31 FRET GUITARS

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31 FRET GUITARS

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JBASHORUN

Posts: 1839
Joined: Jan. 23 2005

31 FRET GUITARS

There's this neo-classical guitarist about who has had a guitar specially made for him. Its got about 31 frets, so that he can get up to some really high notes! It was just a thought, but I was wondering if it would be possible to make a Flamenco guitar with lots of extra frets, and if so, what would it sound like? Anyone got any views?

Thanks,

James

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 7 2005 13:21:46

Guest

RE: 31 FRET GUITARS (in reply to JBASHORUN)

Hola

The problem with high notes on a nylon strung guitar is that the high notes have no sustain and the guitar sounds like a bandurria. (Although the classical guitar often needs a 19th fret for the rare high note).

The real problem with flamenco is the cejilla: try accompaning a woman at the 7th fret por arriba, por solea or,worse, por malagueñas, and you have no diapasón.

Instead of more frets, I have been thinking in terms of 14th fret to body or a flamenco cutaway. Not the rubbish you can currently buy, but a proper guitarra de artesanía.

Anders?? What do you think?

Suerte

Sean

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 7 2005 13:42:05

Doitsujin

Posts: 5078
Joined: Apr. 10 2005

RE: 31 FRET GUITARS (in reply to JBASHORUN)

There was a spanish guitar nerd in past. His son learned some basics from me.He collected and sold flamenco-guitars.
He had a guitar with normal fret-number. But there was a 0-Fret-rod.
That was a good invention, coz if you play alaire or with capo in the first..the cuerdas are in different hight. With this thing the cuerdas (pages?) were in the same distance to the fretboard.
For beginners, its sometimes a problem to play without capo. Ok its only a technical bauble... nobody needs it, but it looks cool.^^

And extrafrets. I have problems to use the 17th fret without torture..so some more woud be SM, or not?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 7 2005 14:31:19

PacoPaella

Posts: 163
Joined: Nov. 7 2004

RE: 31 FRET GUITARS (in reply to JBASHORUN)

For what its worth, Manuel Lopez Bellido builds guitars with 0 fret system. There are pics out there...looks interesting to play and from what i hear the guitars sound quite well.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 7 2005 15:11:05

Billyboy

Posts: 389
Joined: Aug. 18 2003

RE: 31 FRET GUITARS (in reply to PacoPaella)

As Jaun Martin once said, the higher up the fret board you go the least flamenco the guitar sounds, same with too much tremelo.
Dave

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 7 2005 19:35:31

Thomas Whiteley

Posts: 786
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: San Francisco Bay Area

RE: 31 FRET GUITARS (in reply to Guest)

Sean;

So true! It is better to transpose rather than use a capo as far as I am concerned.

Tom

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Tom
http://home.comcast.net/~flamencoguitar/flamenco.html

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 7 2005 23:48:04

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: 31 FRET GUITARS (in reply to JBASHORUN)

I have a friend with a 24 fret flamenco. It's a curious guitar, a cutaway, and the very high frets are somewhat puzzle shaped and jut out strangely.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 8 2005 6:58:33

Guest

RE: 31 FRET GUITARS (in reply to JBASHORUN)

Well, I'll build a 14 fret cutaway if someone wants it, but it'll be an all the money beforehand and no delivery back deal, because it would be impossible to sell.....

To be honest, a 0fret does not change string height. There are some quiet straight laws for how high the strings should and can be at the nut. The problem is that when a 0fret wears out, and it does because it takes the whole pressure from the breakangle of the head, It'll have to be replaced, whereas a nut, can be lifted with a piece of veneer or paper.

About the 31 fret guitar...... Yes, there are many ways to make yourself interesting. A guitarmaker from here once commented about 10 string classical guitars, that a lot of classical guitarists have more head than hands!!!!!!

I've got a record with Manuel Agujetas, where the guitarist plays Fandago por medio (A) at the 8th fret. Sounds awesome. High and bright guitar, and Agujetas rasping along in his quite low register.

Nice playing
Anders

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 8 2005 7:34:56

Sammy K

Posts: 30
Joined: Dec. 2 2004
From: Finland

RE: 31 FRET GUITARS (in reply to JBASHORUN)

The Idea behind the 0 fret is that it makes the strings sound same when fretted or open. When you have bone nut the material on which the string lay is different than the fret; So the sound is different. Like Anders said, 0 fret doesn't actually change the string height.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 8 2005 15:52:34

Guest

RE: 31 FRET GUITARS (in reply to JBASHORUN)

Hi Sammy.

I know this theoretical story as well...... I've tried a few 0fret guitars and to be honest, it's not something I will look in to. I cannot hear any difference.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 9 2005 8:38:16