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Re: Fret Slot position accuracy?

Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 6:02 pm
by Kevin in California
Here is the set up.

Re: Fret Slot position accuracy?

Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 6:27 pm
by ken cierp
Or instead of the $40 LMII two scale template you could get the two separate KMG templates (both for) for $22 --exact same ones we use for our production operation -- just a thought. Kevin you still need to add a clamp to that setup (voice of experience) the stabilization will be a quantum improvement!

Re: Fret Slot position accuracy?

Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 7:42 pm
by Kevin in California
Ahhh, Ken you have a better deal!
My miter box is screwed down onto the bench. Nothing moves :)

Re: Fret Slot position accuracy?

Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 8:43 pm
by ken cierp
Clamping the board and template to the miter box is the magic -- try it you'll like it.

Re: Fret Slot position accuracy?

Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2014 10:59 am
by Kevin in California
Ah so......... I will try it :)

Re: Fret Slot position accuracy?

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2014 11:48 am
by Herman
Jim, about the cents: It refers to the distance between two semitones, and 1 cent is 1/100 of the distance.
At the first fret 1 cent would be about 0.014",
but at the 12th fret 0.007". So up the neck it is more critical.
Herman

Re: Fret Slot position accuracy?

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2014 12:29 pm
by Jim Ball
Herman wrote:Jim, about the cents: It refers to the distance between two semitones, and 1 cent is 1/100 of the distance.
At the first fret 1 cent would be about 0.014",
but at the 12th fret 0.007". So up the neck it is more critical.
Herman
Thanks. That's good information! I knew a cent is 1/100th of a semitone, but did not know how that translated into linear distance on a fingerboard. None of the fret slots I cut on the mountain dulcimer fingerboards are off the ideal position line by more than 0.015" - 0.020" I think I can improve on that with practice, but I doubt I will ever get "perfect" without machine-made templates and miter systems. Even then, it will not be "perfect," but only as good as the accuracy of the system and my use of it.