How to make a Kite Guitar: Difference between revisions

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The fret spacing is 1.71 times tighter than a 12-equal guitar. This chart compares it to the standard fret spacing. The spacing between the nut and the first fret is about the same as the space between the 12-equal 9th and 10th frets. Increasing the overall scale length will widen the spacing.

[[File:Kite Guitar Fret chart.jpg|none|thumb]]

=== Choosing the right fret wire ===

The frets should be as narrow as possible, because the frets are so closely spaced high up on the neck. One can always manage to produce the desired note, even with wide frets closely packed. But to get good sustain, it helps to get one's finger behind the fret, so that the fleshy fingertip doesn't overhang the fret and deaden the note. The narrower the fretwire, the easier that is.

If the fretwire is somewhat tall, that aids microbending to sharpen the downmajor 3rds, because one can simply squeeze those notes harder. Taller frets also prolong the life of the frets, since repeated fret jobs over the years wear them down.

===Replacing each fret vs. replacing the entire fretboard===

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 The fret spacing is 1.71 times tighter than a 12-equal guitar. This chart compares it to the standard fret spacing. The spacing between the nut and the first fret is about the same as the space between the 12-equal 9th and 10th frets. Increasing the overall scale length will widen the spacing.
 [[File:Kite Guitar Fret chart.jpg|none|thumb]]
+=== Choosing the right fret wire ===
+The frets should be as narrow as possible, because the frets are so closely spaced high up on the neck. One can always manage to produce the desired note, even with wide frets closely packed. But to get good sustain, it helps to get one's finger behind the fret, so that the fleshy fingertip doesn't overhang the fret and deaden the note. The narrower the fretwire, the easier that is.
+If the fretwire is somewhat tall, that aids microbending to sharpen the downmajor 3rds, because one can simply squeeze those notes harder. Taller frets also prolong the life of the frets, since repeated fret jobs over the years wear them down.
 ===Replacing each fret vs. replacing the entire fretboard===