S t e v e Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 curved frets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruznolfart Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 Greater tuning precision? Seems simple enough. But I have a feeling it isn't goint to sweep guitar-world by storm. If anything, probably start off at the botique level and possibly take off to a limited degree from there. Kinda like Buzz Feiten and Plek tech. A few builders have been using various non-traditional fret configurations for awhile now, ie. Dingwall basses. Doesn't seem to have spread very far yet, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KL Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 It's been tried before and never caught on. I think if it was great it would have reached the mainstream by now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KL Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 . . . and I've seen a few guitars listed on ebay as having had a 'Pro refret' that looked at lot like that too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfox14 Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 I really don't think this is a "quantum leap forward" but it's good sound technology. I don't think this will ever catch on in the mainstream. Just too far "out there" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest farnsbarns Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 Makes sense scientifically. Now put it in the real world... Does the rest of the band have the same same non-tempered 12 tone scale? No? Oh dear! Want to raise or lower your action from factory specs? Yes? Oh dear! Want to change string gauge? Yes? Oh dear! Want to change string brand? Yes? Oh dear! Want to have your frets recrowned several times before replacement is needed? Yes? Oh dear! Want to have your frets replaced reasonably locally? Yes? Oh dear! Want to adjust intonation at the bridge yourself? Yes? Oh dear? Not for me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S t e v e Posted March 31, 2012 Author Share Posted March 31, 2012 doesn't vai play it like it's meant to be in that second demo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 Yeah.. interesting for sure but the article is from 2009 so I doubt it will catch on any time soon unless maybe Gibson, Fender and the like all start using it.. Plus maybe for people like Steve Vai its worth it cos they are perfectionists.. I think most rockers for instance couldnt care less about such small details they just pick up and play :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveinspain Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 Sometimes you need to be slightly out to Rock... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WahKeen Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 <_< Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavsrock08 Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 Its cool. Its a good idea. I would try it but in the end, its probably just a good idea. Nothing more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyMoon Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 I think it's an amazing idea and I get how it works, however ...having him demo it is like having Wayne Gretzky demo a new hockey stick...how will this pan out for beginners and average players? I can appreciate the idea but I think I still prefer the old way, but,...I am not Steve, or Jimmy or... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 . Very old knowledge. It is why some stringed instruments have no frets. But it is interesting that a big name guitar company is behind the bent fret idea. I would like to try one. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malchik Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 It's been tried before and never caught on. I think if it was great it would have reached the mainstream by now. Hello, you're on the Gibson forum - the community that complains when Gibson does something that differs from the fifties and sixties. The guitar world is easily one of the most conservative worlds I've seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyMoon Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 Hello, you're on the Gibson forum - the community that complains when Gibson does something that differs from the fifties and sixties. The guitar world is easily one of the most conservative worlds I've seen. That and oatmeal world........I want maple and brown sugar damn it...not that apple and cinnimon crap!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketman Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Yeah.. interesting for sure but the article is from 2009 so I doubt it will catch on any time soon unless maybe Gibson, Fender and the like all start using it.. I saw it back then (I actually posted it here but it's always good to get new opinions). As an engineer you'd think I'd like this, but I kinda like imperfection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 It all has to do with two variables: One has to do with pitch and one has to do with playability. The tempered scale has worked quite well - and is likely to work better when everyone is in the same set of notes. And... I can't imagine trying to play the way I play with those offset curvy frets. I'm sure one might get used to it, but... Besides, I think whether "we" like a robot guitar or a tiny computer inside our guitars, as long as the general shape of things is stable, it's not going to be overly distracting. Even slightly longer or slightly shorter scale is not all that hard to cope with. But curly frets? I dunno. I think it would be as distracting, or more so, than a super-different setup than what we're used to such as superheavy strings set very high if we're used to very light strings set very low - or vice versa. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyMoon Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Those frets are designed for the drug using or booze guzzlin guitar players..once they are as f-ed up as they can get the frets "appear " straight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Those frets are designed for the drug using or booze guzzlin guitar players..once they are as f-ed up as they can get the frets "appear " straight. Right. Yes . . . right up that vodka soaked alley. . B) . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duende Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Hello, you're on the Gibson forum - the community that complains when Gibson does something that differs from the fifties and sixties. The guitar world is easily one of the most conservative worlds I've seen. I think the electric guitar world in general has far too many rules, prejudices and general snobbery for an instrument that is played mostly for a style that is meant to just let it all hang out and not give a **** - i.e rock n roll! The vast majority of younger generation of classical musicians I have met/watched perform, met online, read interviews with are far more rock n' roll. Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duende Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Curved frets? - I want to try an example! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Versatile Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Very interesting.... The temperament issue seems to have settled in to what we are used to nowadays It can be revealing to blow a baroque flute or similar and experience the difference between enharmonic notes Like F# and Gb A lot of 'world music' is played on slightly crude instruments with 'out of tune' notes Which can sound rather good.... V Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrosurfer1959 Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 I played a fender start set up with a true temperament neck i was really surprised by two things. First that it felt fairly normal and the curved frets didn't really feel any different because you fingers hit flat / straight area's. And secondly that sadly I couldn't really feel or here any difference that would make it worth adding to a guitar sure it probably had a more perfect intonation but my ears sure weren't good enough to hear it. Maybe if your at Vai's level you can here a difference but I couldn't Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stein Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 I think it would be interesting to play. I think also, more than we realize, we create our own tuning issues by how we hit the strings and our own individual styles than what this would correct. I also tend to think that it is not really an issue at all, or rather important. I think nearly all instruments or notes played are a little off, and for the most part it adds to the musicality. Vibrato, for instance. It can only make the note more sharp. But, at the same time, the slight sharpness of the note adds to the musical tension and excitement that we are usually trying to express. I do notice something about playing with keyboard players, in the the blending of chord structures often doesn't work. I don't think it is a tuning issue, but rather an issue with certain notes being played together that are too close. Even in perfect tune, there are additional resonances that occur when two notes are played close together. What is interesting, is when two chords played by both instruments do go together, the effect is greatly enhanced. I think it has to do with the ever so slight tuning differences cause by two instruments playing in the same range the same notes, but with different vibration qualities. I don't think this 'bent fret' solves any issues that exist. But I would be curious if the guitar with these could be used in ways or situations that a guitar as we know it doesn't seem to work. Or rather, be used as a 'different' type of instrument. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damian Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 I have those on my Saxaphone..........They're great....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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