Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi all;

How many here use a zero fret and would like to comment on the result?

It seems it's becoming more popular and I get more requests with this set up. What do you think?

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Nehemiah Covey
www.coveysacoustics.com

Gretsch used them in the late 50's (mid 58 to be exact) thru the mid 60's on most of thier guitars. It was not one of thier finer descisions. I often get asked if I will remove them and move the nut forward. I often decline due to historic value of vintage instruments. On rare occasion I concede and alter it. Its not a pretty fix.

While the concept seems solid, it has never sounded quite the same as a big open chord on a standard nut fingerboard. I would think that for bluegrass and other roots music that depend on the openess of open postion chords, it would be somewhat disapointing.

I often wonder about sustain and tone too. It would seem that potentially there would be a fundamental difference in tone and sustain as we also hear with a brass nut. Unfortunately, I never recorded the before and after of the modification.

YMMV
J

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Joe

That's a tough one!
I've repaired & made guitars for over 30 years and a zero fret is a good idea !
BUT how do you adjust it for height ?
Lowering is easy!
But lets say a player needs a bit higher action at that end?
You'll have to fine taller wire !
The trad. nut can be very easily adjusted for each string!!
Try that with a Piece of metal !

Mike

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Mike Collins

Thanks for the input, I'm trying to decide on the merits of going with a zero fret on this terz style guitar. Short scale, (20.4") and tuned higher than a terz, "A" (or fifth fret.) This one is built and set up to accent treble and higher registers, but I have never used a zero fret on any of my guitars and wonder if any one has a reference to this for tone. I want it clear and bright without the metallic over tones I suspect it might have if I use the zero fret. If that makes any sense. Am I off in this assumption? This customer has aked for a zero as his H&D and Lowden both have them (similar size guitars) but he has played one of mine and liked the "woodiness" of it and has offered that his sound a bit twangy with with respect to mine and I wonder if it has a little to do with the zero fret. I'm not sure , but I don't use them on my guitars.

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Nehemiah Covey
www.coveysacoustics.com

I use zero frets and love the sound. It has the same sound open as every fretted string has anywhere else. It gives you perfect string height across the board. Higher crown frets are readily available if someone desires a higher action at the nut, just install a higher fret.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Thanks Ron, I think I'll set it up with a zero as asked, This instrument will run higher tensions than standard strung guitar, so I will just go with same height fret for the zero. I am curious as to how this will sound. It does sure make establishing string height a breeze at the nut, so it makes good sense.

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Nehemiah Covey
www.coveysacoustics.com