Keraaazy Baritone

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Wed May 04, 2011 8:21 pm

So, one of the guys on the BCR forum has a missing thumb and had this Ironbird made by a luthier to help his playing. It has fanned frets and some special radius, quite bizarre but looks quality. Check this out..

rps-10 · Post by **rps-10** » Wed May 04, 2011 8:39 pm

You don't want to drop that on your toes

Who made it? looks quality throughout.

damienblair17 · Post by **damienblair17** » Wed May 04, 2011 8:44 pm

I really don't get fanned frets, but that looks pretty cool.

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Wed May 04, 2011 8:48 pm

damienblair17 wrote:I really don't get fanned frets, but that looks pretty cool.

Yh whats the actual reason for them? Apparently they feel fairly similar to normal frets.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Wed May 04, 2011 9:10 pm

I dont know all the details but he's from New Zealand. Gotta take my hat off to him, must be hard playing with a missing thumb.

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Wed May 04, 2011 9:18 pm

Yeah I don't really get fanned frets either. If anything, I love a longer scale on treble strings because that means my fingers get plenty of room at the 18-22nd frets on the high strings. I get a bit cramped with short scales if I'm playing faster leads up there.

rps-10 · Post by **rps-10** » Wed May 04, 2011 10:38 pm

It's to do with ergonomics, bit like those MS ergo computer keyboards etc..

Never tried a guitar with them, but looking at them makes my eyes go funny, bit like an Escher drawing.

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Wed May 04, 2011 10:42 pm

Fanned frets are a combination of ergonomics (the way your wrist wants to bend naturally as you move up and down the neck) and intonation and tone.
The longer scale length of the heavier strings lets them ring a bit brighter, and intonate more accurately, resulting in a more even temperament across all the strings and more accurate note production. I'm not sure how much of the increased string tension comes through with an electric instrument, but you can hear it on acoustics.

Of course it looks kinda pretentious... but most people I've seen using them have been quite talented and skilled musicians.

That baritone is not my cup of tea

Between the points and fanned frets it just screams technique over style/content, but, I admit that's a terrible assumption to make. Dude it was made for probably loves it, and if it helps him work past a handicap, more power to him... If he doesn't, he should work on learning tap style, his thumb wouldn't be a problem there at all.

Sloan · Post by **Sloan** » Wed May 04, 2011 10:46 pm

The frets are fanned to allow for a longer scale on the bass side and a shorter scale on the treble side of the instrument. This solves a few problems:
1) No longer will the B-string sound darker and less distinct compared to the other strings.
2) The G-string retains warmth and normal tension compared to extending the scale of all strings.
3) You will no longer have to adjust your attack depending on which string is being played due to the more even tension from string to string.
4) You will no longer find the tone adjustments for one string interfering with another due to the more even tone across the strings.
5) You will no longer be unheard and ignored by your audience due to the combination of the longer scale low strings and the even tonality across all the strings.

Stuart · Post by **Stuart** » Thu May 05, 2011 4:57 am

Sloan wrote:
5) You will no longer be unheard and ignored by your audience .

It that guaranteed?

drBenway · Post by **drBenway** » Thu May 05, 2011 6:25 am

Sloan wrote:
The frets are fanned to allow for a longer scale on the bass side and a shorter scale on the treble side of the instrument. This solves a few problems:
1) No longer will the B-string sound darker and less distinct compared to the other strings.
2) The G-string retains warmth and normal tension compared to extending the scale of all strings.
3) You will no longer have to adjust your attack depending on which string is being played due to the more even tension from string to string.
4) You will no longer find the tone adjustments for one string interfering with another due to the more even tone across the strings.
5) You will no longer be unheard and ignored by your audience due to the combination of the longer scale low strings and the even tonality across all the strings.

For the bloke with no thumb it's reasonable.

But honestly, If you are bothered by things like that, just get a synth instead.