Zero fret

[daveman]

I've never understood the zero fret thing. I own a lot of basses without zero frets (indeed, I have no zero frets) and I've never thought, "Gee, my open strings sound a lot different from my fretted notes."

Why have a zero fret?

[bassduke49]

And at least a couple of 4001C64S in Jetglo.

[aceonbass]

In the interest of accuracy, I don't get why the C64S has a horseshoe in it. Paul's had lost it's magnetism, couldn't be recharged, and was replaced by the current bridge high gain from whatever year RIC fixed his bass. Not putting horseshoes in this bass sure woulda' freed up a few for the boutique. And by the way, Steve, a nut filed like that would be considered poor workmanship today. I don't mind filing the slots for the A and D strings when I switch to D'Addario EXL170's. A zero fret saves a lot of time when setting up a bass properly for those who like low action.

[daveman]

A zero fret saves a lot of time when setting up a bass properly for those who like low action.[/i]

Mebbe so. But not that it makes a difference in the sound.

[deaconblues]

But can the Jetglo (or FG) finish be a "satin" finish?

Yep.

[libratune]

But can the Jetglo (or FG) finish be a "satin" finish?

Yep.

So can we conclude from this that the "S" designation on the 4001C64 model stands for "satin" + zero fret + all the features that Evan mentioned?

[antipodean]

That's right Ron. It would also have a standard 4003 tailpiece (not a gap-tooth) and standard treble pup surround (as opposed to a '60s tapered surround), as well as the custom-shaped body.

Thanks, Evan, that helps. So you are saying that the "S" designation signifies all those features, including the custom-shaped/sanded body, even when it is finished in Jetglo.

But can the Jetglo (or FG) finish be a "satin" finish?

Hi Ron, I thought the JGs were gloss - but pics on your screen can deceive. I have heard rumour of an FG C64S as well. We may need someone with one of the offending items to clue us in!

On Dave's question re zero frets - guitars and basses with zeros have been around for a long long time. It's just a different way of doing things, and as Dane says, it helps making low-action set-ups easier. If this was a Mosrite or Hofner forum, we might be asking "how come people make guitars without zero frets?"

[daveman]

On Dave's question re zero frets - guitars and basses with zeros have been around for a long long time. It's just a different way of doing things, and as Dane says, it helps making low-action set-ups easier. If this was a Mosrite or Hofner forum, we might be asking "how come people make guitars without zero frets?"

So... a zero fret solves the problem of how low to cut the nut slots?

[deaconblues]

Forget what I said...I had thought they were satin but a forum search reveals that both JG and FG are regular gloss CV.

[libratune]

Forget what I said...I had thought they were satin but a forum search reveals that both JG and FG are regular gloss CV.

64sFGforum.jpg

Rats! So if "S" doesn't stand for "satin," what does it stand for? Could it be "sanded body"? Or perhaps the old standby, "special"!

BTW, cool psychedelic couch cover that the FG is resting on. That's the standard backdrop of International Vintage in New Orleans, IIRC.

[deaconblues]

Rats! So if "S" doesn't stand for "satin," what does it stand for? Could it be "sanded body"? Or perhaps the old standby, "special"!

I would say 'sanded.' The c64S is reshaped to look like Paul's post-sanding, and the JG and FG models are rare flukes - almost all are satin-finished MG models.

[antipodean]

On Dave's question re zero frets - guitars and basses with zeros have been around for a long long time. It's just a different way of doing things, and as Dane says, it helps making low-action set-ups easier. If this was a Mosrite or Hofner forum, we might be asking "how come people make guitars without zero frets?"

So... a zero fret solves the problem of how low to cut the nut slots?

That's a valid way of looking at it Dave! This streamlines the manufacturing process by allowing you to machine the nut (or string guide to be more accurate). I have noticed that zero nuts appear to be more prevelant on Italian and Japanese '60s guitars guitars, which were budget to mid-priced fare.

[grazioso]

and gretsch from like 1958 and burns from like 1962 had zero fret too, and carvins until like 1976 etc....i used to have burns/baldwin shadow bass which had about the lowest action i ever found on any bass. why did i sold that one? zero fret is great although well made brass fake thin zero fret/nut with good plastic string thin guide glued to it makes for good replacement too as i have seen that recently on some p bass localy.

[ilan]

In the interest of accuracy, I don't get why the C64S has a horseshoe in it.

I've read somewhere that Paul's bass currently has a horseshoe pickup. I could be wrong though.

My first bass (in 1975) was a Hofner 500/1. When I got my first Fender copy I remember thinking that something looked weired. It was the lack of a zero fret. The first position looked "naked". I guess if you play a bass with a zero fret as extensively as Paul has, and then switched to a Ric, you'd feel something is missing.

[admin]

I have always thought that the zero fret was an interesting idea as it essentially makes every note a fretted one. Is there a downside to the zero fret?