How do you calculate fret spacing?

If you divide any scale length by the constant 17.817, you will get the distance from the front edge of the nut to the first fret. Here is one example: a scale length of 25.5″ (650mm) divided by 17.817 gives 1.4312173″ (36.482011mm), which can be rounded down to 1.431″ (36.48mm).

How many frets does a dulcimer have?

All charts show the exact locations (to the thousandth of an inch) for the nut, bridge, and thirty-six frets (21 whole-number frets, plus the “half-number” frets). Each dulcimer fret position is identified three ways: 1) inches to previous fret; 2) inches to nut; 3) inches to bridge.

How accurate do fret slots need to be?

It must be very, very close or the instrument will sound like, well you know . . . When I cut my fret slots, I try to be accurate to within 1/64″. To my ear, that’s close enough. It had better be, because it’s about as close as I can cut them.

What is fretboard radius?

Fingerboard radius is the curvature of the fingerboard across the neck, from the lowest string to the highest string, and just like the radius of a circle, it can be described by a number. The exact shape of that arc, from rounder to flatter, is expressed numerically in inches or millimeters.

Does string height affect intonation?

The intonation is affected by the length of the guitar string. A high action (string height) can negatively impact the intonation of your guitar. This is because, the higher the action, the further you need to press down to fret a note. So when you push down more, you’re essentially lengthening the string.

Do dulcimers have frets?

Most common are the 6 1/2 fret and the corresponding 13 1/2 fret an octave higher. These two frets are so common that one could say they have become standard issue on most dulcimers.

How many strings should a dulcimer have?

Number of strings: Dulcimers may have as few as two or as many as 12 strings (in up to six courses). Up to the 1960s most mountain dulcimers had three strings. The most popular variant today is four strings in three courses, with doubled melody strings.