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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on September 6, 2011 at 2:36pm

Check out the beginners videos on my page here:

 

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/video/listForContributor?screen...

 

Basic Neck Layout, and How To Fret A Neck.

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Permalink Reply by hardtime on September 6, 2011 at 3:11pm

Thanks Dan!!

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Permalink Reply by BT Cohosh on September 7, 2011 at 1:01pm

I've seen Dan's video & it's good.

 

I use a template-layout program called Wfret (you can find it through Google), and glue lengths of salvaged copper electrical wire on.  Not as fast as a fret-saw and traditional frets, but looks cool.

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Permalink Reply by Stu74 on September 13, 2011 at 6:22am

I am starting to make my 1st cbg.Fitting frets is my biggest concern before i start.I want it to look as home made as possibleSo i like the idea of copper wire glued on.I was concidering snipping nails to size and using them.

BT Cohosh said:

I've seen Dan's video & it's good.

 

I use a template-layout program called Wfret (you can find it through Google), and glue lengths of salvaged copper electrical wire on.  Not as fast as a fret-saw and traditional frets, but looks cool.

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on September 7, 2011 at 1:09pm

I use Wfret all the time. I have a container with all the templates for the scales I use the most.

BT Cohosh said:

I've seen Dan's video & it's good.

 

I use a template-layout program called Wfret (you can find it through Google), and glue lengths of salvaged copper electrical wire on.  Not as fast as a fret-saw and traditional frets, but looks cool.

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Permalink Reply by BT Cohosh on September 8, 2011 at 1:36am

I keep thinking that rather than print-and-cut the scales every single time I build I should transfer them to something permanent, but somehow I never get around to it.  Funny how it's the simplest things that end up taking the longest to bring around.

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on September 8, 2011 at 1:41am

I just tape them to the fingerboard, mark the positions, and then take it off the fingerboard. I have used the same template 15-20 times already. They hold up really well.

BT Cohosh said:

I keep thinking that rather than print-and-cut the scales every single time I build I should transfer them to something permanent, but somehow I never get around to it.  Funny how it's the simplest things that end up taking the longest to bring around.

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on September 13, 2011 at 6:58am

Stu,

 

A while back I had tried using finishing nails as frets, but I had a hard time getting them to stay glued to the fretboard. I kept finding them on the floor all the time. I finally gave up and went to conventional fret wire.

 

That said, you could certainly use copper wire, though I would think it would wear fairly quickly since it is so soft. Rather than glue it down, you could try drilling small holes on either side of the fret board and bend each end of the copper wire around into a fishhook shape and push it into the holes.

 

Just something to try.

 

Stu74 said:

I am starting to make my 1st cbg.Fitting frets is my biggest concern before i start.I want it to look as home made as possibleSo i like the idea of copper wire glued on.I was concidering snipping nails to size and using them.

BT Cohosh said:

I've seen Dan's video & it's good.

 

I use a template-layout program called Wfret (you can find it through Google), and glue lengths of salvaged copper electrical wire on.  Not as fast as a fret-saw and traditional frets, but looks cool.

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on September 13, 2011 at 8:34am

Stu,

I fretted the necks of my first two builds using finishing nails. I still cut fret slots, then epoxied the nails into the slots, let them dry, then snipped off the ends. I then used a small file to finish the fret ends. No dropouts so far. But I also have fret wire that will be used on future builds.

I agree with Dan: copper wire, even thick gauge wire, is soft, and will wear pretty quickly.

However, Dan's idea of drilling small holes in the neck and fish hooking the wire into them gives me an idea. Have y'all ever seen the frets on a sitar? They are curved, and are tied onto the neck with a notch on each end. The playable strings sit OVER these frets, and are plucked and fingered, much like a deeply scalloped Strat fretboard such as Yngwie Malmsteen uses.

May have to try this fretting technique on a future build: http://www.chandrakantha.com/articles/indian_music/sitar/sitar_maki...

Couldn't really play slide on it, but it might give an interesting tone. Hmmmm...

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Permalink Reply by Stu74 on September 13, 2011 at 9:55am

Thanks oily and dan.
I thought copper wire might be to soft.I am going to have to have a good think about it.I dont want to give into using fret wire if i can help it.

Oily "Strat-O'-Nine-Tales" Fool said:

Stu,

I fretted the necks of my first two builds using finishing nails. I still cut fret slots, then epoxied the nails into the slots, let them dry, then snipped off the ends. I then used a small file to finish the fret ends. No dropouts so far. But I also have fret wire that will be used on future builds.

I agree with Dan: copper wire, even thick gauge wire, is soft, and will wear pretty quickly.

However, Dan's idea of drilling small holes in the neck and fish hooking the wire into them gives me an idea. Have y'all ever seen the frets on a sitar? They are curved, and are tied onto the neck with a notch on each end. The playable strings sit OVER these frets, and are plucked and fingered, much like a deeply scalloped Strat fretboard such as Yngwie Malmsteen uses.

May have to try this fretting technique on a future build: http://www.chandrakantha.com/articles/indian_music/sitar/sitar_maki...

Couldn't really play slide on it, but it might give an interesting tone. Hmmmm...

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on September 14, 2011 at 1:36am

Stu,

 

If you don't want to use fret wire, then finishing nails are just one way. Steel (not copper or copper alloy) coat hangers are another. Ummm, lessee, chain link fence wire...lots of small broken steel drill bits...very fine brass tubing...small hinge pins...

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Permalink Reply by Rand Moore on September 17, 2011 at 10:34pm

Hi All,

This thread reminds me of the way that "Uncle Bob" strings his home-made instruments. On some of his instruments, he takes a single length of "wire" (could use real wire or nylon fish line, etc.) and wraps it around the neck, making sure each fret slot get's its share of wire. Each end is tacked down with a nail. Let me see if I can find a photo or two...  Here you go...The front side of the neck has fret slots cut to accept the wire and are just deep enough to hold the wire in the places the wire should be for use as frets. The next photo shows the back side of the neck:

I remember reading that with real wire, it takes two pairs of hands to wrap it tightly enough.

Also, 'round about now, you should be asking, "But where are the tuners?" On his instruments, he often uses a tail piece that he designed that includes home made tuners. You should check out his website for some real innovating ideas. Here's the link: The Uncle Bob Guitar Project.

-Rand.

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