Dead/Zero fret.

Digger

I'm at the fretting stage and am not sure about the dead fret. Should it be a shade higher than the rest?
Any help here would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Josh Hegg

You set your open string action with the zero fret. Leaving it high and then leveling the rest is what you want to do. Then after you get the bridge done and you are ready to set the action you work the zero fret to where you like it.

Cheers,
Josh

sockeye

It's fine for the zero fret to be the exact same height as the other frets, as long as the neck & frets are in good shape (e.g. no backbow). Of course the zero fret shouldn't be any lower than the other frets -- but it doesn't need to be taller.

John