Fret Calculator vs. Fret Scale

[bobbytouche]

I just started making my templates and used the handy FretFind2d to print my fret positions. Before I go too far, I want to say that the paper didn't stretch or anything during the adhering process. All the other measurements check out perfectly. I've also gone back to FretFind and double checked my measurements there.

My first fret is at 1.4312 and 19.125 at the 24th.

But, I checked the frets against my StewMac 25.5" Fret Scale and the 24th fret "on template" fell about 3/32" short of the mark on the scale (and each fret falling short in it's own mathematical way).

Which one is correct?

Afterthought: I also checked it against two of my other 24 fret guitars and am seeing similar differences there too.

 

[bobbytouche]

Never mind. It's perfect in my Illustrator file. But when I had it printed at Kinko's (Now FedEx Office), It didn't print to exactly 100% scale. Where do you folks get your stuff printed?

It's extra frustrating when I'm this far (and actually farther) into it.

 

[R. Stratenstein]

Kinko's (now Fedex) but I always bring along a precision rule to check for proper print scale before I pay for it and accept it. For fret positions, I check the printed ones against a calculated one, or if I have it, a fret scale rule. Unless you've already cut your fret slots, you can still re-draw the correct fret positions on your paper pattern, and cut from that.

 

[bobbytouche]

Yeah, I had figured I could redraw, but when I located the last fret, it was far too close to the heel end for comfort. Good tip on bringing my caliper. I should have done that. Oh well. Onwards and upwards!

 

[R. Stratenstein]

Just a thought--looking at the photo you posted, looks like you've got a locking nut of some sort on there--if you went with a standard nut instead, you'd probably gain enough space at the dusty end of the neck to get in the last fret without being too close to the butt end. If the neck is nice wood, might be worth considering.

 

[bobbytouche]

Oh, fortunately I'm still only in the template building phase. So I'll just scrap this bit and start over. No biggie.

 

[R. Stratenstein]

Ah! That's good. Relatively cheap fix, just aggravation!

 

[bobbytouche]

Ah! That's good. Relatively cheap fix, just aggravation!

You got it! I picked a heckuva week to quit smoking. lol.

 

[whodatpat]

FedEx/Kinko's is usually good at this, but their employees sometimes need a few tries to get it right. They do have to specify 100% in the print settings.

By the way that neck template can probably still be salvaged for a 24" scale template. Just lay out the frets using #1 as the nut. That's how Leo did it for the Bass, Tele/Strat, and Jaguar.

 

[bobbytouche]

I actually just left FedEx office with the same result. I stuck my nosy face around and watched all of the printer settings. 100%, no scaling, all that.

But the 24th fret landed at 19" when my drawing is at 19.125". Is it possible Adobe Illustrator is causing the problem?

 

[bobbytouche]

Ah! It could be losing scale when I convert to PDF.

Edit: Just opened the PDF file in Illustrator and it's measuring properly. I think this is a printing error.

 

[OpenG Capo4]

I always print mine at FedEx/Kinkos and take a caliper and precision rule to measure off of known dimensions. If I'm lucky, the drawings will even have a scale on them.

It always takes some trial and error to get it right but they only charge for the ones that come out right.

 

[bobbytouche]

I always print mine at FedEx/Kinkos and take a caliper and precision rule to measure off of known dimensions. If I'm lucky, the drawings will even have a scale on them.

It always takes some trial and error to get it right but they only charge for the ones that come out right.

I did that today. Brought my measuring devices and a determination to get it right. But the guys attitude when I measured the third one and told him it's not getting better, caused to me to kindly excuse myself from their establishment with no intention of going back. There're a lot of other print shops around here.

 

[bobbytouche]

Solved. I took it to Staples. Perfect.

 

[RickyRicardo]

Yup, I do mine at Staples and it's been perfect every time. I always ask for a ruler and measure the drawings before I leave and never had a problem.

 

[R. Stratenstein]

Good to know about Staples. I hadn't thought of them, but frankly, Kinko's customer service, and yes--attitude-- has noticeably changed and not for the better, since FedEx bought them. I may give Staples a try next time.

 

[radio]

I have taken to embedding a one inch scale in two directions on my drawings. On necks, I put it on the headstock. This makes it easy to check with a scale.

 

[whodatpat]

Good to know about Staples. I hadn't thought of them, but frankly, Kinko's customer service, and yes--attitude-- has noticeably changed and not for the better, since FedEx bought them. I may give Staples a try next time.

I worked at and then managed a number of Kinko's in Washington DC from 92 - 98. When Paul Orfalea still owned a controlling interest in each region/franchise of Kinko's the culture of that company was to make every customer a Raving Fan, not just "happy." Each region was a separate company and each manager was pressed to embrace their entrepreneurial spirit and always improve on everything. All employees were significantly rewarded financially each month for the stores profitability.

That started to slowly die in 1997 when they rolled up into a single corporation with a desire to "go public" and cash in on the dotcom fueled stock market. Almost immediately, every store had to fit an exact McDonalds like mold. By the time FedEx officially bought Kinko's in 2004, Paul was gone and the spirit that drove the company to greatness was dead.

The machines at FedEx Office, Staples, The UPS Store and Bobs Printing are exactly the same. The employees are the only difference.

 

[bobbytouche]

I worked at and then managed a number of Kinko's in Washington DC from 92 - 98. When Paul Orfalea still owned a controlling interest in each region/franchise of Kinko's the culture of that company was to make every customer a Raving Fan, not just "happy." Each region was a separate company and each manager was pressed to embrace their entrepreneurial spirit and always improve on everything. All employees were significantly rewarded financially each month for the stores profitability.

That started to slowly die in 1997 when they rolled up into a single corporation with a desire to "go public" and cash in on the dotcom fueled stock market. Almost immediately, every store had to fit an exact McDonalds like mold. By the time FedEx officially bought Kinko's in 2004, Paul was gone and the spirit that drove the company to greatness was dead.

The machines at FedEx Office, Staples, The UPS Store and Bobs Printing are exactly the same. The employees are the only difference.

It is a shame what happened to Kinkos. I remember always going there with my dad so he could prepare for meetings and stuff.

I read something in a Large Format Printing forum that the printers head unit could have been out of adjustment. Also that the horizontal can be out of accuracy but the vertical is fine. Which happened to be true in my case.

 

[Picton]

I avoid printing/copying altogether. I've always just used the StewMac calculator and done my layout using a metric ruler. It hasn't failed me yet, so...

I don't use a template, but I would think it would work there as well: just lay out your fret locations on the template using a ruler, draw a series of parallel lines, and Bob's your uncle. No?