DarkMatter
Unprofessional Toneologist
Tell me everything.
Any experience with multi-scale/fanned fret instruments?
- Thread starter DarkMatter
- Start date
Pierre
Stratologist
Re: Any experience with multi-scale/fanned fret instruments?
Er... everything?
There's A LOT of documentation out there, so I'm going to assume you're looking for personal experience.
I have a Strandberg Boden 6 with a 25" - 25.5" fan. I don't notice it. Ever. Not even a little. It's too small a fan. The guitar is extremely comfortable to play and I never cramp with it: whether this is due to better guitar positioning, better hand positioning (endurneck) or the slight fan, I do not know.
I have a Kiesel with a 25.5" - 26.5" fan coming in about 10 days, will see if I notice a larger fan.
As you no doubt noticed, these are tough instruments to get a hold of and try out
Wish I could tell you more. I think most people won't really feel bothered by a 1" fan or smaller.
Er... everything?
There's A LOT of documentation out there, so I'm going to assume you're looking for personal experience.
I have a Strandberg Boden 6 with a 25" - 25.5" fan. I don't notice it. Ever. Not even a little. It's too small a fan. The guitar is extremely comfortable to play and I never cramp with it: whether this is due to better guitar positioning, better hand positioning (endurneck) or the slight fan, I do not know.
I have a Kiesel with a 25.5" - 26.5" fan coming in about 10 days, will see if I notice a larger fan.
As you no doubt noticed, these are tough instruments to get a hold of and try out
Wish I could tell you more. I think most people won't really feel bothered by a 1" fan or smaller.
J E C
New member
Re: Any experience with multi-scale/fanned fret instruments?
I've built 4,5,6, and 7 string basses with fan frets, and I've played a number of basses and guitars with fan frets. I also know Ralph Novak of Novax Guitars.
To me, playing them is a little different, but something you can get comfortable with in short order. The biggest difference to me is with bending and vibrato, which I do a lot of. It is different at different parts of the neck due to the varying angle of the frets. In some places you have to bend the string a lot further then normal or less than normal depending on were you are and if you are bending up or down.
They do look pretty d@mn cool!
I've built 4,5,6, and 7 string basses with fan frets, and I've played a number of basses and guitars with fan frets. I also know Ralph Novak of Novax Guitars.
To me, playing them is a little different, but something you can get comfortable with in short order. The biggest difference to me is with bending and vibrato, which I do a lot of. It is different at different parts of the neck due to the varying angle of the frets. In some places you have to bend the string a lot further then normal or less than normal depending on were you are and if you are bending up or down.
They do look pretty d@mn cool!
kramersteen
PowerMetalRaph
Re: Any experience with multi-scale/fanned fret instruments?
I would like to make one......
I would like to make one......
DarkMatter
Unprofessional Toneologist
Re: Any experience with multi-scale/fanned fret instruments?
Yeah, I've checked with several guitar stores in my vicinity and nobody has one. Some didn't even know what I was talking about. I'm very interested in getting one, probably an 8 string, but it feels like such a leap of faith buying without trying. I'm tempted by the Carvin/Kiesel Aries but an Agile would cost almost half as much. With either of these I would be dealing with an 1.5" spread on scales.
Yeah, I've checked with several guitar stores in my vicinity and nobody has one. Some didn't even know what I was talking about. I'm very interested in getting one, probably an 8 string, but it feels like such a leap of faith buying without trying. I'm tempted by the Carvin/Kiesel Aries but an Agile would cost almost half as much. With either of these I would be dealing with an 1.5" spread on scales.
PFDarkside
of the Forum
Re: Any experience with multi-scale/fanned fret instruments?
Seems really useful for basses, especially 6 strings.
Seems really useful for basses, especially 6 strings.
DarkMatter
Unprofessional Toneologist
Re: Any experience with multi-scale/fanned fret instruments?
This is definitely something I was wondering about. Seems like it would be difficult.
This is definitely something I was wondering about. Seems like it would be difficult.
Johnny the Kid
Shaunofthedeadologist
Re: Any experience with multi-scale/fanned fret instruments?
I'd love to build a fanned fret guitar the more and more I research them. I had the fortune of playing an Agile seven string a while ago and fell in love with the feel.
I'd love to try a Strandberg because of how they achieve the fanning of the frets, with the nut being straight and the frets fanning out from there.
I'd love to build a fanned fret guitar the more and more I research them. I had the fortune of playing an Agile seven string a while ago and fell in love with the feel.
I'd love to try a Strandberg because of how they achieve the fanning of the frets, with the nut being straight and the frets fanning out from there.
ChAoZ
Luthier Extraordinaire
Re: Any experience with multi-scale/fanned fret instruments?
http://www.ekips.org/tools/guitar/fretfind2d/
No more excuses
I would like to make one......
http://www.ekips.org/tools/guitar/fretfind2d/
No more excuses
kramersteen
PowerMetalRaph
Re: Any experience with multi-scale/fanned fret instruments?
There will be no excuses once i build my new workshop.
There will be no excuses once i build my new workshop.
