Are quartertones usefull?

[PilbaraBass]

Originally Posted by Joe P

I think you'd have to run the action pretty high though, wouldn't you? The frets would be so close together that the plucked string would always want to buzz against the fret that's just above the one that's fretted, right?

Joe

No, not true. I don't see any reason why the action would need to be higher just because there are more frets. The height of the frets is the height of the frets, there wouldn't be any frets sticking above any others.

[Joe P]

Originally Posted by PilbaraBass

No, not true. I don't see any reason why the action would need to be higher just because there are more frets. The height of the frets is the height of the frets, there wouldn't be any frets sticking above any others.

Not from a fret being higher; from the string going lower (toward the neck) as it vibrates.

Joe

[lemur821]

I don't think there would be much difference. If the string is going below fret level at a quarter tone's distance from the fretted note, then it should go below at a half tone's distance as well. At worst, it couldn't buzz more than a fretless.