ZB-12F Unslotted Replacement Nut for Guitars (Common on Fender)

Zero Glide ZS-17F

Jul 7, 2017

I purchased a '97 Squier Vista MusicMaster Bass locally. The stock plastic nut needed replacing or filing. I had already pulled the nut off of the MusicMaster and had all measurements noted before replacing the stock nut temporarily. The Zero Glide ZS-17F Precision Bass Precision Bass model specs matched up with the MusicMaster specs. Cool. After my Zero Glide arrived I pulled the stock nut and lightly sanded the nut slot on the fretboard with fine sandpaper to remove any debris or adhesive residue used on the stock nut. Next I slid the Zero Glide nut onto the fretboard. Nice snug fit. The width of the Zero Glide was perfect. My next step was to make sure that the top / flat surface of the nut was flush with the fretboard. This is crucial to allowing the fret to seat correctly on both the fretboard and the zero fret nut. On my MusicMaster this required a very thin shim under the Zero Glide nut. Once the nut was seated properly it was just a matter of selecting which of the fret sizes provided is required for the instrument. In my case this was the longest installation step time-wise. Once you have selected the proper fret, mark the fret and cut with the proper tool. Examine the cut end of the and correct any imperfections due to cutting on the tang of the fret by filing. A small bench top vise with padded jaws and high quality file makes this step a snap. Installation time in my case : - shimming me the nut, less than 10 minutes - selecting the correct fret size, 45 minutes - all filing on the fret ends and top corners of the nut, less than 15 minutes I'm very pleased with the results. The open string notes sound like fretted notes of course, and I was able to achieve noticeably lower action without fret buzz after a setup. I'm especially pleased with the improved note definition of the open E and A strings. I did not check the intonation with the stock nut on the 1st five or so frets before I installed the Zero Glide, but the intonation is fine on the lower frets. My order was processed and shipped promptly and Gold Tone customer service is excellent. Thanks for a great product !

Charlie

Very useful

Mar 19, 2024

My cheap Les Paul-like copy model guitar used to buzz and was effing annoying so I decided to get this on Amazon. And this made the guitar stop buzzing and look very more great Thanks a lot P.S. I think Gold Tone should get their Store on Amazon so that whoever lives outside the US can buy their products easily.

D.I.Y. freak

Fixed my problem perfectly!!

Oct 18, 2020

I was having a very hard time finding the right nut replacement for my mandolin. Finally found this one at StewMac. Have never used the zero glide before, but this one works great. Had a good deal of sanding to do for a perfect fit, but it works great and sound is super on my mando. Thanks guys!!

Kenny Comeaux from

YES there is a Zero Glide nut for a square neck resonator.

Jul 16, 2021

Do you play a square neck Dobro You know that resonator guitar that is used in bluegrass music Then get a Zero Glide for that instrument. YES it works. I have a Gold Tone OB150 5 string banjo where I was introduced to the ZERO GLIDE nut system. This started a long time love affair with this fine invention. I installed one on a mandolin my Martin D custom that is my number 1 guitar I have one on one of my Telecasters and the rest will soon get them. If it has a nut then it needs a ZERO GLIDE nut. This is very easy to install you can even do the sanding to fit it with a Stew Mac tool that you use to sand nuts and saddles so you will be sure to get a perfectly flat surface for best results. Follow the instructions and you will be able to install the ZERO GLIDE nut even if you are not an experienced Luthier. You can improve tone on a entry level square neck resonator guitar like my Morgan Monroe and any other fretted instrument you install the ZERO GLIDE nut system. You can replace the cone and the spider bridge and the saddles with all the Beard goodies you can get to make your Dobro shine tone wise but DO NOT FORGET the ZERO GLIDE nut system. The one mod that will save you from a world of pain. You will not have to buy a very expensive set of nut files to install and set up a ZERO GLIDE nut system because it is not required unless you get one without slots for a custom job. The nut is bone and the fret wire is metal sometimes stainless steel so you are actually adding to your tone and you take away the usual nut issues with a Zero Glide. Everything I put a ZERO GLIDE nut system on plays much better and sounds much better too. YES there is a ZERO GLIDE nut for your Dobro and just about everything else. Need something custom ZERO GLIDE can help with custom nuts.

Ray Lawrence Jr