Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I always wonder why the switch to 24 frets was made.

I've played things up there, just to do it, because who really plays 12 string guitar on the 23rd fret?

Certainly no one who doesn't have 24 frets...

I pretty much really wish 4001/3s were 2 octave necks. I pretty much really wish my Jazz was a 2 octave neck.

My '86 Yamaha BX-5 Headless Wonderama is a 2 octave neck...

It just seems more musically... balanced or complete or something.

Sky's the limit with a slide on yer pinky.

I find it quite convenient to have those extra notes sometimes.

Mark wrote:
"Sky's the limit with a slide on yer pinky."

Yeah, but with a slide you don't really need frets, do you?

The problem with 24-fret guitars is that you've got two full octaves, but it's two octaves in E. A guitar (or bass) with a 47 fret neck could have all the bases covered - you could play two full octaves, in any key! How come nobody makes one of those?

"My '86 Yamaha BX-5 Headless Wonderama is a 2 octave neck..."

I used to have one of those, at the moment I have a BX-1. Pretty tight string spacing, but there is no dead spot anywhere on the neck, nor on my neck as it is so lightweight.

Almost four octaves Ethan!

Yes, you're right Peter - math's obviously not my strongest suit!

I used to own this one with 32 frets...

That looks like the Dano guitar-mandolin cross that they made for a while.

Ethan: Not to worry, we went to the same math class, my answer is also incorrect. Nearly six octaves for such an instrument is perhaps closer.

I think it would be great to have a 21-fret "new-style" 360 again. 360v65!!