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It just dawned on me that I don’t believe that I have ever seen a guitar on OLF with a zero fret. Is anyone using a zero fret? It is my understanding that the zero fret supports the string when using the first fret. The nut is used primarily as a string guide and height adjuster. The zero nut is found on a number of high end ukuleles but I wouldn’t think scale length would have any impact. Just made me wonder.

Philip

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aka konacat

If you think my playing is bad you should hear me sing!
Practice breeds confidence and confidence breeds competence. Unfortunately, I'm stuck in practice.

Look at Jimmy Caldwell's site, he builds some awesome zero fretted guitars.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Philip, I'm almost finished with my first guitar and it is a zero fret. I'll post photos when finished. I went that way because the guitar I've played for the last 34 years has one and I really like that guitar. It's a brazilian rosewood Yairi. If this turns out well, I'll try it again, if not, I will follow convention and try the traditional way.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

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

Ron,

Is your zero fret taller and/or fatter than the others?

Best,

Michael

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Live to Play, Play to Live

Yes, Michael. I don't remember the exact size, but it is .003 taller, and I pressed my frets in so there will not be much levelling and crowning. Hopefully it will work well.

Ron

_________________
OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

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

Hi Philip,
Pardon my stupidity, but what is a Zero Fret??
I have often heard the word but never understood what it really meant.
If you have the time could you explain it to me or direct me where I can read about it????

Thanks, WalterK

Walter,

I’m not an expert by any means but his is what I understand. Anytime you press a string down between two frets it creates a different string length and a certain note. At the first fret this takes place between the nut and the first fret. The nut has the job of holding the string in place and gives the top ends of the string its height the fret board. In addition it must also keep each string from moving around too much so it needs to be prepared just right to work properly. The zero fret sits above the first fret and allows that note when played to sit between two frets and not the fret and the nut. The nut no longer has to hold the string in the exactness as required before since there is now two frets for the string to ride on to make the note at the first fret. The nut now only has two jobs instead of three. It now controls the string height and the string placement at the top of the fret board.

I’m sorry if this explanation is poor and I don’t have any information where you can read about it. But this is how a beginner understands it. I am sure one of the highly qualified luthiers on this site will have a better understanding of this concept.

Philip

_________________
aka konacat

If you think my playing is bad you should hear me sing!
Practice breeds confidence and confidence breeds competence. Unfortunately, I'm stuck in practice.

The nut doesn't control the string height. The strings all sit on top of the zero fret and the zero fret becomes the nut in that respect. The nuts role is to just prevent sideways movement of the strings and to guide them to the tuning pegs.

Ron

_________________
OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

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

Hopefully worth a couple thousand words:







John B38700.5870023148