Can someone explain the reason for a zero fret

[ForestThump]

I've only ever seen them on lower cost instruments such as an 80's Carvin.
Why did these basses have a zero fret and why has that stopped?
Just wanted to know...

 

[neptoon]

used on lots of custom boutique basses, as well, such as lefay and bee...i've owned both...the thinking is that an open note will have the same tone as a fretted note - as the string is actually on a fret vice being strung through a nut...

 

[Virgil]

Neptoon is corect. I have a zero fret on my MTD USA and on my Skjold.

 

[stflbn]

According to an interview I saw with Michael Tobias, originally the Zero Fret was used by cheap asian manufacturers because it was easier to do than cutting a well crafted nut. So early on it was assumed to be cheap and lesser way of doing it.

Now however the tide seems to be turning and builders are going to zero fret while most mass manufactured basses still use the slotted nut approach. Zero fret basses still have a "nut" of sorts to hold the string in place, but it's merely slotted appropriately and doesn't need to deal with accurate depth.

Interesting how the approach to the technology has changed.



.

 

[Rodent]

as one who utilizes a zero-fret on about 95% of my builds, I might just have a little to say on this topic. I've been utilizing a zero-fret since I started building, and having played basses with/without one I find I definitely prefer it over just a nut. YMMV of course

a zero-fret gives you two things IMO/IME:

1 - sonic consistency between fretted and open-string notes. there is still a very subtle difference that you can hear if you really listen, but nothing as significant as the difference between a nut (of any material) and fretwire like you would hear on a non-zero-fret bass

2 - a more uniform consistency in feel in every position

as previously noted, the strings rest on the zero-fret and the nut merely serves as a string spacer.


Here's what a nicely done zero-fret can look like

nothing cheap about that neck

all the best,

R

 

[PBass101]

I believe most, if not all, Status Graphite basses have zero frets. ...And they ain't cheap.

 

[erikbojerik]

Yep - zero frets are alive and well.

 

[b_carville]

I thought a lot of Gretsch instruments had them.

I think my old Gretsch hollow body bass had one.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

I've always used zero frets.

 

[JimiLL]

but arent you limited in adjustment to what that zero fret is from the factory?? Having an adjustable nut is no longer an option

 

[PBass101]

If you needed a certain string height at the zero fret/nut I'm sure any boutique bass company will be more than happy to help you out when they build one for you.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

but arent you limited in adjustment to what that zero fret is from the factory?? Having an adjustable nut is no longer an option

You don't need to adjust the zero fret anymore than you need to adjust the second fret. The zero fret is leveled with the rest of the frets, so as long as the frets are level, open strings play just like fretted notes. because the string is the perfect height over the first fret, the intonation is also right on.

Nuts only have to be "adjusted" if they are cut too high.

 

[JimiLL]

You don't need to adjust the zero fret anymore than you need to adjust the second fret. The zero fret is leveled with the rest of the frets, so as long as the frets are level, open strings play just like fretted notes. because the string is the perfect height over the first fret, the intonation is also right on.

Nuts only have to be "adjusted" if they are cut too high.

thats not the point.

what happens when someone wants to raise the string height at the nut??

 

[SGD Lutherie]

thats not the point.

what happens when someone wants to raise the string height at the nut??

There's no reason to do that, and doing so will make the first couple of frets sound sharp.

But if you really need your open strings higher, just install a higher fret.

 

[MNAirHead]

My Framus had one .. it was 20x the bass any of my fenders were

 

[CptanPanic]

Is the zero fret the same fretwire as the rest of the frets?

 

[etoncrow]

Birdsong uses the zero fret except on the fretless basses; reasoning being obvious after reading the previous responses.

 

[mvw356]

what about the old warwicks that had a brass nut like the frets, would you consider them to be 'zero fret' as the fret and nut use the same material? is there a sound difference between the differnt nuts?

 

[SGD Lutherie]

what about the old warwicks that had a brass nut like the frets, would you consider them to be 'zero fret' as the fret and nut use the same material? is there a sound difference between the differnt nuts?

The frets were a bronze alloy. Brass is too soft for frets. Most frets are nickel silver, which is also a white brass alloy.

No, a brass nut is not a zero fret, though Warwick does have the adjustable nut (as does Alembic, who had it first) so you can get the same action benefit as with a zero fret.

 

[Oric]

how hard is it to get a zero fret installed on a bass which originally did not have one?