Need reviews of Mark Rankin's Interchangeable Fingerboards

Hi folks --

I'm planning to order Mark Rankin's Interchangeable Fingerboard kit, preferably to install 22-tET, 31-tET, MIRACLE (with standard 12-tET tuning of open strings), and Shrutar frettings (though I may change my mind on some of these) on a steel-string acoustic guitar. I remember hearing that the kit worked rather well for nylon-string guitar, but I'm looking for opinions on the sound of high-quality steel-string acoustic guitars with the interchangeable fingerboards.

Though I find nylon-string guitars easier to play, chords such as higher-limit Utonal chords sound much better to me on the steel-string acoustic guitar than on any other instrument. Probably sympathetic vibrations among the higher harmonics have something to do with that.

Thanks,
Paul

on 9/22/01 4:52 AM, tuning@yahoogroups.com at tuning@yahoogroups.com wrote:

> Message: 12
> Date: 21 Sep 2001 16:35:56 -0700
> From: paul@stretch-music.com

> I'm planning to order Mark Rankin's Interchangeable Fingerboard kit,
> preferably to install 22-tET, 31-tET, MIRACLE (with standard 12-tET tuning of
> open strings), and Shrutar frettings (though I may change my mind on some of
> these) on a steel-string acoustic guitar. I remember hearing that the kit
> worked rather well for nylon-string guitar, but I'm looking for opinions on
> the sound of high-quality steel-string acoustic guitars with the
> interchangeable fingerboards.

Paul,

I also have one of these Interchangeable Fingerboard kits, although I
haven't yet found a guitar to install it on. Like yourself, I think I'd
prefer it with steel strings, however, the one glitch in the equation is
that the kit is designed including a non-radiused fingerboard. Thus if you
put it on a Martin steel string acoustic, you lose the radiused fingerboard.
This implies that it was designed for a nylon string guitar. If you should
install this on a steel string, please keep me posted of your results.

Seth

--
Seth Austen

http://www.sethausten.com
emails: seth@sethausten.com
klezmusic@earthlink.net

--- In tuning@y..., Seth Austen <klezmusic@e...> wrote:
> on 9/22/01 4:52 AM, tuning@y... at tuning@y... wrote:
>
> > Message: 12
> > Date: 21 Sep 2001 16:35:56 -0700
> > From: paul@s...
>
> > I'm planning to order Mark Rankin's Interchangeable Fingerboard
kit,
> > preferably to install 22-tET, 31-tET, MIRACLE (with standard 12-
tET tuning of
> > open strings), and Shrutar frettings (though I may change my mind
on some of
> > these) on a steel-string acoustic guitar. I remember hearing that
the kit
> > worked rather well for nylon-string guitar, but I'm looking for
opinions on
> > the sound of high-quality steel-string acoustic guitars with the
> > interchangeable fingerboards.
>
> Paul,
>
> I also have one of these Interchangeable Fingerboard kits, although
I
> haven't yet found a guitar to install it on. Like yourself, I think
I'd
> prefer it with steel strings, however, the one glitch in the
equation is
> that the kit is designed including a non-radiused fingerboard. Thus
if you
> put it on a Martin steel string acoustic, you lose the radiused
fingerboard.

I am aware of this, but one could easily have the nut and bridge
flattened to compensate.

> This implies that it was designed for a nylon string guitar.

Mark's literature clearly states that he accomodates electric,
acoustic steel-string, and acoustic nylon-string guitars. All with
flat fingerboards, but still all are supported.

Anyone else?

on 9/25/01 3:39 AM, tuning@yahoogroups.com at tuning@yahoogroups.com wrote:

> From: "Paul Erlich" <paul@stretch-music.com>

>> This implies that it was designed for a nylon string guitar.
>
> Mark's literature clearly states that he accomodates electric,
> acoustic steel-string, and acoustic nylon-string guitars. All with
> flat fingerboards, but still all are supported.

Yes, I was aware that it'll work on any guitar, once one gets used to the
feel of a non-radiused fingerboard with steel strings. This has been a
sticky point for me, in trying to decide whether to go with steel or nylon.
I too would be interested in hearing first hand experience with this system,
before going to the effort and expense of installing it on a high quality
instrument.

Seth

--
Seth Austen

http://www.sethausten.com
emails: seth@sethausten.com
klezmusic@earthlink.net