Barault fret ends

JasonS

I've always thought the way Jean Barault installs frets looks interesting. For those unaware, the fret tangs are clipped further into the fretboard and the fret ends are rounded. It's not uncommon to see this on electric guitars, but in that case it's always accompanied with fretboard binding (wood or plastic) to cover the fret slots. On Barault guitars the open fret slots are left exposed.

Does anyone have thoughts on this method for Selmer style guitars? I suppose an advantage would be that fret sprout is very unlikely but I wonder if the exposed fret slots might feel strange... almost like the inverse of fret sprout.

You'll see what I'm talking about on the zero/1st fret on this guitar: https://www.djangobooks.com/Item/jean-barault-2016-2

Buco

Interesting. I never noticed that. I would not welcome even a half mm shorter because occasionally I can get the low or high E to sleep off the fretboard even as is. And to me a fret sprout is a good sign that the guitar is too dry. Usually when that happens it means the body is getting close to be dangerously dry so it's a good warning that the guitar needs some TLC. What's the upside? (Aside from likely never having a fret sprout).

MichaelHorowitz

@JasonS

Jean, in his never ending quest to replicate Selmers in every way possible, rounds off the fret ends using the original Selmer method. I believe Francois Charles discusses this in his Selmer book.

wim

@Buco I think the fret itself not shorter, there's just a little slot left "underneath" it, which is prorably what JasonS was getting at (?)

Mine has been for a refret twice- once to Barault himself in Grasse and once to Geoff Benge in Chicago- and both times they've recreated this look. I'm not sure if intentional or not.

It does not feel strange. I suppose hedgehog sweat and grease might build up in the slots after years of playing, but that doesn't concern me much - a properly relic'ed Barault already looks like it was reclaimed from the dumpster anyway.

JasonS

@wim Yeah I was referring to the exposed fret slots. I've never seen that before. In the electric guitar world binding is always added to cover the slots. Good to hear that it doesn't cause any strange tactile issues though. I was surprised to learn that Selmers were built that way, you'd think more builders would be doing it in that case. I imagine it takes more work to round off the frets cleanly.

Buco

@wim ok, but on the photo to me it looks like the fret stops short of the edge of the fretboard. It's cool that Geoff did it the same way, the guy is a master guitar tech.

billyshakes

LOL at "hedgehog sweat"

paulmcevoy75

There's a modern thing called "hemispherical fret ends" which looks like that but it is strange that the fret doesn't go all the way to the edge of the board. I've never seen that before.

The hemispherical fret end thing has been sort of a fad but it actually does leave you with slightly less fret to use vs a traditional angled fret end. As Buco said it actually does give you a tiny fraction less wiggle room. It's also a huge PITA to do as far as I know so I think it will eventually go away. It looks coolish.

scot

A luthier named Carl McIntyre here in Charlotte has been doing frets with the round end (to the edge of the fretboard) for at least 40 years. He did two guitars for me including my Favino and I liked the look and feel a lot.

JasonS

Yes rounded fret ends to the edge of the fretboard/binding have been common for many many years. The exposed fret slots is mostly what I found interesting/unusual.

Sounds like there's some neat historical context to doing it the way Barault has implemented.