Hi All.

I don't know if you have seen Bairfoot Cajun's fan fretted CBG (shown below and a video at this link), but it seems pretty cool and has gotten me interested in trying to build one in the near future. Before I do, I want to make sure I know how to go about building one.

For my initial research on the topic, I Googled "Fanned Frets" pulled up a lot of interesting links. Here are 3 that I thought were particularly interesting.

1.) Thread on Hand Made Music Club House.

2.) Thread on Mandolin Cafe

3.) Page on Novax Guitars website.


It seems like the rules are rather "loose" as to how you can make fanned frets, but you don't really want to angle them at too extreme of an angle as it will adversely affect playability. You also have to decide where the fret that will be at right angles to the side of the neck will be. Some do it at fret 0 (nut), others do it at fret 12, or fret 8 (like it looks on the Cajun's CBG). If I understand these threads right, all you need is to decide what scale length you want for string 1 (your treble string) and what scale length you want for your base string and then run both those scale lengths through a fret calculator and the plot the series of dots under each respective string, then take a straight edge and connect the 2 dots for each angled fret. Then cut the fret slots with a fret saw and install the frets as per normal procedure. Also, you may want to use one of the fret calculator that prints the fret scale out on paper (like wfret.com) and then align these two scales at fret 12 (or 8 or wherever you want your perpendicular fret to be). Does this sound right to you all? When I get back home to China, I think I might try one. They sound interesting. Any constructive or informative comments or clarifications would be appreciated. Thanks.

-Rand.

Views: 10220

Replies to This Discussion

Hi All,

The FretFind2D fret calculator lets you play around with lots of parameters and graphically displays the results. If you are interested in this topic and want to study the parameters, it is well worth playing with (and free, too). Each parameter is explained separately when you click on the [?] question mark associated with it. Here's an edited screen shot of FretFind2D set with parameters so it would display 4-strings with the perpendicular fret set to fret position 8. A couple of other parameters were also probably tweaked.

So, check it out.

 

-Rand.

 

Sounds right to me. But are fanned frets easier to play? How so? Or do they just look cool? Limitiations on strings isn't an issue anymore, so I wonder what the purpose is now. The DO look cool!

Hi BenBob.

The idea is to improve the bass sound of the bass string(s) of your instruments by making them longer than your treble (and middle) strings. I imagine it works better on 6-, 8-, 10-, or 12- stringed instruments than a 3 or a 4 stringed instrument. In the video that Bairfoot Cajun made of his three stringer, it sounded really nice; making me reconsider it for smaller instruments. I haven't every played one, and so I can only go on hearsay. Unfortunately, that hearsay is such that some people say it's easier and some people say it is harder, and they are playing on different instruments and so, maybe they're comparing apples to oranges. So, for now it's something for us experimenters to play with and not a new hot feature that buyers of CBGs are hot to have. At least one luthier requires folks who want him to make one to come in and play one of his instruments a while before they decide. That may be a good idea as we all want to keep our customers happy.

-Rand.

I see. Let us know how it turns out!

Hi BenBob,

 

Well, I wasn't planning to do a build quite this soon as I am vacationing in the States and my "shop" (and I use the term very loosely) is back in China. I did bring some of my most essential tools with me, so maybe I can build one. I'll just throw together a fairly no frills CBG and maybe do a diatonic fretboard (or neck). Maybe a 4-stringer. Let me think about it bit.

 

Anyways, here how the diatonic fanned fret fretboard layout might look like:

The number of frets I can put on will be 11 or 12 (14 counting frets 0 and 6.5). Treble string scale length: 21", Bass string scale length: 24". The perpendicular fret will be fret 7 (which corresponds to Chromatic fret 12). I might move the perpendicular fret to fret 6 so I'd have 5 frets above and 5 frets below. I'll have to think about this.

Also, this neck is a somewhat longer than I usually build and with the 4th string, it will definitely have more bass than I generally build.

 

-Rand.

I am new to the concept of fret "6.5" - what does it mean/do?

 

Hi Penfoot,

The 6.5 fret has to do with diatonically fretted instruments like the mountain dulcimer (MD) and the stick dulcimer. The MD was developed in the Appalachian mountains more than 150 years ago, a time when people were not formally educated in music. So, the folks who developed the instrument according to the musical traditions they had. As a result the original diatonic scale was a "Mixolydian mode" scale where the notes used and the fret layout on the fingerboard follow this pattern of whole (w) and half (h) steps: w-w-h-w-w-h-w. Now compare this note and fret layout pattern with the Major scales: w-w-h-w-w-w-h.  The difference is that the sixth note is a half step flat in Mixolydian mode. So, sometime around in the 1940s, people started adding a "six and a half fret" to their mountain dulcimers to make it easier to play Major scale (Ionian mode) music. This "6.5" fret lies between fret 6 and fret 7 on the traditional MD scale and it provides a "proper" sixth note needed when playing a song written in a Major scale. Hence the name "6.5 fret". In some tabs and other articles this fret is also called " 6+ " and " 6* ", but all mean "six and a half fret". Since chromatic scale instruments like the guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin and ukulele already have all the "accidental" notes (frets), this was never a problem.

