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Topic: Vertical Fretboards |
Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 2 Oct 2006 11:33 am |
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Has anyone really considered this innovation? A narrow upright fretboard at the tip of the bar may very well excel the horizontal fretboard, and offer many visual advantages. |
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David Wren
From:
Placerville, California, USA
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Posted 2 Oct 2006 11:38 am
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?
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Dave Wren
'96 Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; NV 112; Fender Twin Custom 15 ('65 reissue); Session 500s; Hilton Pedal; Black Box
www.ameechapman.com
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Wayne D. Clark
From:
Montello Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 2 Oct 2006 12:08 pm
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Bill, I get what you are saying. Interesting Idea, I have no idea whether any one has tried it. It would have to be extreemly harrow, there is not a lot of clearance between the present fret board and the strings. Also to consider the out reach of your bar when playing the first string. I'd do some measureing now but both my insterments are unavaliable at the present time. when I read your suggestion I thought maybe a narrow strip of mirror along the front edge of the fret board would work? This Thread should bring some interesting comments, and I would be supprised, Bill if some one doesn't say It has been tried.
MSA D10 8/2
Desert Rose 3/5
Goodrich 120
Nashville 400 |
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Terry Gann
From:
Overland Park, Kansas
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Posted 2 Oct 2006 1:40 pm
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| If its too high the audience might only see your knuckles movin' side to side behind the picket fence! |
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Joey Ace
From:
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 2 Oct 2006 2:45 pm
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Bill,
I recall you making and testing such a creature. It was similar to a mirror.
I think I even saw it at a Mass. show a few years back. Do you have pictures to share?
[This message was edited by Joey Ace on 02 October 2006 at 03:45 PM.] |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 2 Oct 2006 3:40 pm
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Joey, thanks for remembering some of the exciting activities that occured a few years back, at the MASSBASH. I was very appreciative when I realized that you were in attendance. I'm still more than happy with my vertical fretboard. I would never consider using a horizontal fretboard as a feature in the future. The horizontal board's inferiority becomes more apparent, with each passing day. Joey, the prototype that you've seen, is an example of a successful probe, to overcome one of the obstacles in the art of playing the steel guitar. |
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Michael Barone
From:
Downingtown, Pennsylvania
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Posted 2 Oct 2006 4:10 pm
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Here's a wild idea.
An optical engineer could probably figure out how to setup a floating LED display. Picture some transparent illuminated lines in the air (maybe fret markers also). Actually it would flash at a fast rate, undetectable by the human eye, so it's looks like it's always on. I think that it would be setup with two contraptions, one at each end of the guitar, to guide the calibrated light lines across. As I picture it, it may have to be setup diagonally, from the front, which means (I guess) you would have a small box sticking out from the front about 6", attached to the front left leg.
I've seen something similar at a computer show a few years ago. In our shop we have a hobby device called "Suspended Animation" which is just an oscillating wand that shows an LED display in mid-air, so you can read a 112 character message, or the time.
Far fetched? Maybe an optical expert may chime in.
Can you imagine the attention you would get on stage?
Mike
edited for spelling.[This message was edited by Michael Barone on 02 October 2006 at 05:20 PM.] |
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Michael Douchette
From:
Gallatin, TN (deceased)
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Posted 2 Oct 2006 4:32 pm
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I used to have one of the old GEM Lite fretboards (plexiglass with Christmas bulbs in it) on my Franklin when I was with Tammy... cool blue aura that raised a few eyebrows...
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Mikey D...
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Fred Shannon
From:
Rocking "S" Ranch, Comancheria, Texas, R.I.P.
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Posted 2 Oct 2006 5:04 pm
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[This message was edited by Fred Shannon on 09 October 2006 at 08:35 AM.] |
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Joey Ace
From:
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 2 Oct 2006 5:14 pm
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Thanks Fred. Here's the picture from that old thread.
Yes, I saw it, played it, and it works.
