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I know the main reason for the Novax is better intonation but the design catches my attention (because of nerve damage in hand) was drawn to the ergonomic factor. I want to start with 24.9. What other scale should I choose to ensure that the frets are not too radically fanned so that ease of ergonomic fingering will not be compromised.
Thanks for answering,

Funny, I always thought the reason for the fanned fret approach was to allow alternate tunings to have good string tension on the lower strings.

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

So, what do I know? I am mainly concered with which other scale to use so the fret angles are the most ergonomic (sound and play well also.

I have only played a few of these, but they were surprisingly comfortable. Even the radically fanned versions.

But to answer your question, the closer the scale lengths are the less radical the fan.

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

Fanning is more ergonomic in msot cases - for instance a G7 chord in first position is easier to finger on a fanfret. That said, the arpegios in the Police' Every Breath you take become more of a stretch. A very comfortable difference is 1 to 1.25 inches between scales, and use the 9th or 7th fret as the straight one (this is where you scales 'meet', and the fret layout is created from). You will have to rework your bracing pattern as well, or at the very least, make a longer bridge on the bass side to get the wings to lay over the X. DOnt forget to work in reverse, or your bridge plate will tilt the wrong way !!!!

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Thanks guys,
I want novax on 12 fret 24.9"
What criteria do the builders, that have used this sysem, use to determine what the scale the 2nd should be?
Thanks,

Do you want 24.9 to be the longer scale ??? If so, I would do the top scale at 23.9 or 24, no shorter. Or split the difference somewhat, and go 24.25 to 25.25.

As far as criteria, the 8 string I did had to have a shorter top scale to support high E on a guitar, the longest scale had to support low E of a bass - so I went 25.75 to 29. I am doing another of these later this year, it will be 25.5 to 29.

With 24.9 as the low scale, you can only go so far shorter and still have the high E play without going too floppy.

_________________
Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

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