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Yahoo Group Archives » Page 123 »

Mosrite Question

Jacob Dobner (jacobdobner) - 21 Oct 2005 16:31:43

I am looking at the cover of The Venture's Knock Me Out! LP right now
and there are three Mosrite Ventures Model headstocks on it. Now the
red one doesn't appear to have a tradition nut. The bass' nut looks
colored blue and the sunburst one obviously has a typical nut.
However, if you look at the red one's nut it looks like it doesn't
have one and the wood of the headstock functions as the nut. Look at
how it appears to be cut. It looks like the strings just burrowed in.
So the question I have is, What does the typical Mosrite nut look like.
And if I must say so those are some of the dirtiest strings I have
ever seen. And it is a pretty good album. I thought Cosmonauti did the
first cover of She's Not There(instrumental anyways). I was wrong. The
Venture's version is pretty good. I think I prefer Cosmonauti's
version though. I just really enjoy their overall sound.

Top

Marty Tippens (mctippens) - 21 Oct 2005 18:00:03

I'm guessing the colored nuts are just painted over standard nuts. Mosrite would
have had to retool for the different headstocks.
-Marty
----- Original Message -----
From: Jacob Dobner
To:
Sent: Friday, October 21, 2005 2:31 PM
Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Mosrite Question
I am looking at the cover of The Venture's Knock Me Out! LP right now
and there are three Mosrite Ventures Model headstocks on it. Now the
red one doesn't appear to have a tradition nut. The bass' nut looks
colored blue and the sunburst one obviously has a typical nut.
However, if you look at the red one's nut it looks like it doesn't
have one and the wood of the headstock functions as the nut. Look at
how it appears to be cut. It looks like the strings just burrowed in.
So the question I have is, What does the typical Mosrite nut look like.
And if I must say so those are some of the dirtiest strings I have
ever seen. And it is a pretty good album. I thought Cosmonauti did the
first cover of She's Not There(instrumental anyways). I was wrong. The
Venture's version is pretty good. I think I prefer Cosmonauti's
version though. I just really enjoy their overall sound.
.
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Top

Jacob Dobner (jacobdobner) - 21 Oct 2005 18:07:23

I can tell for a fact that the bass nut is colored over. But for the
red one I cannot see any nut at all. It really looks like it is actual
wood and that is sort of the effect created by how the strings are
laying in it.
--- In , "Marty Tippens" <mctippens@e...>
wrote:
>
> I'm guessing the colored nuts are just painted over standard nuts.
Mosrite would have had to retool for the different headstocks.
> -Marty
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Jacob Dobner
> To:
> Sent: Friday, October 21, 2005 2:31 PM
> Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Mosrite Question
>
>
> I am looking at the cover of The Venture's Knock Me Out! LP right now
> and there are three Mosrite Ventures Model headstocks on it. Now the
> red one doesn't appear to have a tradition nut. The bass' nut looks
> colored blue and the sunburst one obviously has a typical nut.
> However, if you look at the red one's nut it looks like it doesn't
> have one and the wood of the headstock functions as the nut. Look at
> how it appears to be cut. It looks like the strings just burrowed in.
> So the question I have is, What does the typical Mosrite nut look
like.
>
> And if I must say so those are some of the dirtiest strings I have
> ever seen. And it is a pretty good album. I thought Cosmonauti did the
> first cover of She's Not There(instrumental anyways). I was wrong. The
> Venture's version is pretty good. I think I prefer Cosmonauti's
> version though. I just really enjoy their overall sound.
>
>
>
>
>
> .
> Visit for archived
messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
>
>
>
> SPONSORED LINKS Guitar music theory Stringed instruments Guitar
music book
> Guitar sheet music Guitar music sheets Guitar technique
>
>
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
>
> a.. Visit your group "SurfGuitar101" on the web.
>
> b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>
>
> c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
Service.
>
>
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> __________ NOD32 1.1263 (20051021) Information __________
>
> This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Top