DarkMatter
Unprofessional Toneologist
Re: Any experience with multi-scale/fanned fret instruments?
Johnny, you found it to be very easy to adapt to? Do you happen to know the scale spread on the one you played and how many strings?
Johnny, you found it to be very easy to adapt to? Do you happen to know the scale spread on the one you played and how many strings?
treyhaislip
New member
Re: Any experience with multi-scale/fanned fret instruments?
I played either this Agile or something similar by Agile (used) at a Guitar Center and I thought it was a super cool concept for the higher strings but it felt uncomfortable for playing the lower string. Like the idea but I think I'm 20+ years of playing guitar the non-fanned fret way for it to be comfortable for me.
I played either this Agile or something similar by Agile (used) at a Guitar Center and I thought it was a super cool concept for the higher strings but it felt uncomfortable for playing the lower string. Like the idea but I think I'm 20+ years of playing guitar the non-fanned fret way for it to be comfortable for me.
mrpinter
New member
Re: Any experience with multi-scale/fanned fret instruments?
I used to have a Novax Expression series 6 string fanned fret guitar. It was great... I didn't really feel any difference playing it - maybe if I thought about it while I was playing I could tell a little difference in feel, but nothing to hinder playing. I'm still kicking myself for selling it - it was actually one of Ralph Novak's prototypes he made for the Expression series. Here it was:
I used to have a Novax Expression series 6 string fanned fret guitar. It was great... I didn't really feel any difference playing it - maybe if I thought about it while I was playing I could tell a little difference in feel, but nothing to hinder playing. I'm still kicking myself for selling it - it was actually one of Ralph Novak's prototypes he made for the Expression series. Here it was:
Johnny the Kid
Shaunofthedeadologist
Re: Any experience with multi-scale/fanned fret instruments?
Probably a 25.5 to 27 or 28. I don't know which one for sure. All I remember was that the fanning made the guitar more ergonomic (fingers don't naturally spread out straight up and down) and tuning was amazing on it. But the feel was incredible. I'd love to try a Strandberg because I think that certain chords at the 1st fret would be a lot easier than with typical fanning.
Probably a 25.5 to 27 or 28. I don't know which one for sure. All I remember was that the fanning made the guitar more ergonomic (fingers don't naturally spread out straight up and down) and tuning was amazing on it. But the feel was incredible. I'd love to try a Strandberg because I think that certain chords at the 1st fret would be a lot easier than with typical fanning.
J E C
New member
Re: Any experience with multi-scale/fanned fret instruments?
As odd as the Strandburg looks, I actually like the look of them. Would be nice to try one. With the nut being strait and the scale difference between the outside strings being a little less than Ralph's, for a good portion of the neck string bending would be more like a regular guitar.
Now mount those individual tuner/bridges on a 2 point bridge plate! Oh Ya You Know Were I'm Going With It! :cool2:
As odd as the Strandburg looks, I actually like the look of them. Would be nice to try one. With the nut being strait and the scale difference between the outside strings being a little less than Ralph's, for a good portion of the neck string bending would be more like a regular guitar.
Now mount those individual tuner/bridges on a 2 point bridge plate! Oh Ya You Know Were I'm Going With It! :cool2:
Johnny the Kid
Shaunofthedeadologist
Re: Any experience with multi-scale/fanned fret instruments?
Such as that? I know it's not a fanned fret though.
Such as that? I know it's not a fanned fret though.
DarkMatter
Unprofessional Toneologist
Re: Any experience with multi-scale/fanned fret instruments?
The Strandburgs do look cool, but I'd rather have the straight fret in the 7 to 9 range. Its good to see most don't have any trouble with the feel, I'm fairly certain that I'll be ordering an 8 string. The big question now is which one... how much do I want to spend? It's between Carvin and Agile. Huge price difference, uncertain quality difference. I'm sure the Carvin is better, but how much better?
The Strandburgs do look cool, but I'd rather have the straight fret in the 7 to 9 range. Its good to see most don't have any trouble with the feel, I'm fairly certain that I'll be ordering an 8 string. The big question now is which one... how much do I want to spend? It's between Carvin and Agile. Huge price difference, uncertain quality difference. I'm sure the Carvin is better, but how much better?
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: Any experience with multi-scale/fanned fret instruments?
That's never gonna work for me.
My brain is extremely muscle memory oriented (or in other words, I don't use my brain much). I can't even play my then-beloved explorer because it threw off my hand positions. Unless all my guitars are fanned there is no hope.
In computer land I have great difficulty (lack of brain) switching between different keyboards. Kinda annoying. Those kinesis keyboards look really good. Bummer. Laptops. The horror. The horror.
That's never gonna work for me.
My brain is extremely muscle memory oriented (or in other words, I don't use my brain much). I can't even play my then-beloved explorer because it threw off my hand positions. Unless all my guitars are fanned there is no hope.
In computer land I have great difficulty (lack of brain) switching between different keyboards. Kinda annoying. Those kinesis keyboards look really good. Bummer. Laptops. The horror. The horror.
