I'm think this has been a common topic before, but I'm curious if there are any new ideas.

I'm looking for a good alternative to factory fret wire. I've seen various ideas, but none of them seem to work well. Brads and straightened wire are difficult to attach, toothpicks wear out too easy, and bone . . . well, where in the world do you get that?

Every time I've tried gluing something directly to the fret board, the frets finished slightly higher of lower than each other. Ideally then, I'm looking for something that doesn't have to be glued directly to the board. This of course is principle of fret wire, that being, a crown that covers a grove flat on the board.

I've experimented with a couple of ideas. I tried metal push pins, which are really not too different from fret wire. Perhaps that idea worked better in theory though. I also tried shooting staples into the board, and using them as frets, but my staple gun didn't want to shoot them in at the same height.

So, what ideas do y'all have for a decent alternative to fret wire?

Views: 13830

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Hi

One guy uses the stainless steel fro old car wiper blades. look good but alot of work if you dont have grinder i would think.

Dave

Whatever you use, you'll need to level them to get them playable - and that goes for fretwire as well. If you are really accurate putting in regular fretwire, you can get away without having to level the frets's standard practice to have to level the frets after installing them.

As a totally different approach, why not try tieing the frets with nylon monoliflament..an ancient technique, but still in use today - my modern saz has tied nylon frets.

I like that idea. I may try that.

Using Jumbo paper clips has worked for me, just use a coping saw to make a small grove for them and then super glue it

How do you keep the grooves the same depth?

I used 1/16" brass rod for my first fretted neck, a lot of work and you have to glue them into slots on the neck. They have held ok . A couple have popped off during extreme temperture changes but glued them back on. All in all, just more trouble than it is worth. I love to "make" al the parts, but when you can get fret wire for what CG Gitty sells it for, it is kind of a no brainer. If you really want to keep it cheap and "real" try wooden toothpicks, but you still have to either glue or varnish them down and I dont think they will have as much sustain or volume  as steel ones.

ps I like the paperclip idea too!

I have used half a stainless split pins cut on the diagonal to form a point then bent into a staple shape and knocked in to undersize holes drilled just in from the edge of the finder board. Not pretty but not much of what I do is.

Cheers

Peter

for me next best thing to real frets are wooden/skewer type frets that I harden with either wood hardener or soak ends with super glue. Metal just seems to pop off and wrapped frets don't have enough contact with a flat fretboard for me. so far fretwire is easiest and cost effective if you include some of your time invested into a project.

Wade

I get bone for nuts and saddles from the local pet store, dog section.

Haven't thought about making bone frets though, might have to give that a try.

On my last two builds I have used 1/8" brass rod from Lowe's. I cut the slots to half the thickness of the rod on my table saw (the blade has an 1/8" kerf) and put the rod in with Titebond med gel superglue. Use a long wood plank, sand paper and a long straight edge to level. The nice thing with using the tablesaw is the depth of the cut is constant.

Attachments:

They look good. I like the eyebolts as guides too.

RSS

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Forum

crossover guitar.

Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 21. 11 Replies

Tune up songs

Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies

Duel output jacks

Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies

How to Get Your Own Music on Spotify

Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 21. 2 Replies

CB Bass Guitar

Started by Mi Rankin in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Justin Stanchfield Jan 27. 5 Replies

Latest Activity

A.D.EKER commented on Dar Stellabotta's video
Thumbnail

A Cigar Box Guitar Six Stringer Built by Louie Lamanna

"i See Your ready to Blow away the GRAND STADIUM ! tree strings more of DAR DELIGHT !! Shine Girl !…"
5 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Thank you for the kind comments Doug! Glad you liked the Picture !"
5 hours ago
BrianQ. commented on Dar Stellabotta's video
9 hours ago
BrianQ. liked Dar Stellabotta's video
9 hours ago
Southern Ray commented on Southern Ray's photo
Thumbnail

Project Punch!

" Thank ya again Keith!"
12 hours ago
Southern Ray commented on Southern Ray's photo
Thumbnail

Punch Project!

" Thank Ya Keith!"
12 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on AGP #'s photo
Thumbnail

AGP #527 - ''Led-Zep 2''

"This build really strung you along Alan! Reminded me of all my fishing line experiments; a lot of…"
13 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Diggin’ the slow blues. I like that last pic Andries! Look at all those cool guitars. Yeah!!!"
14 hours ago
Dar Stellabotta posted a video

A Cigar Box Guitar Six Stringer Built by Louie Lamanna

This video is the unboxing and the demonstration of a beautiful, six stringer built by Louie Lamanna. Join Louie and I June 15 at the second annual Pittsburg...
15 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
Thumbnail

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

"Happy Easter to you too Andries! The passion is definitely in full swing. Turns out I’m…"
15 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
Thumbnail

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

"Happy Easter Doug ! the Passion is in full swing !"
16 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on Ricky D's photo
16 hours ago

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->