Fan Fret Question.

[skelf]

[color=#34495E][font=Lato, sans-serif]I have been contemplating the following for a while but not being much of a guitar player I was hoping for some insight from the forum.[/font][/color]

[color=#34495E][font=Lato, sans-serif]Using a program called Fret Find it is possible to draw up various different fret layouts. I use this program to make fret templates for normal fret setups.[/font][/color]

[color=#34495E][font=Lato, sans-serif]So one of the options is to make the bridge the perdendicualr fret which in turn lets you use a normal bridge which seems like a good idea to me. However it does change the layout of the frets compared to what would be regarded as a normal fanfret. So the question is does the layout I am suggesting work for you as a guitar player.[/font][/color]

[color=#34495E][font=Lato, sans-serif]I have attached a picture of the fret layout. This particular fan is 26.5 to 25".[/font][/color]


[color=#34495E][font=Lato, sans-serif] Thoughts would be appreciated.[/font][/color]

[url="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4333/36689298213_c60e197bce_b.jpg"]https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4333/36689298213_c60e197bce_b.jpg[/url][color=#34495E][font=Lato, sans-serif] [/font][/color]

[xgsjx]

I can see why that would work for guitar. It could make chords down the bottom more comfortable & it retains the upper frets in a position that most guitarists are used to for soloing.
I'm still not convinced that fanned fret is something a guitarist needs for tone, unless it is to shorten the scale. They don't need extra length in the lower strings to improve bass, that's us bassists job!

[kumimajava]

Might not be of help, since it's not feedback on guitars - but Novax do provide aftermarket fan-fret bass necks for standard J/P basses. As far as I can tell, it's the same idea as you're describing - perpendicular "fret" is in fact at the bridge.

If they're making them, I presume there must be (some) demand for them... thought I've not seen anyone here or on TalkBass mention using one.

[xgsjx]

[quote name='kumimajava' timestamp='1506579839' post='3379615']
Might not be of help, since it's not feedback on guitars - but Novax do provide aftermarket fan-fret bass necks for standard J/P basses. As far as I can tell, it's the same idea as you're describing - perpendicular "fret" is in fact at the bridge.

If they're making them, I presume there must be (some) demand for them... thought I've not seen anyone here or on TalkBass mention using one.
[/quote]
Dingwall basses were one of the first basses to use them. There's now quite a few luthiers & builders putting fan fret options available. Even Ibanez have fan fret basses.

Many of the fan fret basses have the perpendicular fret about the 9th fret.

Edited September 28, 2017 by xgsjx