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I think this discussion was had already but got to wondering why frets are installed on the upper ends of the fingerboard - especially those frets beyond around 15 or 16 which no one I know ever plays.

Would be intersting to leave the frets out at the upper end and do a really nice inlay instead.

Because no one would buy it just like oak guitars. However, I built a bass guitar with an extended fretboard beyond the last fret which makes an excellent thumb rest.

Al

I know people who play up there. They are around.

I play up there, often. I think it would just look too weird otherwise.

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Same reason people what a cutaway. Because they use those frets and the cutaway makes it that much easier.

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I often play up around there, with no cutaway, I could probably loose the last two but definitely need the upper frets.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Like others have said you do need them becuase people do use them.

I saw Don Alder last year and if I remember right he had a guitar where the last few frets had been left off. The idea was that he would use that portion of the fretboard to do some fretless playing. But if my memorry serves me right he said he would not do it again. I don't think it worked as well as it was supposed to.

josh

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
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House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

I wouldn't consider owning a guitar that didn't have more than 14 frets. I use the upper frets a good bit.

id be ok with just the first 3 frets

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

so that big hair band of the 80's only played power chords in the open position

IVE BEEN EXPOSED~

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Nana nana nana, Lance plays cowboy chords...

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

5 frets...I like the high "A" on the high "E" string...and then you can capo to the 2nd fret and still play some cowboy chords...

Do you KNOW how many AC / DC songs can be played in the first 5 frets?   

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I play above 14 all the time. I like to play classical music on my Taylor cutaway--it makes playing up there so much easier. Try playing above the 14th fret with a classical guitar with no cutaway, now that's hard.

John

Well now I know - must be my limited playing ability and thinking everyone is as limited as me

Good points from all. Might still try on my next build for my personal guitar - thinking this could be an excellent opportunity for some crazy inlay. Will post pics but dont wait for me - still have 4 that are in various stages of finish so it will be a while

Thanks all for the feedback as always

Hey, nothing wrong with Cowboy chords!

Mike
White Oak, Texas

I agree with ya Mike!

The Northern Cowbear

I don't get it! I've seen some pretty good cowboy playing in my days. It ain't like the Autry days. Even though he was pretty good himself as I have seen.

I don't really care for CW myself, but you can't knock some of these guys playing. Some of my head-banging buddies have "sold out" and taken a swing at CW.

   I would never buy a guitar without the fullest of fret compliment. I'm of the opinion if some body put frets on the back of a guitar, people would drop trou and figure some way to play them.

If you put'em anywhere on the guitar somebody will use'em!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

[QUOTE=MSpencer] Hey, nothing wrong with Cowboy chords!

Mike
White Oak, Texas[/QUOTE]

Just kidding guys...

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Play? You guys actually play the guitar?

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Don, i only sing Don Williams songs, i also play by ear only and i can play some mean south pickin'!

You play by ear Serge, do you need a special cover for that. Gee, that must hurt when you have to realy strum hard. Oh and do you wear ear plugs, I bet that could get realy loud. Good neck workout though.

I do suggest you try to play by fingers, it's much easier on the neck.

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Yeah, fingers instead of toes, my toe nails aren't long enough for the kind of fast pickin' i do and it'd be to hard on the pelvis!

I used to play by ear too but it was pretty weird and my hair got all tangled up in the strings! now I'm back up to the 5 fret deal! ...and of course, occasionally I do got all the way up to the 17th or 18th fret
Besides, i think a guitar would look pretty peculiar without the last frets peterm38813.5127430556

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com