Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Doc Oakroot on July 23, 2009 at 5:26am

Draw 'em on with a Sharpie.

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Permalink Reply by RL Mott on July 23, 2009 at 6:30am

Just occurred to me .... on the table next to me is a set of strings I just took off my acoustic . If it's a "slide-only" CBG , mark the positions with a pencil , lay a low E string on the mark(s) (or maybe a piece of coathanger), and hit it with a hammer to slightly groove it (pre-finish). Then superglue cut-off string pieces in the grooves .
Anybody ever tried this ?

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Permalink Reply by Doc Oakroot on July 23, 2009 at 7:57am

Well, it's a little like a lute where the frets are just lute string tied around the neck :)

It should work fine.

RL Mott said:

Just occurred to me .... on the table next to me is a set of strings I just took off my acoustic . If it's a "slide-only" CBG , mark the positions with a pencil , lay a low E string on the mark(s) (or maybe a piece of coathanger), and hit it with a hammer to slightly groove it (pre-finish). Then superglue cut-off string pieces in the grooves .
Anybody ever tried this ?

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Permalink Reply by Dennis Brooker on July 23, 2009 at 8:13am

I sell printed wood veneer fret boards for diddley bows - here's the page link http://www.dbrooker.com/diddly.html - just scoll down a little to see them - Dennis Brooker

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on July 23, 2009 at 9:08am

I use the Wfret program to print out a template based on the number of frets and the number of inches between the nut and the bridge. I cut out that template and tape it to the neck and mark the fret locations with a pencil. I use a small backsaw to notch where the frets will go. Then I use a woodburning pencil I got at Michael's to burn in the frets.

I use a round end for the woodburning pencil and burn in the fret markers on both the fingerboard and the side of the neck.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Becker on July 23, 2009 at 4:36pm

I was thinking about making my next guitar fretless. I saw Grizzley has liquid inlay. I was thinking about making a channel where the frets would go, then pouring in the inlay. I'm just not sure how well the material would hold up. I've been practicing using solder inlay, and considered using that method also. I also use the Wfret program. Instead of glueing the template down, I just lay it on the fretboard and poke a hole through the paper with a thin, sharp nail then use my coping saw to cut the frets.

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Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on July 24, 2009 at 9:03pm

Yep, draw them on...mark with a pencil to get it accurate, use a square to get them...well...er....square, and a decent felt tip marker / OHP pen.

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Permalink Reply by Doc Oakroot on July 25, 2009 at 12:32am

Or, since these are just markings and not frets... draw them on with wavy hand-drawn lines. Be artistic. The purpose of fret markings on a slider is to get you to the right general spot - you're going to adjust by ear anyway... that's the whole point of using a slide - it's microtonal.

ChickenboneJohn said:

Yep, draw them on...mark with a pencil to get it accurate, use a square to get them...well...er....square, and a decent felt tip marker / OHP pen.

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Permalink Reply by RL Mott on July 25, 2009 at 4:43am

Tried it on a scrap piece ... bad idea ..... the hammered/compressed wood in the groove isn't real superglue-friendly . The string pieces would work as "down & dirty" frets, though , if you're sawing grooves with a saw wider than what real frets call for . like a hacksaw blade .
Back to the sharpie ..... 8>)

RL Mott said:

Just occurred to me .... on the table next to me is a set of strings I just took off my acoustic . If it's a "slide-only" CBG , mark the positions with a pencil , lay a low E string on the mark(s) (or maybe a piece of coathanger), and hit it with a hammer to slightly groove it (pre-finish). Then superglue cut-off string pieces in the grooves .
Anybody ever tried this ?

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Permalink Reply by Doc Oakroot on July 25, 2009 at 4:58am

How about cutting the slot for the string with small round file - same diameter as the string?

Or, tie a length of the string onto your hack saw and use is as a blade.

RL Mott said:

Tried it on a scrap piece ... bad idea ..... the hammered/compressed wood in the groove isn't real superglue-friendly . The string pieces would work as "down & dirty" frets, though , if you're sawing grooves with a saw wider than what real frets call for . like a hacksaw blade .
Back to the sharpie ..... 8>) RL Mott said:

Just occurred to me .... on the table next to me is a set of strings I just took off my acoustic . If it's a "slide-only" CBG , mark the positions with a pencil , lay a low E string on the mark(s) (or maybe a piece of coathanger), and hit it with a hammer to slightly groove it (pre-finish). Then superglue cut-off string pieces in the grooves .
Anybody ever tried this ?

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Permalink Reply by Roger Martin on July 25, 2009 at 5:31am

I just do like Doc does, I draw em on the with sharpie using a square to make sure they ARE square.

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Permalink Reply by RL Mott on July 25, 2009 at 5:31am

Good one , Doc . I've used a length of wound strings to "clean out" nut slots before . Never thought about mounting one . I may hafta build a set of "nut files" .

Doc Oakroot said:

Or, tie a length of the string onto your hack saw and use is as a blade.

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