Brian Neal (xarxas) - 21 Oct 2005 18:35:07

--- In , "Jacob Dobner"
<jacobdobner@y...> wrote:
>
> I am looking at the cover of The Venture's Knock Me Out! LP right now
> and there are three Mosrite Ventures Model headstocks on it. Now the
> red one doesn't appear to have a tradition nut. The bass' nut looks
> colored blue and the sunburst one obviously has a typical nut.
> However, if you look at the red one's nut it looks like it doesn't
> have one and the wood of the headstock functions as the nut. Look at
> how it appears to be cut. It looks like the strings just burrowed in.
> So the question I have is, What does the typical Mosrite nut look like.
Jacob: I'm not a Mosrite expert, but they have a "zero fret". Can you
see that in the photo? I'm not totally sure what the point of a zero
fret is, but I think you don't have to be as careful with cutting the
nut (ouch) when you have one.
Does anyone know if the strings rest on (touch) the zero fret when
played open?
BN

Top

Jacob Dobner (jacobdobner) - 21 Oct 2005 18:41:43

I know they have a zero fret. I wish I had a scanner to scan in a
picture of this. It looks so weird.
--- In , "Brian Neal" <bgneal@g...> wrote:
>
> --- In , "Jacob Dobner"
> <jacobdobner@y...> wrote:
> >
> > I am looking at the cover of The Venture's Knock Me Out! LP right now
> > and there are three Mosrite Ventures Model headstocks on it. Now the
> > red one doesn't appear to have a tradition nut. The bass' nut looks
> > colored blue and the sunburst one obviously has a typical nut.
> > However, if you look at the red one's nut it looks like it doesn't
> > have one and the wood of the headstock functions as the nut. Look at
> > how it appears to be cut. It looks like the strings just burrowed in.
> > So the question I have is, What does the typical Mosrite nut look
like.
>
> Jacob: I'm not a Mosrite expert, but they have a "zero fret". Can you
> see that in the photo? I'm not totally sure what the point of a zero
> fret is, but I think you don't have to be as careful with cutting the
> nut (ouch) when you have one.
>
> Does anyone know if the strings rest on (touch) the zero fret when
> played open?
>
> BN
>

Top

Jacob Dobner (jacobdobner) - 21 Oct 2005 18:56:28

BTW, the point of a zero fret, to my knowledge, is to make it so the
open chords don't sound open. Probably makes the action feel different.
That is what I assume. That is why I don't like the zero fret. Gotta
have the open C, G, and E, chords.
--- In , "Brian Neal" <bgneal@g...> wrote:
>
> --- In , "Jacob Dobner"
> <jacobdobner@y...> wrote:
> >
> > I am looking at the cover of The Venture's Knock Me Out! LP right now
> > and there are three Mosrite Ventures Model headstocks on it. Now the
> > red one doesn't appear to have a tradition nut. The bass' nut looks
> > colored blue and the sunburst one obviously has a typical nut.
> > However, if you look at the red one's nut it looks like it doesn't
> > have one and the wood of the headstock functions as the nut. Look at
> > how it appears to be cut. It looks like the strings just burrowed in.
> > So the question I have is, What does the typical Mosrite nut look
like.
>
> Jacob: I'm not a Mosrite expert, but they have a "zero fret". Can you
> see that in the photo? I'm not totally sure what the point of a zero
> fret is, but I think you don't have to be as careful with cutting the
> nut (ouch) when you have one.
>
> Does anyone know if the strings rest on (touch) the zero fret when
> played open?
>
> BN
>

