed Jul 01, 2015 1:45 am

BearBoy wrote:
Wikipedia wrote: Since tone is so subjective, the two claims are likely to continue perpetually.

Half expected to see [disputed ] after that too, woulda been amazin'.

gusman2x · Post by **gusman2x** » Wed Jul 01, 2015 7:53 am

Did you not buy a Steinberger copy? They have zero frets do they not?

dezb1 · Post by **dezb1** » Wed Jul 01, 2015 12:35 pm

I did but I sold it ages ago as I couldn't get used to having no headstock. Kept running my hand right off the end of the neck.

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Wed Jul 08, 2015 8:39 am

dezb1 wrote:I did but I sold it ages ago as I couldn't get used to having no headstock. Kept running my hand right off the end of the neck.

You could never drive a train.

dezb1 · Post by **dezb1** » Wed Jul 08, 2015 8:57 am

ekwatts wrote:
dezb1 wrote:I did but I sold it ages ago as I couldn't get used to having no headstock. Kept running my hand right off the end of the neck.
You could never drive a train.

How did you know I am a train driver? I don't remember mentioning it on here...

Fakir Mustache · Post by **Fakir Mustache** » Wed Jul 08, 2015 9:01 am

install this:

(doubleneck)