Zero fret

[magicguitar]

I hope this is an OK spot to post this question.

Has anyone here converted a regular guitar neck to a zero fret neck? And did it work? And maybe a tutorial? I have a Tele neck that I've been thinking about refinishing and if I do I might tinker with the zero fret idea. Just checking in advance to see if it's been done and not feasiable or has been done works and maybe a tutorial.


Thanks in advance...
...Don

[GattonFan]

I have a Dillion, Mosrite-style, neck that I was considering doing this to, but it looks like there's not enough fretboard to add a zero fret. It would shorten the area between the zero and first fret considerably. Maybe someone else has actually done this.
Dennis

[Sarah93003]

I don't know if it would affect the intonation or tuning, but as I understand it the distance from the nut to the 12 fret is supposed to be the same as from the 12 fret to the bridge. So, it seems to me if you alter a neck that has everything already calculated that it might mess something up. I think you have to take a blank fretboard and lay out the frets with a zero fret in mind from the beginning.

[sleeperNY]

I would think it could be done but the location of the zero fret must be in the same location as where the strings came off the nut. I would make a thicker nut and fit it on the neck, file half of it flush with the fretboard and use the rest as the string guide. The zero fret would be half on the fretboard and half on the nut. I would thing it would work just fine that way.


Jim

[LOSTVENTURE]

I think that Sara and Sleeper both have it right. On an existing neck, the frets have been placed with the distance between the nut and the twelvth fret already established. Any change in that specific dimension will be disasterous relating to both intonation and proper notation up the neck.
Unless you're just playingg Rock'n'Roll !!!!
Don

[magicguitar]

Yeah, I was afraid of that intonation might be affected. I might have an old neck to play with in a few weeks. If so I'll give it a try.

[olrocknroller]

A much easier solution would be to make a new nut out of brass. You will get the same improvement in sound with no modifications to the fretboard. Take the old nut, and use it as a template; get a piece of brass and file it to shape and size, then cut in the string notches, duplicating the original nut in every detail...be very precise, and you will get good results.

If you use a tremolo, and absolutely must go the zero fret route, use stainless steel; it will survive the sawing action of the strings much longer. I would built a string guide out of metal that you can mount at the base of the headstock, then build a zero fret out of SS (LOTS of work!) so that it fits the old nut slot perfectly. That's REALLY the hard way of getting the zero-fret sound!

olrocknroller

[Sarah93003]

I wonder if it might just be easier to order a neck fretboard from Stewart MacDonald
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bodies,_nec ... board.html

or LMI

http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/Secondprodu ... ngerboards

LMI will custom slot the fingerboard for you.

[Mr. Bill]

SleeperNY has it right. The zero fret takes the place of the nut and will need to be centered along the line created by the fretside edge of the nut. On a Gibson style guitar the nut fits at the end of the fretboard. On a Fender there is a slot milled for the nut to sit in.

A Fender conversion would be tricky because of the lack of wood behind the zero fret position for the string spacer. On a Gibson style nut, a larger piece of wood could be used in place of the nut to hold both the zero fret and the string spacer.

Edit: Sarah is right, LMI will cut and mill any scale fretboard. They do a great job and I highly recommend them.

[riverboat]

Str Paul McCartney's Rickenbacker 4001S has a zero fret.