Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Outhouse Instruments on August 9, 2011 at 12:42pm

Even anodized, they will wear too soon.

 

Of course, this is IMHO.

 

 

AFKAM

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on August 9, 2011 at 1:33pm

Aluminum is very soft compared to other fret metals. If you do a lot of string bends that will cause them to wear quicker. If that is all you had, then you certainly can use it. I've seen frets made of waxed string here and even zip ties, but they aren't like the real think.

 

Tell ya what, visit http://www.cbgitty.com/index.php and go'a shoppin'. I usually get the medium/medium nickel silver fretwire but you can get what you want. Also get a Japanese Flush Cut Saw from Harbor Freight (http://www.harborfreight.com/japanese-flush-cut-saw-39273.html) you can't go wrong.

 

-WY

 

NOTE: I see you are in Italy. Check with Ben (CB Gitty) here on the Nation to see if he will ship there.

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Permalink Reply by Gabriele on August 9, 2011 at 6:23pm

Thanks for the prompt replies ..

I also fear aluminum to be weaker than stainless steel.

There is a comparison table that shows some sort of hardness similarity between the two metals:

http://www.fortwayneanodizing.com/aluminum/

It looks like type 3 hard anodizing could be a competitor though.

I found some stainless steel frets sold from a local shop at about the same price of CB Gitty .

Problem is that I am looking to build a non-wood guitar sort of the gittler guitar   , where regular frets don't fit :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gittler_guitar

I would definately avoid any metal compound where nickel is present , for its toxicity.

As a matter of fact I am looking into flatwound steel strings also.

I would set on wood if I found a reliable , cheap source of it somehow.

I guess I need to find this (Japanese Flush Cut Saw from Harbor Freight ) locally , maybe trough ebay ..

How do you cut frets slots on fingerboard without a jig ?

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Permalink Reply by Bob Harrison on August 9, 2011 at 6:28pm

Alloy to soft.... For a low priced fret use nails or any iron , coat hanger wire, copper wire or brazing rod.

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Permalink Reply by Gabriele on August 9, 2011 at 7:47pm

Nails would do.

I wonder how hard would be to cut them to shape.

Of course you would need to glue them to the fretboard .

 

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Permalink Reply by Bob Harrison on August 9, 2011 at 8:19pm

To cut nails I used a Dremal cut off wheel. But it take a lot of work to use nails. I feel standard frets are the best and fastest. I have shown on my page of photos how I used nails. Just go thru all my photos and you will see what I did.

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Permalink Reply by Gabriele on August 9, 2011 at 8:48pm

ok , thanks (very nice gallery btw).

Just spotted, they look very cool ..

 

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Permalink Reply by Seaman Jay on August 9, 2011 at 9:11pm

Aluminium will wear way too fast. You'll spend too much time adjusting and replacing the frets. No fun.

 

Just buy some fret wire - Thomann could be a viable alternative for an Italian builder - start here:

 http://www.thomann.de/it/dunlop_tasti_e_segnatasti.html

Finding an Italian online shop would make it a bit less expensive, tho'

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Permalink Reply by Gabriele on August 9, 2011 at 11:05pm

ok for fret wire , but what sort of wood do you happen to use ?

The other day a guy in a wood shop asked me 3000 euros for a wood plank .. maple .. 

I mean to make a neck not a boat ..

Italy is not USA , there is a goddamn holiday for every working day ..

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on August 9, 2011 at 11:39pm

3000 Euros?!?!?!?! WOW tat is expensive! That is $4000 usd. I could buy a small forest for that and have it cut. Maple here is about $15 (10€) from a specialty wood shop.

-WY

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Permalink Reply by Gabriele on August 9, 2011 at 11:42pm

10  € ... too much daydreaming for me ..

You can find fir or pine for that .

Ebay doesn't help either.

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Permalink Reply by Chuck Dubman on August 10, 2011 at 4:17pm

Bike spokes, many alloys, gauges, shapes. 

Gabriele said:

10  € ... too much daydreaming for me ..

You can find fir or pine for that .

Ebay doesn't help either.

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