Top

unlunf - 22 Oct 2005 01:33:16

Jacob, Brian, et was anderes,
Welcome to PhotoShop, 30 years before it was born! <lol>
This was an artist's rendition, as was done to many of their
other covers. I saw this when it first came out, and took it
in with me when I went to work the next day. "What's this?" I
asked. They didn't have any Mosrites in stock yet, but the
head honcho explained about the zero fret idea, and that
mollified me well enough. <g>
Jacob, I'm not sure at all where you got the idea that a
zero fret was intended to somehow detract from the sound
of a plucked string. That's never been my experience, so
it would be interesting to hear what others have to say.
Brian, yes, the strings rest on the fret at all times.
You were correct about the nut, read on.....
History Lesson For The Day. <g>
Essentially, a zero fret was made to give a tighter, more
precise placement of the point where the string will make
contact, and thus (it was hoped) strings would be more
easily and accurately intonated. Remember, this was back
when a lot of jobs were still being done by hand. Cutting
a nut was laborious and error prone. If you didn't get the
fulcrum point just right, you botched it. Cut the slot too
deeply on one of the strings? El Botcho. Not deep enough?
Ditto. But how could you tell - you're just sitting there
knocking them out, with no way to test them afterwards.
And that was just a small portion of the whole Quality Control
issue of the hand-made, pre-mass manufactured era.
So, what got installed was made passible by a short setup at
the factory, and after that, it was up to the dealer or new
owner to keep the instrument in intonation. Much harder when
the nut was made incorrectly in the first place. A lot of
nuts were replaced in the first few months of a guitar's life
for just this reason.
Enter the zero fret. It's job was to make the nut cutter's
job a whole easier, by demanding a lot less accuracy. But,
the trade-off was that it takes time and materials to cut yet
another slot and install some more fret wire, and you're still
gonna need that nut, although now it's just a string guide.
The obvious question was, will the players (buyers) pony up
for the extra costs?
And the answer was no, they stayed away in droves. The small
amount of error with the old way was acceptable to the vast
majority of players, enough so that the idea never fully caught
on. And when machines took over, and accuracy approached
99% of the optimum, the proverbial writing was on the wall:
"Bye bye, Mr. Zero Fret." <g>
And that's the way it was.
unlunf
--- In , "Jacob Dobner" <jacobdobner@y...> wrote:
>
> BTW, the point of a zero fret, to my knowledge, is to make it
> so the open chords don't sound open. Probably makes the action
> feel different.
>
> That is what I assume. That is why I don't like the zero fret.
> Gotta have the open C, G, and E, chords.
>
> --- In , "Brian Neal" <bgneal@g...> wrote:
>>
>> --- In , "Jacob Dobner"
>> <jacobdobner@y...> wrote:
>>>
>>> I am looking at the cover of The Venture's Knock Me Out! LP
>>> right now and there are three Mosrite Ventures Model headstocks
>>> on it. Now the red one doesn't appear to have a tradition nut.
>>> The bass' nut looks colored blue and the sunburst one obviously
>>> has a typical nut.
>>> However, if you look at the red one's nut it looks like it
>>> doesn't have one and the wood of the headstock functions as the
>>> nut. Look at how it appears to be cut. It looks like the strings
>>> just burrowed in.
>>> So the question I have is, What does the typical Mosrite nut look
>>> like.
>>
>> Jacob: I'm not a Mosrite expert, but they have a "zero fret". Can
>> you see that in the photo? I'm not totally sure what the point of
>> a zero fret is, but I think you don't have to be as careful with
>> cutting the nut (ouch) when you have one.
>>
>> Does anyone know if the strings rest on (touch) the zero fret when
>> played open?
>>
>> BN
>>
>

