Finally started my first build. It'll be out of a 10 3/4 x 6 1/2 cigar box instead of a box I build myself. Be a 3 string fretless. Got me some bone to cut into the nut and bridge. Got everything going and then hit a snag. Even though it'll be fretless I'd still like to mark the frets. Went to 'fretfind-2D and printed out a 22 fret 24 scale fret board. Just to get a 23 fret 24.5 scale pic. It doesn't matter what I program the thing to give me. It always send me a 24.5 scale neck. LOL So I've got a fret scale charts coming ( thanks to a link by Randy S. Bretz. His link,
Glenn Reither, with the charts I'll be able to get different scale lengths than just the 24 3/4 and 25 1/2 that i have. I do like your idea about using a metal strip for the scales I'll use the most.
YeahDoIt, totally cool idea! But I kinda ned all the frets. Anything to help my playing. LOL
Careful using printed fret scales. Your printer, or someone else's, might not print it accurately. Mine was out by several mm. A better way is to use an aluminium strip. Call one end 0 (the nut). Measure the fret positions with a yard ruler and mark the aluminium with a scribe along one edge. Also mark the bridge position. Number all the frets along with their position from the nut to the nearest 1/10th of a mm. Label the strip with what scale length it is and any other info you might need, like stretch compensation. Speaking of, the EXMI fret calculator (online) has an option for stretch compensation. I prefer their stretch-compensated scale to a pure math one.
You can make a new aluminium fret ruler each time you try a different scale length (I use 610 mm mostly but have a 650 mm one made up in case I want to go back to a fullscale length) and you'll have a nice collection to choose from for different boxes. Sometimes you need a different scale length to fit 19 frets on and still have good pridge position on the box.
Aluminium won't stretch or shrink like paper can.
Hope that helps. Good luck.
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And the stretch compansation option works well.
YeahDoIt, totally cool idea! But I kinda ned all the frets. Anything to help my playing. LOL
You can make a new aluminium fret ruler each time you try a different scale length (I use 610 mm mostly but have a 650 mm one made up in case I want to go back to a fullscale length) and you'll have a nice collection to choose from for different boxes. Sometimes you need a different scale length to fit 19 frets on and still have good pridge position on the box.
Aluminium won't stretch or shrink like paper can.
Hope that helps. Good luck.
I just mark my neck with a pencil, identify the 5, 7, and 12 fret positions by harmonics.
People are really impressed when I open the cigar box and show the insides. They just love that.