 

While I prefer the "w-h" form of notation, many people learned it using "1 - 1/2" notation...

Mixolydian mode:  1 - 1 - 1/2 - 1 - 1 - 1/2 - 1

Ionian mode:  1 - 1 - 1/2 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1/2

 

Hopefully this answers your question.

 

-Rand.

RSS

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Discussion Forum

Soundhole sizing and design

Started by Habanera Hal. Last reply by Rich Butters Nov 6, 2019. 24 Replies

Adjustable CBG bridge

Started by Jeff Box. Last reply by Thomas Case Sep 4, 2019. 3 Replies

Adjustable sound holes

Started by Jeff Box. Last reply by Jeff Box Sep 9, 2017. 5 Replies

Just intonation/scale

Started by Fomhorach. Last reply by Mike Jun 17, 2017. 4 Replies

Classical ball end strings

Started by John Hopper. Last reply by Moritz Voegeli Feb 23, 2017. 1 Reply

Truss rods

Started by Fomhorach. Last reply by Fomhorach Jun 16, 2016. 7 Replies

Measuring wood ( and/or box) resonances - cheaply

Started by Darren Addy. Last reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague Jun 14, 2016. 7 Replies

An idea that I haven't seen - any thoughts?

Started by Habanera Hal. Last reply by Fomhorach May 4, 2016. 12 Replies

A brand new resonator

Started by Mario Poggio. Last reply by Philip Hale May 4, 2016. 9 Replies

Signing your work

Started by Chuck Dubman. Last reply by G.S. Monroe Dec 21, 2015. 17 Replies

Braces and bars.

Started by Brian Lemin. Last reply by Monterey Mar 20, 2015. 8 Replies

Nonadjustable truss rod

Started by Scott W. Last reply by Scott W Jul 17, 2014. 9 Replies

Builders tricks

Started by Lee Martin. Last reply by Wichita Sam Apr 3, 2014. 4 Replies

Making a brass tailpiece

Started by Tim Mac. Last reply by Better Trees Jan 15, 2014. 3 Replies

Resonator cone and coverplate

Started by Keith Weser. Last reply by Mario Poggio Nov 29, 2013. 9 Replies

Neck dovetail

Started by Jillian Holladay. Last reply by Jillian Holladay Jul 23, 2013. 12 Replies

Neck Angle

Started by Wayne Bigler. Last reply by Wayne Bigler Jul 12, 2013. 5 Replies

"Testing" a box for bridge placement

Started by Roadkill a.k.a. John Maw. Last reply by Mark Bliss Jul 10, 2013. 163 Replies

Bridge attachment comparison.

Started by MichaelS Country Boy Guitars. Last reply by StarrCBGs(Donovan) Jul 10, 2013. 19 Replies

fret board material

Started by Sam Fontenot. Last reply by StarrCBGs(Donovan) Jul 10, 2013. 17 Replies

Latest Activity

Doug Thorsvik posted a video

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

Cigar Box Guitar Slingers - Spokane, 195th Zoom Mtg 03/25/24. Only 1-finger chords, free songbooks here: https://www.cbgslinger.com/download CBG SOF Songbook...
41 minutes ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Thank you Poorness ! for loving it ! appreciated!"
17 hours ago
Southern Ray replied to Timothy Hunter's discussion just came accross this pickup idea on youtube.
" Very interesting. Thank you Timothy!"
17 hours ago
Kent Thurston updated their profile
18 hours ago
Southern Ray posted a photo

Punch Project!

She now sports gold metal CBGitty knobs, speaker and an Artec 2.5 watt speaker. Finished this in…
18 hours ago
Southern Ray posted a photo

Project Punch!

Gonna finally get back on this long-delayed project that is more than half complete. (The matching…
18 hours ago
Poorness Studios liked A.D.EKER's video
20 hours ago
BrianQ. left a comment for Rob (Uker) Porras
"Hope this helps?"
21 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Dueling Flatheads

"I appreciate the kind words Papa D! I have always loved the look of these cigar boxes. Glad to have…"
23 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
yesterday
A.D.EKER posted a video

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

The recorded History By Alan Lomax for the library of Congres of the Blues, from Mc Kinley Morganfield (Aka Muddy Waters) the in this take recorded Tribute ...
yesterday
Papa D commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Dueling Flatheads

"Beautiful..Nice work Doug.."
yesterday

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->