Couple crazy questions

[Dave Bagwill]

1 Why the big change from bar frets to modern tanged frets? Greven has used bars:
http://www.guitarbench.com/2010/05/08/2 ... -database/

2 And another crazy question - why not glue tangless frets right to the top of the fretboard?

[John Parchem]

I have no idea but I can have some fun speculating.

My guess is the move from bar frets to modern frets is cost. Less steel, easier installation and easier dressing. Tangs sure make it easier to get the fret in the right place and hold it there. Fret boards swell and shrink with humidity I would be afraid of the ends of the frets popping up overtime if they were just glued on.

[Dave Bagwill]

Ken Parker glued them on top of the fretboard on some of his guitars - catching this experienced repair guy completely by surprise::

[John Parchem]

I think the title of the video says it all.