zero fret ????

[i2k]

My Status bass has a zero fret (a tiny space between nut and the first fret). I've own this bass for 2 years now and still don't know what the zero fret is used for.
Any help, please ?????

[HeavyDuty]

Some feel (like I do) that a zero fret helps open strings have the same tonality as fretted strings - the zero fret is the same material as the frets, whereas the nut is usually of a softer material.

[craigb]

I think it also helps with string height - the fret sets the string height so no problems with high or low cut nuts. It probably also helps with intonation (I'm not sure "intonation" is exactly the right word to use here) in that the fret is placed at exactly the right place at the zeroth spot and stops the string exactly like all the other frets (placed in their mathematically correct positions) and you don't have the possibility of an improperly cut nut making the nut to first fret distance a little off.

Both of these are non-issues with a properly cut nut but the zero fret can simplify things since the nut's purpose (in the zero fret case) is only to hold the string in the correct location side-to-side.