Wow, what an innovation! This product eliminates the critical process of nut filing completely disappear to be replaced by a zero fret which enhances the sound of your guitar. It is not without some challenges in installation, but once completed your guitar just sounds and plays better.
The bone nut was easy to install. I sanded the length and depth with a table sander. The instructions are complete and easy to follow. Four zero frets of different sizes are included in the banjo kit--you try the smallest and work your way up until you have no open string buzz. Use medium viscosity cyanoacrylate (available from Stewmac) so you have time to set the nut and fret properly. I'm pleased with the results, improved tone, and hammer-ons and pull-offs are more defined.
I've used this for over a month and I'm more happy now than when I first installed it. The intonation on my acoustic is better than it ever was...you can fine tune the saddle almost dead on for intonation. One suggestion.....be sure to glue in the zero fret with a few drops of glue once you get the guitar right. I was working on my guitar on and off for a month and didn't glue in the zero fret. I was taking the strings on and off. Every time you reinstall the zero fret it will be in a slightly different place. String against fret will cause a slightly different indentation in the zero fret. You want the string to stay in the same spot on the zero fret.
I play fingerstyle guitar. My favorite guitar is a Gretsch 5420 Electromatic . For some reason the designers at Gretsch moved away from the zero fret. When You string up with 10's or 9's I guess it probably doesn't matter much because the first position will be easy with light gauge strings. My touch and style of playing requires .012's. With heavier strings while the 5420 is beautiful to see and hear the first position was challenging to play. I installed the zero glide following the instructions in the package and to my amazing pleasure the 5420 played like my '66 Nashville used to. I couldn't be happier. Thanks to the people that designed this product. The tone is great the tuning is improved and the first position action is second to none.
Just put one of these on an old beater of a cheap strat-clone kit that I use to experiment with "creative" wiring. Suddenly its in tune up and down the neck and stays that way after using the trem as well. It cost half the price of the kit but it has significantly improved the value of the instrument to me. It required a little sanding of the back of the nut but nothing drastic. I dont have many dedicated luthier tools so the fret wire is not trimmed perfectly (but the look is in keeping with the overall "relic'd" appearance of the guitar). The question now becomes can I get a discount if I order these in bulk?
$39.99
ZS-1 Slotted Replacement Nut for Guitars (Common on Gibson)
Array ( [0] => Array ( [id] => 3001 [model] => ZS-1 [quickbooks_model] => Zero Glide:Slotted:ZS1 Bone [preferred_vendor] => Dalian Mantech Guitar Co.,Ltd (Samsung) [preferred_vendor_list_id] => 80001B3F-1324671482 [base_model] => [labels] => Bone,Black Delrin +$10;Right-Handed,Left-Handed [var_matrix] => 0,0 [visible] => 1 [is_zeroglide] => 1 [is_slotted] => 1 [brand] => zeroglide [type] => products [category] => guitar [sub_category] => gibson [instrument] => guitar-slide [product_url] => zs-1 [old_url] => http://www.zeroglide.com/product/zs-1-gibson-slotted/ [product_name] => ZS-1 Slotted for Guitars (Common on Gibson) [product_title] => ZS-1 Slotted Replacement Nut for Guitars (Common on Gibson) [net] => 18 [retail] => 0 [mapp] => 39.99 [cost] => 4.25 [sellable] => 1 [left_hand] => 0 [stock] => 330 [reorder_point] => 0 [qty_on_hand] => 353 [qty_on_so] => 23 [effective_qty_on_so] => 23 [qty_on_po] => 0 [qty_sold_1_months] => 26 [qty_sold_3_months] => 54 [qty_sold_6_months] => 166 [qty_sold_7_months] => 270 [qty_sold_8_months] => 290 [qty_sold_9_months] => 352 [qty_sold_10_months] => 363 [qty_sold_11_months] => 381 [qty_sold_12_months] => 391 [addons] => 3083,3084,3085,3086 [weight] => 0.10 [length] => 5 [width] => 4 [height] => 1 [product_description] =>The Zero Glide Replacement Nut System borrows the "zero fret" concept to reduce string contact in the nut by up to 93%, increasing tuning stability, playability, and open string tone. It only takes a few minutes to install with absolutely no permanent alteration to your instrument. For Gibson Style Guitar.
Also available in Black Delrin.
Note: May not fit specific models. Check the sizing guide to be sure.
[product_length] => 45.8mm (1-51/64") [radius] => 12" [production_height] => 9.5mm (3/8") [height_end] => 8.64mm (11/32") [fingerboard] => 7.3mm (9/32") [thickness] => 5.9mm (15/64") [fret_size] => L, M, H, J (.035", .039", .043", .051") [string_spacing] => 36.5mm (1-7/16") [string_gauges] => .056", .046", .036", .026", .018", .014" [special_notes] => [product_option_labels] => Material;Hand [product_option_0] => Bone [product_option_1] => Right [product_option_2] => [is_on_forecasting_report] => 1 [img_urls] => 1-front.jpg,2-back.jpg,3-diagram.jpg [alt_info] => zb-2,Unslotted Version [alt_product_id] => 3003 [upc] => 875116002503 [reverb_category_uuid] => 1f99c852-9d20-4fd3-a903-91da9c805a5e [sync_with_reverb] => 1 [always_in_stock] => 1 ) )