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Topic: Zero Fret ? |
John Steele
From:
Renfrew, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 6 Feb 2003 9:35 am |
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What is the purpose of having a zero fret on a guitar ?
-John |
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Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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Posted 6 Feb 2003 10:01 am
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I love "Fret Zero"!
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Ron Randall
From:
Dallas, Texas, USA
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Posted 6 Feb 2003 10:49 am
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The strings are harder to press down at the nut, than anywhere else. Especially the heavier gages on acoustic geetars. A zero fret solves the problem by moving the nut back, and letting the zero fret set the string height.
Ever notice that many players have a capo at the first or second fret? This makes the guitar much easier to play. Serves same purpose as a zero fret.
Many players will tune the open strings down one or two half steps. Then capo up one or two. The strings have less tension and are easier press down. |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 6 Feb 2003 11:36 am
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I always thought that it wasn't just a matter of making it easier--it was to correct the intonation problems that result from the first fret height problems Ron mentions. I have often had problems playing guitars in tune on the open chords at the first two frets vs. barre chords up the neck. Maybe wouldn't be an issue if I'd ever had good guitars but I'm a Squier kind of guy. (Also maybe wouldn't be an issue if I could play guitar worth a damn.)
I'm working on some sort of line about the Zorro fret but it just ain't coming just yet....[This message was edited by Jon Light on 06 February 2003 at 11:38 AM.] |
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Dave Boothroyd
From:
Staffordshire Moorlands
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Posted 7 Feb 2003 12:57 am
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Wear on a plastic nut sends everything out of tune. A zero fret prevents it. I fitted one recently to a Status Fretless Bass with a carbon fibre neck. It was worn so badly that the interval between adjacent strings fingered at the same position was way out of tune. The zero fret cured it.
Cheers
Dave |
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Tony Harris
From:
England
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Posted 7 Feb 2003 6:24 am
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| Have a look at www.earvana.com for a compensated nut that they make, which is supposed to help solve intonation problems, especially when playing chords in the lower positions. If you have an accurate tuner, tune up your G string, then see how sharp the G# is at the first fret. The Earvana, also the Buzz Feiten Tuning system, is designed to help. Anybody had any first-hand experience of these? |
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Greg Vincent
From:
Folsom, CA USA
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Posted 7 Feb 2003 8:59 am
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Folks,
I have a question for y'all:
If low fret positions are hard to play or out of tune because of the height of the nut, why don't manufacturers simply lower that height?
-GV |
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Michael Johnstone
From:
Sylmar,Ca. USA
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Posted 7 Feb 2003 12:28 pm
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| I've got the Earvana nut on a real nice G&L custom shop ASAT-3 and it does indeed have the desired effect.I considered the Feiten setup but decided it was too invasive and after trying the Earvana I decided that was close enough to perfection for me. As far as so called zero frets,I don't care for them because they put the string action so low I can't get my fingers under the strings enough to bend them around the first few frets.If it was on a big jazz box w/heavy flatwounds it might be ok. -MJ- |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 7 Feb 2003 12:29 pm
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A well set-up neck runs a fine balance between low action, level frets, straight or slightly bowed neck, elimination of any string buzzing at any fret, good intonation, etc. Plus, until you get into the higher end where everything is custom, the factory or store setup tries to accomodate a variety of string gauge choices (within reason--and ideally even a change of a point or so in gauge calls for a tweak in setup.)
Not all necks are stable or true enough to fine tune to tolerances like you are calling for, Greg (I've tried).
I actually mickeymoused a bit of material at the nut as a compensator for the G string on my Squier Tele. It does the trick pretty ok.[This message was edited by Jon Light on 07 February 2003 at 12:31 PM.] |
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