nutting a guitar with a zero fret

[mig50]

today i received in the mail an epiphone 12 string neck that has a zero fret and no nut.

i'm planning to just order a preslotted nut (no way in hell do i want to try to nut it on my own, or pay a tech to do it), but i'm curious if there's anything special i need to do because of the zero fret.

i'm assuming that i'll have to file it down fairly low so that the strings will be tight over the fret.

if anyone can give me some insight on this i would appreciate it.

word.

 

[Dom L]

Re: nutting a guitar with a zero fret

The zero fret will set the height of the strings.. so you don't have to worry about the nut for that. The nut will set the string spacing. Just set it up like normal, but if the action at the zero fret is too high, just file down the zero fret. If its too low replace the zero fret with a high fret and file it down to taste--Dom L
Formerly "doo"

 

[RushOfBlood]

Re: nutting a guitar with a zero fret

it actually makes it easier to make the nut, because as stated, you don't have to worry about the depth

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: nutting a guitar with a zero fret

I wonder why more Guitar manufacturers don't use a Zero fret? It's a pretty
good Idea. I had a Hagstrom that had a zero fret.

 

[mig50]

Re: nutting a guitar with a zero fret

The zero fret will set the height of the strings.. so you don't have to worry about the nut for that. The nut will set the string spacing. Just set it up like normal, but if the action at the zero fret is too high, just file down the zero fret. If its too low replace the zero fret with a high fret and file it down to taste--Dom L
Formerly "doo"

doo!!!

thanks for the advice! i don't know when i'm actually going to get around to this project, but i'll definitely keep that in mind.

 

[big_black]

Re: nutting a guitar with a zero fret

My Kramer's got one!

 

[Ken]

Re: nutting a guitar with a zero fret

Yeah, it actually makes a bit more sense...you're "fretted" even when you play an open string so the sound is more consistent (only applies when switching from open to fretted notes, but still...) Plus there's less chance of the string getting bound in the nut and loss of energy from bridge to tuning post.

 

[y2stevo]

Re: nutting a guitar with a zero fret

what the hell is a zero fret!?

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: nutting a guitar with a zero fret

:lmao: nutting a guitar!!

Don't tell me nobody else sees it. :burnout:

 

[big_black]

Re: nutting a guitar with a zero fret

what the hell is a zero fret!?

It is a fret between the nut and the first, about 1/16 or 1/8 inch down fron the nut. You find them on alot of guitars from the '60s and '70s. I don't know why they stopped putting them on guitars. I eliminates alot of open chord tuning and nut issues.