True Temperament Frets

[ImmortalSix]

Let's Talk

http://www.truetemperament.com/

The theory is that you intonate the guitar note by every-single-frakkin note and then make frets specifically for that guitar.

 

[St_Genesius]

Re: True Temperament Frets

Body by Leo Fender.

Pickups by Seymour Duncan.

Frets by Salvador Dali.

 

[jmh151]

Re: True Temperament Frets

I saw that a while ago. Actually, Ibanez was having them make a few necks for Steve Vai, and there was hope Ibanez was going to make it a feature on a new JEM.

I'm a big string bender, and I see those necks majorly interfearing with my string bends

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: True Temperament Frets

Open tuning = fail.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: True Temperament Frets

There is a YouTube video floating around with Steve Vai talking about how much he loves them.

Nice idea, but I bet fretwork is a *****!

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: True Temperament Frets

Some pics of the process:

 

[j9fd3s]

Re: True Temperament Frets

that looks really weird, like picasso weird....

 

[3'scompany]

Re: True Temperament Frets

Maybe my ear is underdeveloped, but I'm just fine with straight frets. I can hear when certain chords are a little out of whack if your intonation is off, but if you intonate your guitar correctly, there really isn't a problem.

Also, I firmly believe that in a band setting you'd never be able to tell the difference. I also believe that things actually sound little off if they are too perfect. I bet that on a recording, if I could tell at all, I'd think that the true temper guitar would sound less organic and thinner. I can't make that claim with 100% confidence though, as I've never done the comparison.

All in all, it is an interesting idea, but I'm just fine with straight frets.


Edit: after going through their website and pricing out a neck... double no thanks. I know it must take a lot of time to do, but I just priced a neck out optioned as I would like it and it came to $825. Wow.

 

[Fikealox]

Re: True Temperament Frets

I do believe there's a Caparison Mattias Eklundh signature model with True Temperament frets in the works. I shudder to think how much it'll cost, though.

 

[FretFire]

Re: True Temperament Frets

It looks like they melted the neck.

 

[Mark Cearlock]

Re: True Temperament Frets

Leo would be rolling over in his grave.....If guitars were to come this way, they would have 50 or so years ago.

 

[baritone]

Re: True Temperament Frets

If it is so precise, does that mean you would need a new set of frets if you change string gauges or tunings?

 

[MikeS]

Re: True Temperament Frets

So what happens when you change string brand? String gauge? What about seasonal climate changes that affect a guitar's setup? What about string bends? If you're that particular about pitch then you're going to have to relearn how far a given string has to be bent until it's at pitch. I feel these are legitimate questions, not meant to be antagonistic. I'm sure these issues have been thought about before. Maybe nothing happens. I surely don't know.

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: True Temperament Frets

Looks expensive.

 

[NUNOSLASH]

Re: True Temperament Frets

Vai had a video explaining it, he demonstrates the guitar and plays some stuff, the bendings are not hard he claims, and he also says that the natural sustain of the guitar improves greatly with those new frets...and he shows it...

The problem is...i saw that video a year ago but cant seem to find it now

FOUND IT!!!!

CHECK THIS :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJXKV8v32iQ&feature=PlayList&p=533B9C58318DD7D5&index=81

Starts at 0:45

 

[Petrovsk Mizinski]

Re: True Temperament Frets

I saw that a while ago. Actually, Ibanez was having them make a few necks for Steve Vai, and there was hope Ibanez was going to make it a feature on a new JEM.

I'm a big string bender, and I see those necks majorly interfearing with my string bends

Steve Vai is also a big string bender too and he uses those necks

 

[Petrovsk Mizinski]

Re: True Temperament Frets

So what happens when you change string brand? String gauge? What about seasonal climate changes that affect a guitar's setup? What about string bends? If you're that particular about pitch then you're going to have to relearn how far a given string has to be bent until it's at pitch. I feel these are legitimate questions, not meant to be antagonistic. I'm sure these issues have been thought about before. Maybe nothing happens. I surely don't know.

Again, given how much Steve Vai's style relies on string bending, I suspect these frets have little or no effect on how easy bending is what so ever.
He has been quoted as saying it feels pretty much the same many times.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Re: True Temperament Frets

I think it's a good idea, and would be interested in trying it out if I ever had the chance. I can't imagine that it would be more difficult getting used to than a guitar with a scalloped fretboard.

A guitar with true temperament shouldn't sound thinner, but certain keys would have would have a more distinct tonal colour when intervals are juxtaposed against one another, in terms of accentuation of the harmonic beats, for instance. This is also because certain keys are more flattering to the guitar.

If one was after perfect intonation they'd have to go fretless and work on their ear!