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Author
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Topic: Why are there frets on squarenecks?
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John Bushouse
Member From:
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posted 18 March 2004 08:11 AM
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This came up on another forum - no answers yet. To quote the original poster,why are squareneck resos fretted? I've seen some impeccable fretwork on squarenecks that obviously took some time to accomplish---but since the string never touches a fret, why go to all the trouble? Maybe a silly question, but maybe someone will clue me in to something I hadn't considered. |
Mark van Allen
Member From: loganville, Ga. USA
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posted 18 March 2004 08:45 AM
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I've wondered that myself, perhaps the earliest builders were splitting their output between lap and "spainish" guitars, and it was just easier to fret them the same way, and thus it's "traditional". I know some players like the way the frets catch light from several directions, making them easier to see in the dark. This is a great question...------------------
Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com
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HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 18 March 2004 09:07 AM
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As many things usually boil down to economics, I'm wondering if it is less time consuming to install wire frets and less costly than wood or pearl inlay, as some custom builders use.Perhaps unecessary design? Why do we have an appendix? At 54, I still have mine. It will be a collector's item soon...  |
Rick Aiello
Member From: Berryville, VA USA
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posted 18 March 2004 09:32 AM
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I like Howard's vestigial analogy (male mammae, pelvis & limb bones in snakes, wings on flightless birds, etc.) ...  Same kinda thing was discussed awhile back ... i.e. The tapering of string spacing from bridge to nut ... left-overs from spanish guitar days ??? I think they look better too 
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www.horseshoemagnets.com |
Steinar Gregertsen
Member From: Arendal, Norway
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posted 18 March 2004 09:48 AM
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Here's the fretboard of my first squareneck.
Look ma' - no frets!!
 Steinar ------------------
www.gregertsen.com
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Jay Fagerlie
Member From: Lotus, California, USA
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posted 18 March 2004 10:16 AM
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Steinar, you're such a tease!
Show us the rest of it!Jay |
David Doggett
Member From: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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posted 18 March 2004 10:17 AM
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I have a 7-string Raybro. The frets are painted on with white enamel, probably with a stencil. That's gotta be as cheap as it gets. Inlays are nice, but fret wire still looks best. Don't know why. |
Russ Young
Member From: Seattle, Washington, USA
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posted 18 March 2004 11:13 AM
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I agree with Howard that it's all about economics, even though painting them on would probably have cost less than actually installing frets. The people who manufactured Hawaiian and Spanish models -- National, Dobro, Regal, etc. -- probably found it easier and more economical to keep the number of manufacturing/assembly processes to a minimum. Building two kinds of necks makes the others seem inconsequential by comparison, though.Something else that strikes me as strange: I've seen several vintage Oahu squarenecks that have compensated bridges and regular-height nuts with metal extenders. The only reason I can come up with is the same -- minimize the number of processes -- but it seems odd to have matched those roundneck features with a square neck.[This message was edited by Russ Young on 18 March 2004 at 11:15 AM.] |
Jeff Au Hoy
Member From: Honolulu, Hawai'i
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posted 18 March 2004 12:03 PM
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Maybe the old squareneck producers looked beyond the bottom line and felt that in the long run, a better-constructed product (i.e. frets instead of paint) would ensure a lasting reputation for quality. Or did businesses not think that way back then? Well, I guess a lot of businesses don't even think that way now, come to think of it. But really, if you're out to make money, why waste your time with musical instruments and force yourself to have to deal with musicians?[This message was edited by Jeff Au Hoy on 18 March 2004 at 12:07 PM.] |
Steinar Gregertsen
Member From: Arendal, Norway
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posted 18 March 2004 01:20 PM
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quote:
Steinar, you're such a tease!
Show us the rest of it!
Okey Jay, you asked for it. It's the one in the middle:  All three were made by a local luthier, Audun Hofseth, in the mid-nineties.
This one was a real challenge to play......... Steinar ------------------
www.gregertsen.com
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Don Walters
Member From: Regina, SK, Canada
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posted 18 March 2004 01:39 PM
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The frets on mine are inlaid MOPcheck here
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David Siegler
Member From: Mill Valley, CA USA
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posted 18 March 2004 06:02 PM
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Forgive me for posting these pics on two forums but they're pretty!
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Got me! But I prefer alternatives.Here are shots of two of my lap guitars that have Paua shell instead of wire. 
more shots here:
Jerry Timm Resophonic and 
more shots here:
Celtic Cross Weissenborn and a Chandler lap steel with plastic fret markers
 [This message was edited by David Siegler on 18 March 2004 at 06:03 PM.] |
Mike D
Member From: Phx, Az
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posted 19 March 2004 06:55 AM
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It IS curious isn't it? Weissenborn and Knudsen guitars didn't have them, but National put them on their first tricones, which were all Hawaiian models.
I put wood veneer on the boards of my squarenecks but there's something to be said for the siffening effect that frets can have on a neck. So it's possible there could be a tonal improvement in fretting a squareneck.------------------
Half-assed bottleneck and lap slide player. Full-assed Builder of resonator instruments.
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Andy Volk
Member From: Boston, MA
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posted 19 March 2004 09:20 AM
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My Bear Creek has flush inlaid rosewood frets and my Benoit has metal frets. There's something about having the three-dimensionality of the frets to help offset the paralax thing that goes on when sighting down the neck that helps you better nail your bar position. But it's subtle thing. Those shell inlays are beautiful, David. |
Olli Haavisto
Member From: Jarvenpaa,Finland
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posted 21 March 2004 07:19 AM
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I`ve found that actual frets are good for positioning the Flux capo.I just put that stick-on felt stuff (that you you use under chair legs etc)on the Flux and the height is just right.------------------
Olli Haavisto
Polar steeler
Finland
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