Basses with diagonal offset frets

[stefandisgust]

Ok a while back i saw these botique basses with frets that were set kind of diagonly.it was genious it made the instroment so easy to play.anyone know what they are?

 

[gottawalk]

They're called fanned frets, and you'll find quite a lot of stuff here if you search around for them.

 

[Diego]

This fanned fret system was invented by Novak (if my memory doesn't fail) and it is the "signature" of Sheldon Dingwall's basses, although many luthiers will do a fanned fretbpoard upon request.

 

[stefandisgust]

thanks this is the one i was looking for

 

[gottawalk]

Here's a couple of interesting articles you can get to from the Dingwall site. They also might explain what the idea behind the fanned fretted system is. Hope it helps.
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[FCM3]

Actually the fanned fretboard is patented by Ralph Novax. (the concept has been around for centuries, however Mr Novax was able to patent the application)
Anyway Mr Novax has a number of technical & layman articles on his website that are worth visiting and reading.
http://www.novaxguitars.com/
http://www.novaxguitars.com/info/concept.html
http://www.novaxguitars.com/info/technical.html

here you can see the fanned frets on a jazz-style bass

 

[smo]

I've always wondered about those fanned frets......

I know this may sound a little ignorant - but i've never even SEEN a fan-fretted bass in real life;
Do any of those basses have slightly-off intonation?
Is tuning ever an issue?
I only ask these questions cos the distances between the bridge and the nut seems so varied compared to a standard bass.

 

[bongomania]

The intonation of frets is based on their ratio relationship to each other and to the nut and the bridge. It's all proportional, not fixed lengths. So, within certain practicality/tonality limitations, it doesn't matter how long or short the distance from the nut to the bridge is, as long as all of the frets are positioned in the correct ratio relationships.

 

[Blues Cat]

 

[:Kapral:]

It's all about the scale lenght, i spoke to one great luthier, and he told me, that basses like that include very long, middle and also piccolo scale.

 

[Akami]

thanks this is the one i was looking for

Nice choice!

 

[John Le Guyader]

I have a Dingwall Super J with fanned frets...the most comfortable bass I have ever played...and eveyone comments about teh sound I get out of it. I highly recommend fanned frets.

 

[BurningSkies]

I've always wondered about those fanned frets......

I know this may sound a little ignorant - but i've never even SEEN a fan-fretted bass in real life;
Do any of those basses have slightly-off intonation?
Is tuning ever an issue?
I only ask these questions cos the distances between the bridge and the nut seems so varied compared to a standard bass.

Tuning is NOT an issue. In fact, my Dingwall stays in tune for weeks and weeks of regular and heavy playing.

There are also no intonation problems. Sheldon's basses are even up and down the neck, and chords sound great on them.

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[J Posega]

I'd love to try a fanned-fret bass out. I've seen so many of them around on the boards, but know I'll never get to meet one in person way up here in the UP of Michigan. Also, I'd be afraid it would ruin playing regular basses, just like playing 6 string wrecked the 4 for me.

 

[Geoff St. Germaine]

thanks this is the one i was looking for

That's my bass. Anyway, like others have already stated, fanned frets are very nice.

 

[Dr. PhunkyPants]

This fanned fret system was invented by Novak (if my memory doesn't fail) and it is the "signature" of Sheldon Dingwall's basses, although many luthiers will do a fanned fretbpoard upon request.

Robert Novak?

 

[fookgub]

Me too...


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Fanned frets are good.

 

[PB+J]

I have a dingwall--the fanned fret thing really works. It's all about string tension--the lower strings are longer, which means they get tned to higher tension, which makes them "speak" better and which makes the feel, from string to string, really similar. It really works, and they aren't hard to get used to at all

here's mine

 

[Prahainspring]

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I think I may need to change my underpants. Is there anymore info on this design (price,etc)?

 

[Blues Cat]

Tuning is NOT an issue. In fact, my Dingwall stays in tune for weeks and weeks of regular and heavy playing.

There are also no intonation problems. Sheldon's basses are even up and down the neck, and chords sound great on them.

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When I tune my ABII-5 w/a Perterson the bars actually stop moving when it's in tune. On my 34" the bars never seem to completely stop moving.