ZERO FRET?

[Muzique Fann]

Embrace the technology...if it sounds better...it's good

 

[GrooveWarrior]

can one buy a nut that has a zero fret "built into it". This concept of such a nut may be way off, but the idea intrigues me.

Not really. As you can see from the picture below, there is a significant space between the nut and the zero fret. I would think that including a zero fret with a nut would cause some intonation issues if the nut/zero fret unit ever came loose.
Invalid Link Removed

 

[michele]

Fretless needs to have open strings (at the nut) just contacting the fingerboard...

I'm not sure I've understand ... do you mean that on a fretless the nut slots should be cutted so deep to allow the strings to touch the fingerboard?

 

[Suburban]

Well, almost. There should be a mini ridge, just to keep it from contact at the end of the board. Mini is the word! A normal paper thickness, even, is more than you need.
The string pull and relief will do the rest of the trick.

 

[::::BASSIST::::]

This maybe a stupid question but I thought I'd ask anyway just to be sure.

Can a p-bass made without a zero fret have one installed. I think i have about 6mm of space b/n the nut and where the neck starts tappering into the headstock.

 

[wilser]

I'm not sure I've understand ... do you mean that on a fretless the nut slots should be cutted so deep to allow the strings to touch the fingerboard?

if you want even 'fretless' sound between your fingered and open strings, then yes. The correct way to set up a fretless to get 'evenness' is to cut the slots so that the string just touches the fingerboard and if not then they should not be more than 1/128 away from the fingerboard (so that when you play, the vibration would make the string touch the board), you won't get even mwah otherwise.

 

[wilser]

This maybe a stupid question but I thought I'd ask anyway just to be sure.

Can a p-bass made without a zero fret have one installed. I think i have about 6mm of space b/n the nut and where the neck starts tappering into the headstock.

well, technically it can, but it would require witty work and it will not look very pretty. You can have the nut removed and try to find a piece of wood to closely match the grain and color of the board, then have the nut groove filled with that. then you cut a new nut groove (assuming you have enough 'board left) about 1/8" - 1/4" from there. Cut a fret slot and install a new fret in the position where the old nut use to start. Again, it would require much careful work and will not look very good in the end. But it should perform like it was factory installed after that.

 

[michele]

if you want even 'fretless' sound between your fingered and open strings, then yes. The correct way to set up a fretless to get 'evenness' is to cut the slots so that the string just touches the fingerboard and if not then they should not be more than 1/128 away from the fingerboard (so that when you play, the vibration would make the string touch the board), you won't get even mwah otherwise.

Mhh, sounds interesting. I've never tought about that. Thanks, man!