Benefits Of A Zero Fret Bass?

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#1

• Feb 21, 2004

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One of the basses i have decided to maybe look into getting this summer i noticed has a 'zero-fret'. I was wondering what thoughts were one 'zero-frets' and if they changed tone much??
Any real advantages to them?

 

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Blackbird

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#2

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• #2

The advantage of a "zero fret" is that your open notes sound more uniform with your fretted notes.

That's it.

 

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#3

• Feb 21, 2004

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Similar sound between fretted and open strings. I don't miss it on my Ibanez, though.

 

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#4

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Thanks, i wasnt too sure...i dont remember ever really playing one...never noticed...
And its something i dont really see come up ever so i was just curious.
Thanks again.

 

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Electricmayhem

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#5

• Feb 21, 2004

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I've seen zero fret basses before and I didn't ever think of what they did. Now I know.

 

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Jacob Bartfield

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#6

• Feb 21, 2004

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I guess another question would be: Are there any disadvantages to zero fret basses?

 

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#7

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Disadvantage:

The open strings sound more like the other fretted notes.

Personally i like the sound of open strings, there is just something about them that appeals to me.

Bassis

 

Fuzzbass

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#8

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For me, nut vs. zero fret is way way down near the bottom of the list of criteria upon which I make a purchasing decision.

 

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JahKnow

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#9

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Wouldn't a zero fret bass be a fretless!

 

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#10

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JahKnow said:

Wouldn't a zero fret bass be a fretless!

Click to expand...

*Insert cricket chirping here*

 

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JahKnow

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#11

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LOL
I know your out there, I can hear you chirping.
PEACE!!!!!, Johno!

 

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BoiNtC

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#12

• Feb 21, 2004

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Another disadvantage to the zero fret bass (well on MTDs), you'd need a Buzz Feiten tuner to do your intonation, regular tuning would be done in the same fashion though.

 

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Diek

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#13

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BoiNtC said:

Another disadvantage to the zero fret bass (well on MTDs), you'd need a Buzz Feiten tuner to do your intonation, regular tuning would be done in the same fashion though.

Click to expand...

Why would you need a special tuner to set the intonation? The zero fret is in the same place as the nut. The only difference is it's often the same heigh as the rest of the frets, where a nut is usually cut a hair higher. As I understand the Buzz Feiten system, one of it's benefits is to fix the intonation problems caused by a high nut. Since the zero fret isn't any higher than the frets, I'd immagine intonation would actually be more accurate than on a bass with a nut. Of course, you could always cut the nut to the same height of the frets, but then we wouldn't be discussing this.

*edit* I noticed you said "on MTDs." As I recall, some MTDs come standard with the Buzz Feiten system. So MTDs might need to use the buzz feiten tuner, but any ordinary bass with a zero fret won't.

 

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tplyons

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#14

• Feb 21, 2004

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Can I get a bass with the zero fret on all but the E string? That would rock...get that nice phat E, with the crisp tones of everything else

Sorry, drooling again.

 

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Figjam

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#15

• Feb 21, 2004

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JahKnow said:

Wouldn't a zero fret bass be a fretless!

Click to expand...

my thoughts exactly,.

my hohner has a zero fret though..yay..

 

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JahKnow

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#16

• Feb 22, 2004

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I guess techniclly speaking, my fretless X-Factor has a negative one, and a negative two fret (E and D# w/the open D engaged)!
So is it really fretless.
PEACE!!!!!, Johno!

 

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Oliver

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#17

• Feb 22, 2004

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Can we get some pictures in here!

 

JMX

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#18

• Feb 22, 2004

• #18

Here is a headstock of a Le Fay Capone 5-90

Most German basses have zero-frets (Warwick is an exception). My main bass has one too, I like the even tone and the low action it makes easy to achieve.

 

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Mike N

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#19

• Feb 22, 2004

• #19

Blackbird said:

The advantage of a "zero fret" is that your open notes sound more uniform with your fretted notes.

Click to expand...

Could that also be achieved with a brass (or other type of metal) nut?

 

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Blackbird

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#20

• Feb 22, 2004

• #20

Mike N said:

Could that also be achieved with a brass (or other type of metal) nut?

Click to expand...

Good question! We should post it in "ask the luthiers", although I think an open string sounds like an open string regardless of nut material...