Just finishing up a build, and ran out of Gitty fret mat'l.  I could just order more, but I  want to try something different. Any suggestions? 

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I use 1/16" brass brazing rod, glued into shallow slots, when I don't have fret-wire.

Why bother, fret wire is not that expensive and ideally suited for the job.

I used nails for 2-3 of the build I have done when I first started. I used a bolt cutter to cut the heads off, dremel to make the slot, super glue to keep them in. Also used a dremel to finish the ends so they looked like a fret. Turned out fine.

 

I use toothpicks. Same process as Jon Grinder does with brazing rod, but not as durable. For my playing, such as it is, they work fine.

I've used salvaged copper wire--scraps leftover from wiring my basement, mostly.  Not as durable, again, as traditional fretwire, and a little beefy (easy to fret the note sharp), but looks cool and "works".  I've just built a primitive little gem with eyebolt tuners and frets made of 1 1/2 inch wire brads--didn't even bother to clip the heads, just laid them in slots I cut with a handsaw.  Works surprisingly well.

Sounds nice,lets see a pic.

BT Cohosh said:

I've used salvaged copper wire--scraps leftover from wiring my basement, mostly.  Not as durable, again, as traditional fretwire, and a little beefy (easy to fret the note sharp), but looks cool and "works".  I've just built a primitive little gem with eyebolt tuners and frets made of 1 1/2 inch wire brads--didn't even bother to clip the heads, just laid them in slots I cut with a handsaw.  Works surprisingly well.

This is only my 3rd build but I used a coat hanger and made them into a staple shape, drilled holes in the neck, and tapped them in. After stringing it up I was able to do some extra taps in the areas that buzzed. Sounds great now!

That's pretty slick, I've used coat hangers for everything else, why not frets.


Dwayne Ray said:

This is only my 3rd build but I used a coat hanger and made them into a staple shape, drilled holes in the neck, and tapped them in. After stringing it up I was able to do some extra taps in the areas that buzzed. Sounds great now!

This old mandolin has flat brass strips inserted into the fingerboard.I'll get around to trying this on a CBG build one day

just for the heckofit, i bought a box of blue colored hardened finish nails...thought i'd givem a try just for sumtin differant

 

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