Zero Fret?

[The Captain]

I got me eye on a particular geetar on Evilbay...its very nice but the zero fret has been removed and the top nut repositioned...anyone know why this would be done?

[kb892]

I think that's the best answer to any question I've ever heard in my life!

[The Captain]

Silly me, of course it is.

[dazed and confused]

Sickle

Could be a tuning or intonation thing, not sure. Maybe better sustain without the zero fret.

Can you play behind the nut bends with one?

[Tommy1966]

I have always viewed a zero fret as a shortcut way for a builder to get around cutting the nut slots at the correct heights. To my knowledge there are no tonal advantages to having a zero fret. In fact I would say a carved bone nut will produce a sweeter tone than a metal zero fret. As long as the nut was placed in the exact correct position for intonation and is made right you should be ok Captain.

[1bottlerocket]

Fred Stuart commented on the zero fret and he stated that if he could build his ideal guitar it would have one. He also went on to say that a zero fret has a negative image in the guitar world and that is the main reason he doesn't build with one. Maybe the seller wanted to avoid the guitar being cheap, thus installing the nut.