Sport?
I owned a fanned fret for 6 months before I came to my conclusions about the technology, so your point was inapplicable to this bassist.
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Why don't more builders use fanned frets / multi-scale?
- Thread starter Menorahman
- Start date
Sport?
I owned a fanned fret for 6 months before I came to my conclusions about the technology, so your point was inapplicable to this bassist.
Fair enough, and 6 months is a fair trial. I played, and still play parallel frets, played them since 1968 as a matter of fact. But Dingwall FF basses solve a number of problems FOR ME, I don't care what anyone else plays, to each their own.
You may think that, but many dozens of instrument manufacturers don't agree yet or they would be in the market.
You mean bassists need more of that?! Judging from this thread, I'd say no...You forgot true temperament
Then again, I know some forum people thrive on constant bickering - yes, I also mean the "can't look away" type. Ahem.
Ibanez, ESP/LTD, Dingwall, Mayones, Brice, Keisel/Carvin, Strandberg and numerous other smaller luthiers are all putting out fanned fret guitars. Sure, Fender and Rickenbacker aren't...but I'd be utterly shocked if they ever did.
Actually Rickenbacker had put out a guitar it was either the model 480 or 481 that was a fanned fretted instrument back in the 70's & early 80's.
I'm going to do a slight correction of myself before any Talkbass folks on here want correct me, I researched the Rickenbacker 481 and it has slanted frets not fanned frets that is being talked about on this thread so my screw-up, so sorry.
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In a field of what is hundreds of builders, maybe 8? 9? And most of those are very, very small shops. Of the big shops, fanned frets are a minor part of their business.
I'll rephrase so you follow my meaning. If "a very popular and well known bassist" comes along and also plays a fan fret bass, some builders might move toward manufacturing fan fret basses to cash in on the popularity. I'm aware fan fret electric basses didn't exist while Jaco was alive (although fan fret instruments predate his birth).
My use of Jaco & others mentioned were just examples of very popular bassists, which is why I said "a" Jaco, Flea, Trujillo, Sting, etc. I didn't inferred Jaco, Flea, Trujillo, or Sting chose not to play fan fret basses. Those names were used in place of the phrase "a very popular bassist' because I thought it might be clear how such bassist influence markets. I was obviously wrong in my assumption.
It's ok if folks don't see a point in them for what they do - there probably isn't one. String technology has come far enough to make this ancient practice unnecessary for most. This discussion happens on guitar forums a lot too, where multiscale has a way more obvious effect, or is outright required for extended range.
I can completely see how unnecessary it is to traditional 4 string bassists and 6 string guitarists who tune standard. We'd all have different opinions if we were using 1700s era strings and instruments
I can completely see how unnecessary it is to traditional 4 string bassists and 6 string guitarists who tune standard. We'd all have different opinions if we were using 1700s era strings and instruments
Surprisingly, Rickenbacker did a slanted fret guitar many moons ago. They thought it might be ideal for guitarists who played very fast. It was all the same scale length.
Until makers see that many,many more are buying what are being made,they will not start making fan fret basses.
After a shark has been sighted in the water,people won't go into the water until it's safe and someone else goes in.
After a shark has been sighted in the water,people won't go into the water until it's safe and someone else goes in.
Plucking dissymmetry is what's behind my reservation toward FF. Wondering if there are now specific string sets engineered to address the twangy G, like higher diameter but low mass/density for that string.
I tried it, I recognize the utility it provides for low tunings. For me, I'm perfectly happy with the B on my 34" bass though. I also like to play chords up above the 12th fret which gets pretty weird when the fan is quite wide.
I found this an interesting read, especially as most of it's >6yo and referencing it to shat I see today.
I'm agnostic to FF, but would like to try one one of these days, especially one of the longer scale versions to see if I find I need it enough to buy or build one.
I'm agnostic to FF, but would like to try one one of these days, especially one of the longer scale versions to see if I find I need it enough to buy or build one.
Scrolling through TB, and I see this threadsurrection after about 6 years. I had known of multiscale basses at that time, and even had a little GAS for a Combustion. Later in that same year Kiesel launches their first multiscale bass. I fell in love with the aesthetic and appointments and ordered one shortly thereafter. I was blown away. So much so that I ordered another multiscale from Kiesel a few years later, this time of the headless variety. It's fun to look at the Talkbass time capsule of posts, photos, and gear trends on here. I'm glad I discovered multiscale and took a chance. I play them almost exclusively now.
Bass players are a conservative lot. Just look at the trouble Fender has trying to bring anything bar a Precision or a Jazz to market! And the push back on, "Do I need a 5 string bass" threads, even after 40+ years.
The lack of interest in fanned frets from the majority of bass players is why there are very few models around.
The lack of interest in fanned frets from the majority of bass players is why there are very few models around.
