Can we talk about "zero frets" ?

[Dave Bagwill]

Can someone explain, first, what they are; second, their benefits; third, how to install?

[TonyinNYC]

Sure Dave!
A zero fret is placed instead of the nut and the nut goes further towards the tuners. When using a zero fret the nut only sets the spacing of the strings. The height of the strings is set by the zero fret. You level and dress it along with the others. It is now your "nut" and allows you to set the action without having to actually set the action since the strings ride on it as they would a nut.
Zero frets are found on both high and low end guitars but since cheapo guitars are more common, the zero fret has come to be associated with cheap guitars. You will never see a blue grass guy playing a guitar with a zero fret unless their is a gun to their head!
Hope this helps!
Tony

[Dave Bagwill]

It helps, thx.
I'm going to surf around for some real clear pix.
It is an option that appeals to me - an easy, elegant solution to getting the string action as low as possible.

Has anyone on the Forum tried the ZF?

[Dave Bagwill]

Here we go: very clear pix.

[Bob Matthews]

I've used a zero fret on all my instruments ever since I built this 12 string, it saves a lot of time and is always perfect - just level all the frets together without the nut in position and you're good to go.

I also like the the similarities in tone between the fretted notes and open strings.

Bob

[Dave Bagwill]

Bob - your headstock treatments are always soooooo nice. Did you make a sandwich first and then do the work to show the various layers?

AS to the zero fret - just make sure all the frets, including the zero, are level. Is that correct? What in general are your set-up steps?

Thanks.

[Bob Matthews]

Hi Dave

When I did this headstock I used a layer of maple veneer (0.5mm), a layer of black dyed maple veneer (0.5mm), another layer of maple veneer (0.5mm) followed by the main headstock veneer at about 2mm. I just glued them all up in one go and clamped them to the headstock. It gives a really nice effect at the string ramps and also looks like purfling lines on the headstock edges. I used the stewmac restoration tuners on this one and they work a treat! http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guit ... tring.html

Yes absolutely correct, level the whole board including the zero fret.
Some folk, including manufacturers have used a higher zero fret, or they fit the zero fret after leveling the rest of the board, but to me this is nonsense, why would you need a higher fret at position zero?

What in general are your set-up steps?

I'd wear my keyboard out if I was type it all out :P
But in 'general', I level the frets absolutely level and then do a very slight fall away from the body joint to the last fret, maybe an 8 - 10 thou ramp. When strung up I adjust the relief to between 4 and 8 thousands and lower the action until it's as low as possible without any string rattles.

Zero frets are the the way to go imo, I know they have suffered from a bad press in the past, but I think this is mainly due to them being used on inferior or budget guitars and you'd be suprised how many guitarists don't actually notice until you point it out :)


HTH, Bob