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"Compound fret jobs" (fatter frets on the lower register, thinner frets...)

DustyCat

DustyCat

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Can anyone comment on this statement? (5th-6th paragraph down from the top of the page)

" I have one Stratocaster with a “compound fret job,” which means that for the first lower octave (the first 12 frets) I chose to use the tallest and widest frets available at that time (#6100), and subsequently installed some 6105s for the second octave (above the 12th fret). My reasoning was since I have thick fingers, the 6105s would be easier to play, because they would fit my fingers better as I moved higher."

Read more: http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2007/Jun/Don_t_Fret.aspx#ixzz2GqYTgxVw

What about intonation/scale?  ???
 
The frets are mounted in the same places, so the scale doesn't change. Also, the crown of the fret doesn't move, so intonation doesn't change. A lot of things don't change that this guy seems to think do, as regarding fret size and composition. Perhaps working for a company called "Snake Oil" is apropos.
 
Billy Sheehan mentioned in a video somewhere that he uses smaller frets for the last four or five frets on his Attitude basses. I cannot recall why he felt it advantageous, but he did mention something a bit nonsensical (IMO) about smaller frets giving more accurate intonation when he plays up high on the fretboard.
 
Cagey said:
Also, the crown of the fret doesn't move, so intonation doesn't change.
Click to expand...

Some people believe that the width of the fret changes the intonation, but I find this a bit far fetched, when accounting for just how little the change is.
 
line6man said:
Cagey said:
Also, the crown of the fret doesn't move, so intonation doesn't change.
Click to expand...

Some people believe that the width of the fret changes the intonation, but I find this a bit far fetched, when accounting for just how little the change is.
Click to expand...

If the fret's top was perfectly flat, then I could believe that its width would change intonation. But, it's not flat - it's crowned - and the peak of the crown is (or should be) directly above the fret slot. That's what the string contacts, so that's what sets its speaking length. The fret could be 1/2" wide, and as long as the string only contacts it at its peak then the speaking length would be the same as one that's only .005" inches wide. Unless, of course, the fret slots aren't cut accurately. But, that wouldn't be the fret's fault, or its width.

Now, to be fair, back 100 years ago when Gibson and Gretch were making those "fretless wonders" with very short, wide frets, I could see where changing frets would have an effect on intonation. Those frets were essentially flat on top. But, even there, I can't imagine it would be pronounced enough to set anyone's teeth on edge.
 
I was just thinking about possible complications of  combining different fret heights + different fret widths + different degrees of wear depending on the most frequent keys/notes/chords, plus different amounts of pressure from different fingers holding down notes in different configurations/voicings etc. All these things taken into consideration...

If these factos don't add up to discrepancies in intonation,  the compound fret sizes in the different registers might be worth considering. Thinner frets = more room to jam ur digits (shrug)
 
I have a guitar with frets sort of like this. 6140 (.105x.041) for the frets up to the 13th, 6220 (.082x.041) from the 14th fret to the 21st. I love 24.75" scale but those top few frets can get a little tight for my finger tips, so the narrower fretwire gives me an extra fraction of a millimetre. To the naked eye it's nothing, but under your fingers it does feel just that slightly easier. I first had the frets levelled off to feel as tall as the frets on a 1957 Gibson that I was lucky enough to play once, then the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th frets are filed down a fraction more and the 21st is virtually non-existent.

I do keep mine all the same radius, though. Fretboard is 12", nut to 13", bridge is 12" and the frets are done to 11". With a compensated nut, this stops the 3rd string from going at all sharp when fretted at the first fret, everything feels level for barre chords at the lower frets and just slightl rounder by the higher frets, so my fingers don't slip over the strings when bending. Basically, it's the opposite way to the compound fretboards of Warmoth, Schecter, Fender, Mighty Mite, etc. Since I have a very heavy-handed technique, this improves my playing where the Warmoth/other style of compound makes it worse.

I know Prince also has his frets done in a compound style, they're lower at the low frets and higher at the high ones, and they're all levelled to a flatter radius than the fretboard itself is.

Nothing quite like having your frets chosen, fitted and shaped to suit exactly how you play and your fingers on a fret-by-fret basis.
 
Different fret sizes on different parts of the neck makes sense, in a way.  It's no different than the fall away that's sanded and filed. 

But the sizes changing scale?  Reminds me of the Aggie joke where he wanted his pizza cut into 8 pieces instead of 12, because he couldn't eat 12 pieces.
 
Ace Flibble said:
I do keep mine all the same radius, though. Fretboard is 12", nut to 13", bridge is 12" and the frets are done to 11". With a compensated nut, this stops the 3rd string from going at all sharp when fretted at the first fret, everything feels level for barre chords at the lower frets and just slightl rounder by the higher frets, so my fingers don't slip over the strings when bending. Basically, it's the opposite way to the compound fretboards of Warmoth, Schecter, Fender, Mighty Mite, etc. Since I have a very heavy-handed technique, this improves my playing where the Warmoth/other style of compound makes it worse.
Click to expand...

wait...all the same radius? was that a typo? 12, 13, 12, 11? You mean the same on all guitars? I am confused  ???
 
I think he means the following:

The fretboard wood is 12" straight radius.

The nut has a 13" radius.

The bridge has a 12" radius.

The frets themselves are filed so that they have an 11" radius.

I could be wrong though - you're right, it's not the easiest post to understand.
 
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