Glad you're back, Bill![This message was edited by Joey Ace on 02 October 2006 at 06:14 PM.] |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 2 Oct 2006 6:21 pm
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| You can also see Bill's "Lucky 7" in that photograph. |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 2 Oct 2006 6:33 pm
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| Oddly, I did it on a lap steel about 20 yars ago when I was learning to play dobro. It was easier to mount on the lapsteel. It was actually quite helpful. |
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David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 3 Oct 2006 3:52 am
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| I made an ersatz one out of some thick plastic posterboard and experimented with it for a while after the original post. Then I got a kitten and knocking it over became one of his primary amusements - now that he's old and jaded I'll have to dig it out and experiment some more. Any visual input is, what, 10% of the equation? I work on playing six and eight note sequences up and down a string and if I can't hear the middle notes, no fretboard in the world can save me. |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 3 Oct 2006 7:27 am
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There are a few things that I'd like to make crystal clear in pointing out the possibilities of varying designs of the HUF. Allow your imagination to run a little off the usual course of thought. There isn't much to hope for, if we close our minds to things that may very well improve our visual capabilities. Guesswork is annoying and rarely pays big dividends. I became irritated by the inability to see clearly, the frets near the 12th fret on reverse glisses. That instigated a train of thought to try to overcome the handicap. Hence, the upright fretboard. |
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Casey Lowmiller
From:
Kansas
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Posted 3 Oct 2006 7:38 am
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I think it would cut down on Parallax... maybe even almost remove it from the equation.
Interesting idea indeed!!!
Casey
------------------
Known Coast to Coast as
"The Man with The Plan"
Carter-Starter, Fender Pedal 800, Fender Champion, Guyatone Double-neck, a cheap Artisan & a Homemade Double-neck!
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Doug Earnest
From:
Branson, MO USA
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Posted 3 Oct 2006 10:00 am
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| And you could have a laser pointer installed in the end of the bar that would point to the fret markers...... |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 3 Oct 2006 10:24 am
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| why not have hidden sensors in the neck that trigger a digital readout on the top of your bar as you approach/cross each fret!! and it would be cool if it set off some bells like at a train crossing when you pass the 12th fret.... [This message was edited by chris ivey on 03 October 2006 at 11:28 AM.] [This message was edited by chris ivey on 03 October 2006 at 11:32 AM.] |
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C. Christofferson
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Posted 3 Oct 2006 12:46 pm
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| ' should probably just try it first but on the topic of better visibility of the frets, has anyone ever used a transparent bar, glass for instance, and if so does it help visually being acurate especially up high where the frets are very close ? |
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Wayne D. Clark
From:
Montello Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 3 Oct 2006 1:04 pm
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Chris, I like the censor idea, however rather than set on a read out on the bar, which is partially covered. How about widening the fret board so that when the bar is over the fred the censor reflects off the bar and sets of a light on the fret, which would be visable beyond the bar on the extend fret board. This way nomater what type of bar you may be using it would set of the censor.
MSA D10 8/2
Desert Rose S10 3/5
Goodrich 120
Nashville 400
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 3 Oct 2006 4:27 pm
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| okeedokee |
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Fred Shannon
From:
Rocking "S" Ranch, Comancheria, Texas, R.I.P.
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Posted 3 Oct 2006 6:57 pm
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[This message was edited by Fred Shannon on 09 October 2006 at 08:35 AM.] |
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David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
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Frank Parish
From:
Nashville,Tn. USA
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Posted 4 Oct 2006 2:55 am
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I especially like the one with the censors on the end of the bar and the warning after you go past the 12th fret! I just wonder how that would record? Does that mean all of the tunes played with this new fretboard would have to be train songs?  Just kidding guys. I'd be happy if Carter would just make some white fretboards for my guitar. |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 4 Oct 2006 4:48 am
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Thanks, Fred and David, for the mutual alliance in related interests. Perhaps an erroneous assumption that the upright fretboard, when placed at an improved angle of vision, is thought of, as obtrusive, or imposing. The "rub" of chiding serves as a beacon, to remind me that at best, the derision stems from previous thoughts of the HUF concept. To disagree, is fair play, and hopefully will help to reinforce an interest that will result in gainful exploration.
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Doug Earnest
From:
Branson, MO USA
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Posted 4 Oct 2006 7:43 am
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| I was only about half joking about the laser pointer. It would be easy and cheap to do. In no way was my intention to make fun of someone for trying something new to make playing easier or more enjoyable. We need more "forward thinking" people, and I always enjoy Bill's very intelligent posts. |
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Galileo, Les Paul, Doug Engelbart... Bill Hankey.... Who's to say?