Zero fret height?

[viento]

I make my little baritone ukulele with a zero fret.

Has this zero fret the same height as the other frets or does it have to be higher?

[redir]

Most will probably say to make the zero fret the same as the others and for a Uke that is what I would do.

For some players when I tune a nut up I leave the E and A slightly higher, sometimes the D too, as they like to bang hard on the open chords.

In theory though the nut slots, as should the zero fret, should be the same height as the frets. In practice they can actually go lower since when the string exits the nut it bends upward a bit. So there is a lot too it.

[viento]

Thank you!
I'll try the same one as the other frets.
Before doing this, I remove the small hooks under the zero fret,
that I can take it out again without damaging the slot of the fingerboard.

[Rudy4]

Originally Posted by viento

Thank you!
I'll try the same one as the other frets.
Before doing this, I remove the small hooks under the zero fret,
that I can take it out again without damaging the slot of the fingerboard.

I've done quite a few zero fret instruments and my preference is for the zero fret to be .003" to .005" higher. Since the nut to first fret distance is the largest and because the string actually follows an elliptical path when it is excited the small increase in height can facilitate playing without any open string buzzing against the first fret.

Some players prefer smaller amounts of relief and this is more critical as the relief is lessened.