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 Post subject: Fanned Frets
PostPosted: Sat Dec 09, 2017 10:16 am 
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Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Sat Jan 30, 2010 11:54 pm
Posts: 186
Location: Miami, FL
First name: Michael
Last Name: Schreiner
City: Miami
State: FL
Zip/Postal Code: 33183
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
Is there a book or set of plans that can guide me through building a fanned fret acoustic steel string guitar? There seems to be a lot of info out there on this but I need a set of plans or a book that also addresses intonation and internal bracing. I build arch tops, dreds, and harp guitars and would like to incorporate fanned frets as I feel comfortable doing so. I don't want an E book. I need a real book to add to my library or set of tested plans. I don't want to experiment by spending 60 hours on a build that doesn't work or blows up.
Thanks
MIchael


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 Post subject: Re: Fanned Frets
PostPosted: Sat Dec 09, 2017 11:42 am 
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Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:44 am
Posts: 5398
First name: colin
Last Name: north
Country: Scotland.
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
Not sure, but don't think anyone offers plans for a fan fret acoustic.
I looked myself but ended up using Kinkead's OM Plans more or less as per plan, (unscalloped braces, 7mm) and 24.34/660mm scales (cut using this method http://www.doolinguitars.com/articles/fannedfret/), perpendicular fret at the 12th. Drew everything out full scale first of course, mainly for the bridge plate position and shape.
I don't honestly think extreme differentials in scale lengths are necessary for the benefits of fan frets, this one was made to be tuned down to C tunings with 12's (and owner reports it will tune down to as far as a B tuning).
Just make sure the bridge covers the X braces.
Worked out intonation by SM calculator on 1st and 6th string lengths, tacking a hard maple test saddle on the bridge with CA and checking.
Then routed the slot on the guitar.
No problems and sounded very good.


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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.



These users thanked the author Colin North for the post: Durero (Sun Dec 10, 2017 2:51 pm)
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 Post subject: Re: Fanned Frets
PostPosted: Sat Dec 09, 2017 12:48 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2010 1:46 pm
Posts: 2124
First name: Freeman
Last Name: Keller
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
There was a really good article by Harry Fleishman in American Lutherie a while back where he talked about selecting the two scale lengths, where to put the "right angle" fret, how to make jigs for both hand and machine fretting, and even a bit of history of multi scale instruments (I believe the term "fan fret" is copyrighted). I just saw the mag not too long ago - I could look for it if you would like or you might do a search at the GAL site.


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 Post subject: Re: Fanned Frets
PostPosted: Sat Dec 09, 2017 1:12 pm 
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Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2012 4:10 pm
Posts: 272
First name: Chris
Last Name: Reed
City: Stowmarket
State: Suffolk
Zip/Postal Code: IP14 2EX
Country: UK
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Fanned-fret is a US trade mark owned by Ralph Novak. He used to own a US patent for this but it expired some years ago. The word(s) will not be protected by copyright because the phrase is too short and descriptive.

This means that anyone (in the US) can make such an instrument and call it what they like, but can't (in the course of business) sell or market it in the US using that phrase without infringing the trade mark. Using a phrase which is confusingly similar would also infringe.

US trade marks only apply within the US (and don't get me started on how to decide if they apply online!), and I don't know if the mark is registered anywhere else as well.


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 Post subject: Re: Fanned Frets
PostPosted: Sat Dec 09, 2017 1:17 pm 
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Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:04 am
Posts: 5743
First name: Chris
Last Name: Pile
City: Wichita
State: Kansas
Country: Good old US of A
Focus: Repair
Status: Professional
I've noticed some makers refer to it as "multi-scale"...

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 Post subject: Re: Fanned Frets
PostPosted: Sat Dec 09, 2017 1:34 pm 
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Joined: Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:07 am
Posts: 802
Location: Cobourg ON
First name: Steve
Last Name: Denvir
City: Baltimore
State: ON
Zip/Postal Code: K0K 1C0
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Tom Bills has an extremely detailed series of video lessons on how to put together a fan fret guitar. It’s a subscription site, and there’s a pile of really interesting stuff

Google art of lutherie.

Steve


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 Post subject: Re: Fanned Frets
PostPosted: Sun Dec 10, 2017 2:50 pm 
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Cocobolo
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Joined: Wed Jan 08, 2014 7:58 pm
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First name: Leo
Last Name: Pedersen
City: Bowen Island
State: British Columbia
Zip/Postal Code: V0N 1G2
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
This website can be very useful for planning out the fretboard:

FretFind2D


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 Post subject: Re: Fanned Frets
PostPosted: Sun Dec 10, 2017 9:05 pm 
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Joined: Wed Feb 15, 2006 7:37 am
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JSDenvir wrote:
Tom Bills has an extremely detailed series of video lessons on how to put together a fan fret guitar. It’s a subscription site, and there’s a pile of really interesting stuff

Google art of lutherie.

Steve


Steve beat me to it. I finished my first multi-scale in early spring thanks to Tom's course.


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