Nuts, and zero frets, Oh my

patman · July 17, 2015, 05:28:04 PM

I'm probably a heretic here, in that I don't notice tone as much as playability. I like that a zero fret on a Hofner puts the nut at just the correct height.

Dave W · July 18, 2015, 04:15:30 PM

I mentioned in another thread that Gibson was responding to complaints about wear on its "zero fret nut" by offering a prototype replacement. A guy at the MLP forum has received his, and what a fail! It's some kind of casting. It's rough and has pits a couple of good size divots. Here's one of the pics he posted.

I wouldn't put anything like this on a $100 Squier, much less an expensive Gibson.

Granny Gremlin · July 19, 2015, 07:48:26 AM

Just when you think they couldn't do any worse.

Lightyear · July 19, 2015, 10:28:25 AM

Quote from: Dave W on July 18, 2015, 04:15:30 PM
I mentioned in another thread that Gibson was responding to complaints about wear on its "zero fret nut" by offering a prototype replacement. A guy at the MLP forum has received his, and what a fail! It's some kind of casting. It's rough and has pits a couple of good size divots. Here's one of the pics he posted.

I wouldn't put anything like this on a $100 Squier, much less an expensive Gibson.

No surprise here - Gibson has proven that they have zero regard to Quality Control and certainly don't have any corporate culture that would begin to embrace it. It's a top down thing and we know who is at the top.

For what they are charging for their new guitars they could easily machine, CNC anyone?, the part out of a high quality stainless alloy.

Dave W · July 19, 2015, 10:31:24 PM

Quote from: Lightyear on July 19, 2015, 10:28:25 AM
No surprise here - Gibson has proven that they have zero regard to Quality Control and certainly don't have any corporate culture that would begin to embrace it. It's a top down thing and we know who is at the top.

For what they are charging for their new guitars they could easily machine, CNC anyone?, the part out of a high quality stainless alloy.

Exactly. Even if the guitars were less expensive, with the quantity they sell, a CNC machined part couldn't make that much difference in raw cost.

I would forget the zero fret and replace the assembly with a regular nut made of bone or Tusq. You'd have to place the nut where the zero fret portion is, then sand or machine the area behind it to a lower height.

patman · July 20, 2015, 06:16:26 AM

That looks like something from a Danelectro bass, not a Gibson

Dave W · July 20, 2015, 06:48:04 AM

Quote from: patman on July 20, 2015, 06:16:26 AM
That looks like something from a Danelectro bass, not a Gibson

The Danelectro castings are better than that!

patman · July 20, 2015, 08:57:19 AM

I agree-I've had 2 Longhorns, and the quality control was actually quite good on both. Both played well out of the box.