Top

Jacob Dobner (jacobdobner) - 22 Oct 2005 01:41:31

I dont' think it would take away from the sound of a plucked string I
just think having your string resting on a metal zero fret gives it a
different sound than rest and vibrating on a bone or other material
nut. I am just guessing. I don't really know. And through my think I
would just think that a open e chord is going to sound a little
different with a zero fret.
And thanks for the answer. I was puzzled by the pictures.
--- In , "unlunf" <unlunf@y...> wrote:
>
> Jacob, Brian, et was anderes,
>
> Welcome to PhotoShop, 30 years before it was born! <lol>
>
> This was an artist's rendition, as was done to many of their
> other covers. I saw this when it first came out, and took it
> in with me when I went to work the next day. "What's this?" I
> asked. They didn't have any Mosrites in stock yet, but the
> head honcho explained about the zero fret idea, and that
> mollified me well enough. <g>
>
> Jacob, I'm not sure at all where you got the idea that a
> zero fret was intended to somehow detract from the sound
> of a plucked string. That's never been my experience, so
> it would be interesting to hear what others have to say.
>
> Brian, yes, the strings rest on the fret at all times.
> You were correct about the nut, read on.....
>
> History Lesson For The Day. <g>
> Essentially, a zero fret was made to give a tighter, more
> precise placement of the point where the string will make
> contact, and thus (it was hoped) strings would be more
> easily and accurately intonated. Remember, this was back
> when a lot of jobs were still being done by hand. Cutting
> a nut was laborious and error prone. If you didn't get the
> fulcrum point just right, you botched it. Cut the slot too
> deeply on one of the strings? El Botcho. Not deep enough?
> Ditto. But how could you tell - you're just sitting there
> knocking them out, with no way to test them afterwards.
>
> And that was just a small portion of the whole Quality Control
> issue of the hand-made, pre-mass manufactured era.
>
> So, what got installed was made passible by a short setup at
> the factory, and after that, it was up to the dealer or new
> owner to keep the instrument in intonation. Much harder when
> the nut was made incorrectly in the first place. A lot of
> nuts were replaced in the first few months of a guitar's life
> for just this reason.
>
> Enter the zero fret. It's job was to make the nut cutter's
> job a whole easier, by demanding a lot less accuracy. But,
> the trade-off was that it takes time and materials to cut yet
> another slot and install some more fret wire, and you're still
> gonna need that nut, although now it's just a string guide.
> The obvious question was, will the players (buyers) pony up
> for the extra costs?
>
> And the answer was no, they stayed away in droves. The small
> amount of error with the old way was acceptable to the vast
> majority of players, enough so that the idea never fully caught
> on. And when machines took over, and accuracy approached
> 99% of the optimum, the proverbial writing was on the wall:
> "Bye bye, Mr. Zero Fret." <g>
>
> And that's the way it was.
>
>
> unlunf
>
> --- In , "Jacob Dobner"
<jacobdobner@y...> wrote:
> >
> > BTW, the point of a zero fret, to my knowledge, is to make it
> > so the open chords don't sound open. Probably makes the action
> > feel different.
> >
> > That is what I assume. That is why I don't like the zero fret.
> > Gotta have the open C, G, and E, chords.
> >
> > --- In , "Brian Neal" <bgneal@g...>
wrote:
> >>
> >> --- In , "Jacob Dobner"
> >> <jacobdobner@y...> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> I am looking at the cover of The Venture's Knock Me Out! LP
> >>> right now and there are three Mosrite Ventures Model headstocks
> >>> on it. Now the red one doesn't appear to have a tradition nut.
> >>> The bass' nut looks colored blue and the sunburst one obviously
> >>> has a typical nut.
> >>> However, if you look at the red one's nut it looks like it
> >>> doesn't have one and the wood of the headstock functions as the
> >>> nut. Look at how it appears to be cut. It looks like the strings
> >>> just burrowed in.
> >>> So the question I have is, What does the typical Mosrite nut look
> >>> like.
> >>
> >> Jacob: I'm not a Mosrite expert, but they have a "zero fret". Can
> >> you see that in the photo? I'm not totally sure what the point of
> >> a zero fret is, but I think you don't have to be as careful with
> >> cutting the nut (ouch) when you have one.
> >>
> >> Does anyone know if the strings rest on (touch) the zero fret when
> >> played open?
> >>
> >> BN
> >>
> >
>

