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06 Dec 02 - 02:11 PM (#842494) Subject: Tech: Mandola fret distances From: Fifer Can anyone point me in the direction of finding a chart with the required fret positions (measurements from nut to fret, and to bridge) for Tenor Mandola, Octave Mandolin, and mandolin? I am sure it's out there somewhere but I just can't find it. |
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06 Dec 02 - 04:47 PM (#842602) Subject: RE: Tech: Mandola fret distances From: open mike i can't help you there, but i have a related question: can anyone explain the difference between a mandola, an octave mandolin and a bouzouki? thanks!! |
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06 Dec 02 - 04:51 PM (#842605) Subject: RE: Tech: Mandola fret distances From: Wesley S Hans Speeks website has some good info on these questions. I'll try to do the blue clicky thing but someone else will most likely beat me to it. |
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06 Dec 02 - 05:17 PM (#842616) Subject: RE: Tech: Mandola fret distances From: Cluin Fret positions always depend on the scale length which can vary from instrument to instrument. |
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06 Dec 02 - 05:24 PM (#842619) Subject: RE: Tech: Mandola fret distances From: open mike here's the blickie-- |
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06 Dec 02 - 05:24 PM (#842620) Subject: RE: Tech: Mandola fret distances From: open mike no wait i mean it is here http://home.hccnet.nl/h.speek/bouzouki/index.html bouzoukis, citterns, and all the family .... |
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06 Dec 02 - 05:50 PM (#842641) Subject: RE: Tech: Mandola fret distances From: open mike here is the musical instrument maker's forum-- likely fret distances would be found here.. http://www.mimf.com/ hope this blickie works-- some of the ones i tried earlier did not... |
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06 Dec 02 - 06:05 PM (#842650) Subject: RE: Tech: Mandola fret distances From: JohnInKansas I don't see a direct line to the information requested, although the link above will possibly get you there. The basic fret positions are fairly simple to calculate, expecially if you have a decent spreadsheet to do the numbers. The key that you need is Beethoven's "twelfth root of two." For an equi-tempered chromatic scale, each fret is the "twelfth root of two" times as far from the bridge as the next higher fret. The "magic number" is 1.059463094 to fair accuracy. In Excel, for example, you would enter "=2^(1/12)" without the quotes. It is probably easier to work from the nut down, so use the reciprocal (1/1.059463094 = 0.943874313. The string length, from bridge to nut, multiplied by 0.943874313 gives the distance of the first fret from the bridge. The distance of the first fret from the bridge, multiplied by 0.943874313, gives the distance of the second fret from the bridge. The distance of the second fret ... etc. Once you've listed all the fret distances from the bridge, it's probably easiest to work from the nut end, so take the string length and subtract each number from it to get the distance from the nut for each fret. The calculated fret locations are typically used, but the extra amount by which you have to stretch the string for "high frets" will require adjustment of the final bridge location to get best intonation. On a mando, with its short strings, the bridge must be "compensated" so that each string course has a slightly different length. I presume that similar compensation is used on the other instruments you're interested in, but I don't have one to look at. I've measured mandos with string lengths from about 13-1/8 to 13-3/4 inches, but I think something around 13-5/8 inch is pretty standard (at least for A style). If you're building your own, you have the option of using just about any length you want, but copying a "known good" design is obviously an advantage. John |
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06 Dec 02 - 06:07 PM (#842652) Subject: RE: Tech: Mandola fret distances From: GUEST Quite astonnised how you've managed to find such obvious information difficult to find? Did you even try to find out for yourself? |
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06 Dec 02 - 06:22 PM (#842664) Subject: RE: Tech: Mandola fret distances From: catspaw49 There are any number of good books and software programs to do the calculations. John did a fine job explaining the idea....It's simply a ratio based on scale length and figured using basic wave theory. Try the one I have listed below and you'll do a fine job......if you mark them right, cut them correctly and remember the importance of good adjustment and bridge compensation! (:<)) FRET CALCULATOR Spaw |