What the...

[dmandude123455]

http://www.rondomusic.com/pendulum6fltbk.html WAAAHH???

[mrpinter]

The graduated scale length (producing angled frets) is a patented design by Ralph Novak of Novax Guitars. He calls it the "fanned fret" system. There are other guitar and bass builders using that design that pay a licensing fee to Ralph. I wonder if Agile is paying the fee? Doesn't look like it.

I owned a Novax guitar and found it to be quite playable. I didn't even really notice the fanned frets while playing, unless I looked at them.

[ehdwuld]

A little reading

and a video

[dmandude123455]

What does it do for playing?

[mrpinter]

Mainly, the idea is to combine the virtues of Gibson and Fender scales in one guitar: more bendable trebles, and stiffer, snappier basses. According to Ralph Novak, it also helps intonation and eliminates dead spots.

[mrpinter]

Charlie Hunter is probably the most well known player using a fanned fret instrument. He says he couldn't play his stuff - simultaneous comping, bass and lead - without the fanned frets. He plays a 7 string model now, by here is a clip of him playing an 8 string :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtdepHiO2EY