Top

Marty Tippens (mctippens) - 22 Oct 2005 01:46:49

I have to question the notion that the zero fret made for extra costs
significant enough to keep buyers away in droves. Yes, it was featured on
expensive Guilds and Mosrites but we also saw zero frets on many cheap guitars
like those ones from Japan with five pick-ups and twelve switches.
The prime electric guitar market companies, Fender and Gibson, never saw the
necessity for the zero fret and I think that's why it didn't catch on.
-Marty
----- Original Message -----
From: unlunf
To:
Sent: Friday, October 21, 2005 11:33 PM
Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Re: Mosrite Question
...Enter the zero fret. It's job was to make the nut cutter's
job a whole easier, by demanding a lot less accuracy. But,
the trade-off was that it takes time and materials to cut yet
another slot and install some more fret wire, and you're still
gonna need that nut, although now it's just a string guide.
The obvious question was, will the players (buyers) pony up
for the extra costs?
And the answer was no, they stayed away in droves. The small
amount of error with the old way was acceptable to the vast
majority of players, enough so that the idea never fully caught
on. And when machines took over, and accuracy approached
99% of the optimum, the proverbial writing was on the wall:
"Bye bye, Mr. Zero Fret." <g>
And that's the way it was.
unlunf
--- In , "Jacob Dobner" <jacobdobner@y...> wrote:
>
> BTW, the point of a zero fret, to my knowledge, is to make it
> so the open chords don't sound open. Probably makes the action
> feel different.
>
> That is what I assume. That is why I don't like the zero fret.
> Gotta have the open C, G, and E, chords.
>
> --- In , "Brian Neal" <bgneal@g...> wrote:
>>
>> --- In , "Jacob Dobner"
>> <jacobdobner@y...> wrote:
>>>
>>> I am looking at the cover of The Venture's Knock Me Out! LP
>>> right now and there are three Mosrite Ventures Model headstocks
>>> on it. Now the red one doesn't appear to have a tradition nut.
>>> The bass' nut looks colored blue and the sunburst one obviously
>>> has a typical nut.
>>> However, if you look at the red one's nut it looks like it
>>> doesn't have one and the wood of the headstock functions as the
>>> nut. Look at how it appears to be cut. It looks like the strings
>>> just burrowed in.
>>> So the question I have is, What does the typical Mosrite nut look
>>> like.
>>
>> Jacob: I'm not a Mosrite expert, but they have a "zero fret". Can
>> you see that in the photo? I'm not totally sure what the point of
>> a zero fret is, but I think you don't have to be as careful with
>> cutting the nut (ouch) when you have one.
>>
>> Does anyone know if the strings rest on (touch) the zero fret when
>> played open?
>>
>> BN
>>
>
.
Visit for archived messages,
bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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a.. Visit your group "SurfGuitar101" on the web.
b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
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This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Top

unlunf - 22 Oct 2005 01:59:13

Jacob,
You're welcome. <g>
Well, you 'could' be correct about the tone, it's very
likely that there are subtle differences between bone,
plastic, synthetic, and metal - that last being a fret.
(Although I have seen a brass fret nuts a few times!)
You can get an idea of what happens with a zero fret simply
by slapping a capo onto your neck, and playing your favorite
open chords. Now, I'm sure you'll hear a slight difference,
but the real question is, who else can hear it? If you are
playing for your own enjoyment, that's one thing. But if
you are playing on stage at 90+ decibels, who's gonna be
able to tell the diff?
My gut feel is that the zero fret was too costly, and was
put out to pasture by the sharp rise in quality of using
machines to cut nuts. But then again, I've also been known
as The Maalox Kid! <lol>
unlunf
p.s. FWIW, I put a GraphTech Trem-Nut on my Strat. Sounds
exactly like the original - no better, no worse. Thing is,
I can now dive bomb and return without any annoying string
pops (where the string catches momentarily and then releases
on either the nut, the saddle, or both). More info here:
<>
--- In , "Jacob Dobner" <jacobdobner@y...> wrote:
>
> I don't think it would take away from the sound of a plucked
> string, I just think having your string resting on a metal zero
> fret gives it a different sound than rest and vibrating on a bone
> or other material nut. I am just guessing. I don't really know.
> And through my think I would just think that a open e chord is
> going to sound a little different with a zero fret.
>
> And thanks for the answer. I was puzzled by the pictures.
>

