New guitar fretting system

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

These guitar frets look kind of funky, but the claim is that they are the next big thing.

http://www.truetemperament.com/site/...php?go=0&sgo=0

[Jim Chabot]

That is really cool! I have heard the theory behind the tempered scale and how this "compromise" takes away from a pure scale. Never realized the extent until I took a look at this fretboard.

Have to wonder if someone will figure out how to rig a processor to a keyboard or an instrument feed. The processor could then determine the proper key using a keystroke analysis algorithm and then appropriately "bend" the notes to remove the effects of tempering.

Could the fight between guitarists who love playing in sharps, and keyboardists who prefer flats be resolved.. I know as a vocalist I prefer piano accompaniment to guitar exactly for this reason. Flats are tempered up slightly and sharps are tempered down. Ab is much more comfortable for me, while G feels as if it is higher.

Neat stuff!

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

Since I play bass, guitar and now upright, none of this is in (pun) "play" for me - but it sure is an interesting innovation. For people who play basically play three chords in whatever key this wouldn't be a help, but for those who play all over the fretboard, I can see how it would make a big difference.

[Benjamin Burch]

Since I play bass, guitar and now upright, none of this is in (pun) "play" for me - but it sure is an interesting innovation. For people who play basically play three chords in whatever key this wouldn't be a help, but for those who play all over the fretboard, I can see how it would make a big difference.

I have wondered for some time why frets were straight lines. I always knew something was wrong there, as varying tensions and wave-lengths ensured it would not hold true through 27 frets.

[Rich Schmidt]

I have no idea what any of this means... but it makes me want to ask our guitarists about it when I see them tomorrow night at band rehearsal.

[David Lyons]

These guitar frets look kind of funky, but the claim is that they are the next big thing.

http://www.truetemperament.com/site/...php?go=0&sgo=0

The next big thing? !!! If this is as good as advertised, it will mean that millions of guitarists around the world will go out and buy new guitars! The only problem is, what do I do with the 8-10 I already have? I will have to just give them away to beginners.

As someone who gets frustrated over wrongly-tuned pianos as well as hard to tune guitars, I am glad that someone is being innovative instead of accepting the limitations imposed on us. Did you know that there are multiple theories for how to tune a piano, and that the accepted norm is different now than what it used to be? When I bought my current piano, it had been tuned by the store owner's daughter. It was the first time I had played a piano in a long time where I could use all the keys instead of leaving off the top and bottom octaves.

Have you ever played a fret-less bass. They say it takes all the worry out of hitting a wrong note. Sorry, I couldn't resist. Actually, I found it difficult to play.

[Hans Deventer]

Have you ever played a fret-less bass. They say it takes all the worry out of hitting a wrong note. Sorry, I couldn't resist. Actually, I found it difficult to play.

Never have, would love to!

[Rich Schmidt]

I have no idea what any of this means... but it makes me want to ask our guitarists about it when I see them tomorrow night at band rehearsal.

I asked. Showed them the website photo of the funky frets. They'd never heard of it.

[Jim Chabot]

I asked. Showed them the website photo of the funky frets. They'd never heard of it.

There is a good description regarding the mathematics behind our modern "even" tempered scale here:

http://www.jimloy.com/physics/scale.htm

This is the theory I was taught when I learned how to tune pianos. Maybe I should have learned how to play instead?

In any case, the more I think about this, I'm thinking that this new fretboard may have more to do with Ben's post regarding the physical characteristics of the strings vs. the tempered scale. I may have gotten thrown off by the use of the word "tempered" in the description.

Guitars do compensate for accuracy over the length of the fretboard by shortening the fret interval distances, I'm guessing that this may not be entirely accurate once one considers that each string has characteristics which differ from the rest?

[Benjamin Burch]

There is a good description regarding the mathematics behind our modern "even" tempered scale here:

http://www.jimloy.com/physics/scale.htm

This is the theory I was taught when I learned how to tune pianos. Maybe I should have learned how to play instead?

In any case, the more I think about this, I'm thinking that this new fretboard may have more to do with Ben's post regarding the physical characteristics of the strings vs. the tempered scale. I may have gotten thrown off by the use of the word "tempered" in the description.

Guitars do compensate for accuracy over the length of the fretboard by shortening the fret interval distances, I'm guessing that this may not be entirely accurate once one considers that each string has characteristics which differ from the rest?

This has always been my impression that with all the very different tensions, there is no way an even fret scale is accurate. Every time I've done studio work and had to play chords with a capo past the 7th fret I usually need to go back and retune my guitar from there.

[David Lyons]

Never have, would love to!

Hans, do you remember Bill Sanders who was from the church I pastored in Missouri? He used to use NazChat with the nickname "justbill". Anyway, he made his own fret-less 5-string bass. He loved it and played it well. Maybe you could make your own?

[David Lyons]

There is a good description regarding the mathematics behind our modern "even" tempered scale here:

http://www.jimloy.com/physics/scale.htm

This is the theory I was taught when I learned how to tune pianos. Maybe I should have learned how to play instead?

Thanks, Jim, for the link. That page has a pretty good description about tempering.

For both guitar and piano, it seems to me that to be as useful as possible, the instruments need to be turned based on the way they are played. This mainly applies to advanced players. But, just as with looks, good sounds are determined in the ears of the listener.

[Andy Mistak]

Imagine how much a refret would cost!!

[Hans Deventer]

Hans, do you remember Bill Sanders who was from the church I pastored in Missouri? He used to use NazChat with the nickname "justbill". Anyway, he made his own fret-less 5-string bass. He loved it and played it well. Maybe you could make your own?

Wow, that is along time ago but now you mention him, yes I do.

But "make my own"! David, I appreciate your trust in my skills but I'm afraid in this area, they are not justified..........

[David Lyons]

Hans, I actually worked with Bill in a custom cabinet shop. I was amazed at what I could do when I did it exactly as Bill told me to. He had the skills to work with wood, then used the internet to find out the details about guitar making.

Anyway, I still use the $100 bass I bought at a music store. It works for me.

[Hans Deventer]

I've got an Epiphone Thunderbird bass. I like it.

[Andy Mistak]

I've got an Epiphone Thunderbird bass. I like it.

I have an epibird, too. I love the way it sounds, but it's kinda hard to balance sometimes.

[Cam Pence]

I've got an ovation....and an esteban/chevy camero guitar (yes it says camero down the neck)...yeah im that guy

[David Lyons]

I've got an ovation....and an esteban/chevy camero guitar (yes it says camero down the neck)...yeah im that guy

So is Cam short for Camaro?

I have had an ovation before! It is a wonderful feeling to be appreciated by the audience in that way. I thought I had an Ovation guitar, but I haven't looked in all my cases lately. My 12 string is an Applause, though it is written too small and in the wrong place to guarantee an audience response.