Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by jabes on July 9, 2012 at 4:55am

you'll probably not go above 16 or so frets ,but put on as many as you like , keep your scale length about 23 - 23.5 . a dulcimer just leaves out the 'black notes' put simply..anyway you'll get the idea.good luck with it,  have fun...

 

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Permalink Reply by Medicine Man CBG's-Mikel Doktor on July 9, 2012 at 5:26am

I usually put btwn 12 and 16 ( depending on neck lenght). since I play slide most of the time, I don't see the need for more. I kind of like the " empty" look as well.

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Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on July 10, 2012 at 3:57am

Yep , you would likely not play much beyond 14 frets or so. It will really depend on the scale length you are going to use and  how you lay out the bridge position etc. I usually end up with about 21 but in reality if I'm that far up the neck I'm prob. playing slide anyway and don't need any frets. More important is having the frets in the right places!

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Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on July 10, 2012 at 4:02am

Dulcimer fret spacing may be a good way to go for your first since they are really easy to get satisfying music out of not having any "wrong" notes. Also means you have fewer frets to install and dress.

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Permalink Reply by Jim Woods on July 10, 2012 at 11:52am

For your first build you may want to consider no frets - Build it fretless, & burn them on with a soldering iron.  Makes building and slide playing easier. 

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Permalink Reply by Randal on July 17, 2012 at 10:39am

Thanks for the reply's, I have started gluing and cutting up pieces of walnut, cherry, and ash.  

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