Top

Jacob Dobner (jacobdobner) - 22 Oct 2005 02:21:32

As to why it didn't catch on. Could it be the zero fret wore out that
much faster.
--- In , "unlunf" <unlunf@y...> wrote:
>
> Jacob,
>
> You're welcome. <g>
>
> Well, you 'could' be correct about the tone, it's very
> likely that there are subtle differences between bone,
> plastic, synthetic, and metal - that last being a fret.
> (Although I have seen a brass fret nuts a few times!)
>
> You can get an idea of what happens with a zero fret simply
> by slapping a capo onto your neck, and playing your favorite
> open chords. Now, I'm sure you'll hear a slight difference,
> but the real question is, who else can hear it? If you are
> playing for your own enjoyment, that's one thing. But if
> you are playing on stage at 90+ decibels, who's gonna be
> able to tell the diff?
>
> My gut feel is that the zero fret was too costly, and was
> put out to pasture by the sharp rise in quality of using
> machines to cut nuts. But then again, I've also been known
> as The Maalox Kid! <lol>
>
>
> unlunf
>
> p.s. FWIW, I put a GraphTech Trem-Nut on my Strat. Sounds
> exactly like the original - no better, no worse. Thing is,
> I can now dive bomb and return without any annoying string
> pops (where the string catches momentarily and then releases
> on either the nut, the saddle, or both). More info here:
> <>
>
>
> --- In , "Jacob Dobner"
<jacobdobner@y...> wrote:
> >
> > I don't think it would take away from the sound of a plucked
> > string, I just think having your string resting on a metal zero
> > fret gives it a different sound than rest and vibrating on a bone
> > or other material nut. I am just guessing. I don't really know.
> > And through my think I would just think that a open e chord is
> > going to sound a little different with a zero fret.
> >
> > And thanks for the answer. I was puzzled by the pictures.
> >
>

Top

dave wronski (stickmandw) - 22 Oct 2005 08:47:51

The nuts installed in guitars in factories today are
all done by hand. They have tried to find a way to
machine a nut cut precisely, but it hasn't happened
yet. The slots are cut with strings on the guitar,
tuned to pitch with the truss rod adjusted. The gap is
measured with a feeler gauge, and then tested for
rattles which would indicate crooked, or lack of
downward angle of slots.
The zero frets give you the same sound whether fretted
or open. I think the Fender custom Shop is going to
make some zero fret basses, possibly.
Also, replacing a nut is easier than replacing a fret
when it comes to doing a repair.
--- dave
--- unlunf <> wrote:
> Remember, this was
> back
> when a lot of jobs were still being done by hand.
> Cutting
> a nut was laborious and error prone. If you didn't
> get the
> fulcrum point just right, you botched it. Cut the
> slot too
> deeply on one of the strings? El Botcho. Not deep
> enough?
> Ditto. But how could you tell - you're just sitting
> there
> knocking them out, with no way to test them
> afterwards.
>
> And that was just a small portion of the whole
> Quality Control
> issue of the hand-made, pre-mass manufactured era.
>
> on. And when machines took over, and accuracy
> approached
> 99% of the optimum, the proverbial writing was on
> the wall:
> "Bye bye, Mr. Zero Fret." <g>
>
> And that's the way it was.
>
>
> unlunf
>
> --- In , "Jacob Dobner"
> <jacobdobner@y...> wrote:
> >
> > BTW, the point of a zero fret, to my knowledge, is
> to make it
> > so the open chords don't sound open. Probably
> makes the action
> > feel different.
> >
> > That is what I assume. That is why I don't like
> the zero fret.
> > Gotta have the open C, G, and E, chords.
> >
> > --- In , "Brian Neal"
> <bgneal@g...> wrote:
> >>
> >> --- In , "Jacob
> Dobner"
> >> <jacobdobner@y...> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> I am looking at the cover of The Venture's Knock
> Me Out! LP
> >>> right now and there are three Mosrite Ventures
> Model headstocks
> >>> on it. Now the red one doesn't appear to have a
> tradition nut.
> >>> The bass' nut looks colored blue and the
> sunburst one obviously
> >>> has a typical nut.
> >>> However, if you look at the red one's nut it
> looks like it
> >>> doesn't have one and the wood of the headstock
> functions as the
> >>> nut. Look at how it appears to be cut. It looks
> like the strings
> >>> just burrowed in.
> >>> So the question I have is, What does the typical
> Mosrite nut look
> >>> like.
> >>
> >> Jacob: I'm not a Mosrite expert, but they have a
> "zero fret". Can
> >> you see that in the photo? I'm not totally sure
> what the point of
> >> a zero fret is, but I think you don't have to be
> as careful with
> >> cutting the nut (ouch) when you have one.
> >>
> >> Does anyone know if the strings rest on (touch)
> the zero fret when
> >> played open?
> >>
> >> BN
> >>
> >
>
>
>
>
>
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unlunf - 22 Oct 2005 14:17:59

