Official Luthiers Forum!

Anyone heard of black fretwire called Nylatron? I've seen it on Michael Peters website, he's using it on classical guitars. It wold work well with a project that I'm planning. Any idea of where to get it? a quick google search this morning didn't turn up anything, other than a like to Micheal's website...

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

Wow????? Nylatron is a plastic like polymer Harder and more ridged than UHMW. We use it as bushing material for non lubricated shaft situations. I never knew that frets were ever made from it. i suspect he is machining his own from round bar stock Nylatron

The stuff is pretty hard for a polymer, it's Nylon with a hard filler. I think it would stand up pretty well on a classical, as it's being used there. Questionable on a steel string, though maybe I'll run some tests just to see.

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

I think there is wide agreement that plastic saddles, even when made from fairly hard plastics, dampen vibration and hurt the sound of a guitar. Why would this not also be the case if one put plastic in contact with the string at the other end?

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

I agree with Howard, and would add the question - what improvements or desirable aspects would guide a person to choose a synthetic like this over traditional wire?

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

The answer is obvious....so that you get even tone up & down the neck when using a plastic saddle!

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The member formerly known as erikbojerik....

I assume that these would be glued in. If so, do some research on what the appropriate adhesive is, as nylon is difficult to bond to.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

Blackness. Check out how much the black plastic they make MacBooks out of costs!

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

I've just heard about this stuff today. I have no idea if its any good.

Blackness is indeed what was appealing to me.

I had in mind a deep chocolate cedar soundboard on similarly dark body wood, ebony fingerboard and headstock, Classical guitar. Maybe black tuning machines, too. the black fretwire sounded like just the thing to set it off, unless there is some good reason not to.

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

You're building this for Darth Vader?

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Hank Mauel

Ahhh, aesthetics at any cost. This is to be a showpiece locked in a glass case...

"Form follows function", does it not?

No. Not aesthetics at any cost. Not life stuck in a glass case.

A certain goal in mind functionally, and aesthetically. Now, collecting ideas about how to put it together. Making a good guitar is the first priority. Determining the look is an extension of that.

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

I've never used it myself but I have seen others use 1/8" black Delrin rod for classical frets. They are set in a square channel just a bit deeper than half of the diameter and epoxied in place. With the right depth, the epoxy locks the frets in place. It seemed to work quite well.