Zero Glide nut anyone?

[mixmkr 2023]

I recently bought a Guild electric 12 string. Nice guitar, but it has a very narrow neck, which I like and is actually at 1.653"...slightly larger than the 330 Rics, etc. That said, the string spacing is crowded and seems to be a common topic with Ric owners. There is a UK supplier that makes custom nuts, that will push the outer E strings closer to the edge and narrow up the space between the pair'd octave strings. However, they are brass...not my preference...and actually thin, like the Ric nuts...not to mention shipping to the USA from the UK... not an issue reallly, but the Zero Glide seems like a good alternative. A couple of mm apparently makes a lot of difference. I've experimented with holding the strings with a capo, and I can see that's the direction I want to go. I ordered a Ric nut, but it is unfortunately too small.
The crowding issue is only around the first couple frets with unintentionally muting adjacent strings...like the "cowboy C chord", etc. One of the strings on the open G, is easily muted...if not both.

The Zero Glide nut seems like a perfect solution as they will cut whatever you want (supposedly) or order one of their "pre-cuts" of course. Their 12 string nut is too wide for my Guild and seems aimed towards the acoustic market...at about 1.75"...so the outer "E" strings are too far apart. But their "custom" nuts, looks like you can specifiy what you'd like. The Zero Glide has the advantage that the nut slot depth isn't an issue since the "zero" fret controls the string height coming off the nut. Also a little slop in the width apparently isnt an issue either.

Other than a luthier making me a custom nut, this seems like a good choice, and actually cheaper....not to mention in the Kentucky boonies, there are no luthiers that do quality work, that I am aware of.
I'm open to any and all comments.
Thanks

EDIT... lastly about the luthiers... I live in Western Kentucky, near Kentucky Lake and I'd prefer that route over the Zero Glide...so if anyone knows someone in that area or a 100 mile radius...I'm open. Nashville isn't too far...but seems places like Gruhns or Joe Glasier would be impossible to book...especially while you wait to make it a single trip.

 

[mixmkr 2023]

Here is a picture of the Rickysounds nut out of the UK. My Guild has very similar spacing and you can see how on the right picture, extra space is redeemed and the strings are still not too close to each other, to rattle when plucked.

 

[mixmkr 2023]

 

[Wallaby]

From what you describe the Zero-glide nut seems like it could possibly work. But YIKES - converting to a zero-fret just to get a new nut makes me hesitant. Maybe that's fine, I just have to think about something like that for a while to get convinced.

I think I'd get on the phone and start calling places in Nashville until I could find someone who can take my appointment to tell you the truth.

Or buy the tools and supplies and learn to do it at home? I think a 12-string nut is kind of jumping in the deep end; I do my own nuts but haven't had the pleasure

 

[mixmkr 2023]

the zero glide comes with the zero fret...hence the name, I guess. They give you 4 different zero frets of varying heights to choose from...and it mounts on the nut actually... so you're in effect not altering the guitar at all...and can put your original nut back in too. But yeah...wish I had some network peeps in Nashville that aren't overbooked

 

[mixmkr 2023]

Zero Glide Replacement Nut System

A bone nut with a built in zero fret available for all stringed instruments. With no alteration to your instrument you can hear better tone, intonation, and clarity.

goldtonemusicgroup.com

 

[JustABluesGuy]

Keep us posted on the results!

I have thought about getting a twelve string and a zeroglide, but not in connection with each other.

I have avoided twelve string guitars, because of the extra maintenance, and because I would find one of limited use.

A zeroglide would be very useful for me, and I have more than one guitar that needs some nut work, if not replacement.

 

[Senor Blues]

I tried a zero glide when a neck I had ordered for big bucks came with no nut. I had the Zero glide new in package from a box of stuff I got off ebay. Now all my guitars have one as its so easy to get it utterly perfect.

 

[mixmkr 2023]

Custom 12 string nut has been ordered.
Possibly useful info and will update as I proceed.

 

[runstendt]

I have a zero glide on my SG. Personally, I love it.

 

[Johnny Dubs]

I tried one of these on a player tele over the last two weeks- I mangled the radius while clipping the fret and it wouldn’t sit well* so I ultimately installed a tusq, but I’m going to order a stainless fret set, now that I have experience, and install one on my strat.


*D and G would pull out and ping if I got excited while bending.

Edit: except for the pings, superior experience. I likely would have just ordered the stainless set in the size that felt right had I not a tusq on hand (I ordered them together, I’m learning to do stuff.)