Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Richard Sanabia on August 10, 2009 at 5:58am

You can buy templates from Stewart MacDonald, (Stewmac.com), and use it with a little miter box. Or you can use their free calculator on their site, which will give you accurate distances. You will have to ignore the 1/2 steps to use it for diatonic tuning. Before I used a hard template and miter box I would mark some sticky back label paper, making sure the calibrations were correct, then stick them on the fret board, and cut away, using a cheap miter box from Home Depot. The fret spacing is critical, and it is too easy to mess up if you try to measure as you go along. Measure from the zero fret, not from fret to fret.

Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on August 10, 2009 at 6:27am

You and me, both, Lucky. I had one once, FretFind2D, but last time I tried it, the PDF was wonky.

http://www.fretfind.ekips.org/original_tools/newFretfind.php

Can you make it work?

Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on August 10, 2009 at 9:06am

Okay, I got this working, but be sure you ask for a "multiple page" pdf file on the results page. You'll have to tape together your two/three pages, checking with a metal ruler to be sure your frets end up okay over the page break. Then save your template, so you don't have to go through that again!

Leave off fret #1, 3, 6, 8 and 10 (leaving on #10 is traditional, but I take it off. Keeping it simple.

Diane said:

You and me, both, Lucky. I had one once, FretFind2D, but last time I tried it, the PDF was wonky.

http://www.fretfind.ekips.org/original_tools/newFretfind.php

Can you make it work?

Permalink Reply by Lucky on August 11, 2009 at 1:24am

Thanks Diane, I did make it work, now I have to see if my printer will cooperate. if it does I thnk I'll go back and trya few non traditional lengths.

Diane said:

You and me, both, Lucky. I had one once, FretFind2D, but last time I tried it, the PDF was wonky.

http://www.fretfind.ekips.org/original_tools/newFretfind.php

Can you make it work?

Permalink Reply by Lucky on August 11, 2009 at 1:25am

Thanks Richard, lots of good advice here!

Permalink Reply by Lucky on August 11, 2009 at 1:31am

Thanks Ted,
I have been to the stewmac site they have a bunch of my money already. I just find the idea of finding 7.9387 on a ruler a little daunting. The real gem of info here is that they are the same spacing with some left off (now the light is on).I have two successful scales that I use already. Thank you for turning on the light.

Permalink Reply by Lucky on August 11, 2009 at 1:35am

Diane, between you and Ted the problem is solved! : )

I now know which frets to leave off. thank you, all of you, you've been a great help!

I have thee regular necks in the works now, I'll make my next one a dulcimer.

Diane said:

Okay, I got this working, but be sure you ask for a "multiple page" pdf file on the results page. You'll have to tape together your two/three pages, checking with a metal ruler to be sure your frets end up okay over the page break. Then save your template, so you don't have to go through that again!
Leave off fret #1, 3, 6, 8 and 10 (leaving on #10 is traditional, but I take it off. Keeping it simple.
Diane said:

You and me, both, Lucky. I had one once, FretFind2D, but last time I tried it, the PDF was wonky.

http://www.fretfind.ekips.org/original_tools/newFretfind.php Can you make it work?