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Calculating Fret placement.

This is my first build so I apologise for my ignorance.

I decided to put frets on my 3 string slide cbg.

I am trying to figure out the spacing of my frets. I am aware of fret calculators and I figured I have a 26" length. However, I noticed when checking for the 12th fret position with my tuner and slide the placement is different than if I use the tuner and just press the string down to the finger board. The difference is about a 1/4". I realize pressing down the string stretches it to a slightly higher pitch, especially when you have a higher action for sliding. I plan to slide mostly when playing but I will also fret a string here and there too while sliding. So does this mean the length is 26.5" instead of 26"?

Thanks in advance for straightening me out.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by John Sawyer on June 16, 2016 at 2:07pm

You will definitely need to lower your action (String height), you should be less than 1/8" at the 12th fret (more like .1") The fret positions don't change due to the stretch, you push the bridge back just a bit.

If you look at stew-mac's fret calculator, it will estimate bridge position, based on standard string action.

Permalink Reply by the anonymous pick on June 16, 2016 at 2:28pm

when checking with the slide are you above the forward fret ? or inbetween frets as fingering ?

the slide should be above the fret bar .

also measure from the middle of the nut to the 12th fret .. then from the 12th to the mid bridge . the 2 mesurments should match if bridge is in the right spot . . if they do , then measure from mid nut to bridge . that is your scale .

hope that helps .

Permalink Reply by Fomhorach on June 16, 2016 at 2:34pm

String height will stretch and highten pitch.

Quick calculation ... (Scale length x 0.9439 = fret 1) x 0.9439 = fret 2) x 0.9439 = fret 3) etc etc..

Half string harmonic should be at 12th fret.

Anything else is either string thickness, height.

We do what we can with wood and stuff and everything in between is just the blues.

Permalink Reply by Jonathan Rhine on June 17, 2016 at 2:49pm

Thank you, I will definitely test this calculation out.

I've almost resigned to the thought that the frets will be intone either when I press the string down or when I slide directly over the fret but not both. This is because pressing the string down stretches it to a slightly higher pitch. So I need to choose whether sliding directly over the fret or pressing down will produce a true tone. I am inclined to go with the later and that way I get a true tone on fretted notes and I will get used to sliding a little passed the fret to get intone chords. I hesitate to lower the action cause I dont want fret buzz when sliding. Fortunatley I have an adjustable height/length bridge. I was just wondering how most builders deal with this.

Permalink Reply by Fomhorach on June 17, 2016 at 8:49pm

If I had to build frets into a very high action guitar I think I would try using something wrapped around the neck that would act as an adjustable fret.
I would keep all the strings in place and tuned correctly and figure each fret position manually using a tuner working my way up the neck.

I'm not sure if this would work or not I have never tried it. I just thought about it.

Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on June 22, 2016 at 3:45pm