Forums

printable fret template?

Posted by Truth Instruments on November 11, 2014 at 1:02pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

I realize this may be a little basic. im making a fretless three stringer, but i want to mark the frets of the guitar, just on the top edge of the neck as a guide while playing. however i cant get a decent printout nor do i have fine measuring tools. so if anyone could help me locate a PDF template or other template that is free that would be awesome. im going full cheapskate on this build.

the dimensions of my neck scale are:

27" overall length (baritone scale)

1.5" wide at both bridge and nut

.75 inches between string.

any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Trapper

You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!

Join Cigar Box Nation

Email me when people reply –
Follow

Replies

  • Truth Instruments November 12, 2014 at 7:33am

    Thanks everyone for the help. i was able to find a good template and used the printer at work to print it to proper size. now its just finding the spare time with which to put it on and mark it. (the downside of working 2 jobs, hence why my off time needs to be filled with playing what my wife calls cotton pickin blues. she makes fun of how it sounds. lol)

  • Titch the Clown November 12, 2014 at 6:21am

    I use this one http://www.ekips.org/tools/guitar/fretfind2d/
    The one thing with printing PDFs is to make sure you set the options in adobe reader to actual size. It usually defaults to the scale to fit option. This gives you a scale that is marginally longer or shorter than you need. Cross check with a ruler.

  • Truth Instruments November 11, 2014 at 2:17pm
    Thanks guys I think I'm gonna try pencil marking with a ruler then check against a printed template just so I learn good measuring for the next build.
    • John Sawyer > Truth Instruments November 11, 2014 at 9:51pm

      You can also use your tuner...  but it takes a little longer...

  • Dan Sleep November 11, 2014 at 1:31pm

    You will get a dozen different suggestions and a dozen different opinions. I have used Wfet for years and had no problems with it. It prints out a paper template. You can download it off my blog page here:

    http://www.cigarboxnation.com/profiles/blog/list?user=0o8hi88esk4nb

  • Ron "Oily" Sprague November 11, 2014 at 1:13pm
    Get a cheap metric metal ruler that is marked in mm. Then go to StewMac, and use their fret calculator. Measure all fret distances from the the middle of whatever you are using as a nut. Being accurate to the nearest 0.5 mm is plenty good enough for a fretless. You'll learn to adjust the note closer than that by ear, and may not even notice the difference. Another way is to get yourself a cheap $8-12 electronic tuner, and "tune" the fret markings to the notes.
This reply was deleted.