Why did they build my bass with the nut laying down ?

[00Funk]

How can you not have fret buzz ? Anyone know why they did this ?

[Dave]

It has a zero fret. The strings are pressed against that fret just like if you were fretting it.

[Scott in Dallas]

It's got a zero fret. The nut just holds the strings laterally.

[00Funk]

Originally Posted by Dave

It has a zero fret. The strings are pressed against that fret just like if you were fretting it.

Is this a good thing ? I thought fret buzz was a no no.
What is the point of a zero fret ?

[Dave]

Its so that the open notes (without you fretting) sound the same as the fretted notes. It doesnt cause any more fret buzz than a normal nut setup. The string is actually being fretted against that first fret (the angled back headstock design puts enough pressure on the string against the fret). Where that first fret is is where the nut is on a normal setup.

[Bassic83]

Hey man, don't Bogart that bass!

[RobertUI]

Go check out the MTDs... last I saw, they were using the zero fret too... and Bassic83, that was hilarious!

[RWP]

Well there ya' go. Another thing I learned today.

[ibnzneksrul]

Originally Posted by Dave

Its so that the open notes (without you fretting) sound the same as the fretted notes.

Not meaning to hijack here, but how much of a difference in sound is there on open strings between a zero fret bass and a bass with a conventional nut?

[Dave]

I cant say...never played one. Sorry.

[GlennW]

Depends on the nut material - brass is noticeably different.

Another advantage of the zero fret is that your string height (action) at the nut is automatically as low as it can go w/o causing problems.

[Scott in Dallas]

A zero fret might be particularly nice if you change string gauges and change the nut with the strings. You then don't have to worry about the depth of the grooves on the nut.

[dcr]

Both my MTD 535 and MTD Zephyr 5 have had "zero" frets.

Personally I like them, but more for setup issues as noted above. I can't tell that much difference in sound but there is a bit. Worth it to me I guess on the basses they came on, but I wouldn't necessarily pay extra as an option.

Be advised that I almost never use stainless steel strings. I prefer the slightly less bright tone of nickel. Might make a bigger difference with steels. And to slappers. I don't slap.

Just my $0.02. YMMV, of course.


dcr

[Bassic83]

Originally Posted by RobertUI

Go check out the MTDs... last I saw, they were using the zero fret too... and Bassic83, that was hilarious!

Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week...