What and why… the zero fret.

Zero frets are not a new innovation. You’ll find them on many vintage guitars and more commonly on other instruments- banjo’s, uke’s, etc. Why did they come into and then go out of style and why are they coming back into vogue?

The concept is sound- a zero fret creates the proper string action at the head of the neck and gives the open and upper fret notes a tone consistent with the rest. It removes the need for action being established by the nut, needing only a string guide instead, and since the strings are on an actual fret, the tone is the same as it is when other notes are played further up.

It probably came into style for those very reasons. Is it better than a nut? That’s subjective, for the most part, but in theory, it does make for a better, more consistent instrument.

Why, then, did they (mostly) go away? I think for two reasons. The first is cost and time. The manufacturers who dominate the scene decided it was cheaper and easier to just use a nut. Second, they wear faster than the other frets and require more frequent replacement. The use of harder metals does greatly extend their life, but it will happen with a good amount of playing.

Why are we seeing them come back? I think we’re seeing a bifurcation of the boutique market. We’re seeing several high end builders launching “no frills” models and lines to drop the price point to a more accessible level. At the same time, we’re seeing their higher end models become more thoughtful and innovative. It’s a competitive space and high end buyers are looking for the touches that separate that kind of spend from even the highest end production guitars; zero frets are just one example.

There’s also the case for utility. Furch’s Little Jane, for example. As a collapsible guitar, a traditional nut wouldn’t work- the strings would be a mess and the nut would probably wear quickly and even be prone to breaking. By using a string guide and a zero fret, they solve for these issues and create a convenient, high end travel guitar. 

Do zero frets “feel” different to play? Not technically, but it does take your brain a minute to re-index what you expect to see at that spot on the guitar.