02R96 Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 Why do some boutique or custom guitars have a "Zero Fret" and what makes this a big deal? And as a follow up, why don't all guitars have one of these? Dan "I hate what I've become, trying to escape who I am..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillWelcome Home Studios Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 It is not a boutique or custom deal.... when I was first learning to play, many of the cheaper guitars had them and I at first attached that idea to a lesser quality instrument. Then as time went by, I noticed that it was just a choice, not a quality judgement. One thing that I like about the zero fret... fretted notes and open notes sound the same. "I believe that entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art you're an idiot." Steve Martin Show business: we're all here because we're not all there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caevan O’Shite Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 It's another way to dictate the string-height at the 1st fret, as the "zero"-fret makes that the same as compared to another fret with the strings barred at the preceding fret. And with a zero-fret, the nut acts more as a string spacing guide and less, if at all, as setting the string height at that end. And, as Bill states, it gives open strings about the same sound as fretted ones. On a standard design guitar, the nut is the beginning point for the scale-length of the strings; with a zero-fret, the zero-fret is that beginning point, and the nut is located behind that point. Both zero-fret and standard nut/1st-fret designs need to be crafted and set-up with precision, although the nut behind a zero-fret is a little less critical in some respects. Note that a lot of vintage Gretsches came with zero frets, just one example of many. Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreySeraph Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 A lot of gypsy jazz guitars come with a zero fret. Personally, I think the characteristic sound of open strings at the nut sound beautiful and are a good contrast to fretted notes if used correctly. IE: we dont hit open strings when playing straight ahead jazz because of the oddball tonal contrast. My Gear: 82 Gibson Explorer Ibanez 03 JEM7VWH PRS McCarty Soapbar Diezel Herbert 2007 Peters '11 Brahms Guitar Byers '01 Classical Hippner 8-Str Classical Taylor 614ce Framus Texan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
02R96 Posted October 27, 2009 Author Share Posted October 27, 2009 Seems then, this would be desirable to have as it would make setting up the string height more accurate and take the nut height out of the picture. Dan "I hate what I've become, trying to escape who I am..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caevan O’Shite Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Dave Wendler? Boggs? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter of zero-frets... Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larryz Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Only played on an acoustic with a zero fret made in italy a few years ago and it did feel like it was easier to play for some reason...but that's about it...not too many major brand guitar makers use them so they are not in demand on standard models...almost all custom guitar makers leave them off as well.... Take care, Larryz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitar Slinger Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 It seems to me like you could get away with a lower quality, less well slotted nut with a zero fret. It makes me wonder if manufacturing costs are saved with the zero fret setup. My Blog about playing in a live band My MySpace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mojo Bone Posted November 6, 2009 Share Posted November 6, 2009 O'Shite and Guitar Slinger are correct.During the late-sixties onslaught of cheap offshore guitars sparked by the British Invasion (which had, in turn, been sparked by the success of the Beatles)the zero-fret reached its apex. Because nut shaping was less critical with a zero-fret design, the Z-fret became associated with these lesser-quality imported instruments, causing Gretsch and other US manufacturers to abandon it. "The Blues ain't got no dental plan."-"Bleeding Gums" Murphy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larryz Posted November 6, 2009 Share Posted November 6, 2009 Welcome aboard Mojo Bone.... Take care, Larryz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d halfnote Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 This is a left turn from the OP but why do some guitars have fret markers at the first fret ? d=halfnote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larryz Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 For looks is the only reason I can come up with...the fret marker at the first fret makes no sense at all...if it did there would be one on the 13th fret as well...IMHO Take care, Larryz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Geoff Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 I had an unlined fretless bass with a side dot at the first fret position - made a lot of sense in that context, but as for standard? Nope. G. "When the power of love overcomes the love of power the World will know Peace": Jimi Hendrix http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=738517&content=music The Geoff - blame Caevan!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caevan O’Shite Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 Yeah, welcome, Mojo Bone! And, yeah, as far as I know, for the most part whether to mark or not mark at the 1st-fret seems to be a matter of aesthetics. Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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