Dave,
I did forget to mention that the cost of replacing a zero fret
was much greater than that of replacing a 'mere' nut. Of course,
that's providing that the fret needs replacing all by itself,
outside of a complete fret job. Some nut materials these days
are just as long-lived as the fret material, so it's anybody's
guess as to which will occur more often. <g>
As for the rest of your piece, I believe you need to stop
thinking in terms of one-off, custom, hand-built guitars,
and start visiting large factories. If you were to consider
the economics of cutting tens of thousands of nuts a month,
you'd wonder why, if each is hand made, then why don't they
cost the proverbial arm, leg, and first-born child? <g>
Or are you telling me that a $1000 Strat really could cost
only $700-800, if the right tooling were available? As a
former process engineer (for only a few years, but still....),
I can't believe that for a NY moment. Sitting right here in
my chair at home, I can see at least one, and possibly two
ways, to make a precision nut cutting machine that will ensure
at least a 0.5% tolerance in material removal. The beauty here
is, if I can think of this, then you can take it to the bank
that someone else already has thought of it too, and that
someone is very, very likely, to be in charge of setting up
such things. (Unlike me. <g>)
I will agree, wholeheartedly, that if a luthier takes the
time to do it right (as you described), then the results
will obviate the need for a zero nut. But outside of custom
shops, where do you find this kind of person? Not in mass
production factories, that's for sure. <g>
unlunf
--- In , dave wronski <stickmandw@y...> wrote:
>
> The nuts installed in guitars in factories today are
> all done by hand. They have tried to find a way to
> machine a nut cut precisely, but it hasn't happened
> yet. The slots are cut with strings on the guitar,
> tuned to pitch with the truss rod adjusted. The gap is
> measured with a feeler gauge, and then tested for
> rattles which would indicate crooked, or lack of
> downward angle of slots.
>
> The zero frets give you the same sound whether fretted
> or open. I think the Fender custom Shop is going to
> make some zero fret basses, possibly.
>
> Also, replacing a nut is easier than replacing a fret
> when it comes to doing a repair.
>
> --- dave
>

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Brian Neal (xarxas) - 22 Oct 2005 15:34:41

--- In , "unlunf" <unlunf@y...> wrote:
>
> As for the rest of your piece, I believe you need to stop
> thinking in terms of one-off, custom, hand-built guitars,
> and start visiting large factories. If you were to consider
> the economics of cutting tens of thousands of nuts a month,
> you'd wonder why, if each is hand made, then why don't they
> cost the proverbial arm, leg, and first-born child? <g>
Ahh...dude...Dave works at Fender so I think he knows what he is
talking about...
BN

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dave wronski (stickmandw) - 22 Oct 2005 16:39:20

I work for Fender, and we ship hundresds per day...I
cant say exact #, and all are hand cut and shaped
except for the floyds, and roller nuts. Im driving, so
I cant go into detail.
~dave
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unlunf - 22 Oct 2005 23:27:56

Brian,
So the magic question becomes, now that I've made my brag,
how long do you think it will be before someone comes
knocking on my door, looking to call my bluff? Feel free
to start a betting pool. <g>
Hint: I'm just a small frog in the very large pond of
engineers. I would not recommend holding one's breath
waiting until 'they' get around to seeing if I truly can
come up with the tooling to make a more accurate nut. <g>
unlunf
--- In , "Brian Neal" <bgneal@g...> wrote:
>
> Ahh...dude...Dave works at Fender so I think he knows what he is
> talking about...
>
> BN
>

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