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Post subject: Zero fret
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 6:34 pm
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I have known about "zero fret" many years, so it isn't a new concept to me.
In theory it seems like a good thing, a proper way. So, why isn't it general practice? Am I missing something? Is it more headache to set up an instrument, than its worth? Why is it so rare?
Please share your thoughts, I like learning.


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Post subject: Re: Zero fret
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 8:34 pm
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I would imagine the reason it is rare is because it is unnecessary and there is extra expense involved.

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Post subject: Re: Zero fret
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2015 2:41 am
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On the costs, the zero fret construction is (at least was, in the days of hand made instruments...) cheaper to manufacture; the nut doesn't need the skilled professional to file the precise slots.
And that old time association to cheaper instruments may still linger as one reason why it's not the industry standard.

There are plus sides to a zero fret.
It can make a guitar play in better tune on the lowest frets.
And, especially on 0fret acoustics, the open notes sound like fretted notes (of course, that can be a plus or a minus...)
One downside is the fast wearing of the zero fret; don't know if anyone has experimented with stainless stel zero frets yet.

Mind you, many European top quality guitar manufacturers used the 0fret in the postWW2 era - but most of those companies have disappeared.
But still, even inside the FMIC there are zero fret guitars, like the Duo-Jet.


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Post subject: Re: Zero fret
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2015 5:15 pm
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Here's a company selling Zero Fret replacement Nuts - for Electric & Acoustic instruments Zero Glide

Fits in the existing Nut Slot...seems like a pretty good idea...I'd like to hear more...

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Post subject: Re: Zero fret
Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2015 12:33 pm
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danagos wrote:
Here's a company selling Zero Fret replacement Nuts - for Electric & Acoustic instruments Zero Glide

Fits in the existing Nut Slot...seems like a pretty good idea...I'd like to hear more...

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Ok...while I don't consider myself a "gear snob" at all, I will admit that I have always associated zero frets with "cheap" guitars...probably because that's the only thing I've ever seen them on.

With this in mind, I suspect this add-on would likely be subjective at best. As jmartis said there, "the open notes sound like fretted notes" and as he also said, "of course, that can be a plus or a minus..." which in and of itself I think would be a taste thing (personally I like the way the open chords on my acoustics sound). Beyond that, the first thought that came into my mind was actually "scale length"...while it's only slight, this add-on would change your scale length just a hair. On most electrics this shouldn't be too much of a problem as you can adjust the saddles back for correct intonation, however I could see where this could cause some issues with acoustics where you can't adjust the intonation. I also have to say that with 2 of my Strats, yea...the saddles on the low E strings are nearly all the way back as is, so this add-on would likely make it near impossible to properly set the intonation on those two guitars.

I think I'd have to put this one under the category of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Unless I had a very specific reason for using such a thing (such as "improved tone"), I really wouldn't mess with it...seems like more trouble than it's worth. You could probably do more simply by adding a metal nut instead ("brass nuts"...isn't that one of the final stages of the dreaded disease "moth balls"? Sorry...LOL!).

Just my $.02...


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Post subject: Re: Zero fret
Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2015 1:44 pm
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lomitus wrote:
("brass nuts"...isn't that one of the final stages of the dreaded disease "moth balls"? Sorry...LOL!).

Just my $.02...

oh man oh man :roll:

Zero Fret has a Bunch of good reasons and explanations at http://www.zeroglide.com/details

(my urls aren't working)

They claim it's designed to install in existing Nut Slots and replace the Bone/Plastic edge with a "unique nickel silver fret harder than a conventional fret to prevent wear from the strings"..."with no alteration to the fingerboard" and "return to the original nut is easily accomplished".

A Marketing Dream!! :lol:

I haven't tried one yet...but I'd like to on my '83 Electra X140...that actually has a Brass Nut!


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And Brass Hardtail Bridge & Knobs...all stock


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