jack_cat
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  • I'm not sure about the 24.4. It might be a touch long but test it yourself. I found that strings suddenly started snapping on me (25.5 G#) now and then, despite being able to tune significantly higher initially. Seems they can stretch very well but are still fragile. G was fine. On that basis 23" should be fine for A. Bare in mind I never tried the fleuros which would get better results!
    The guitar I now use for the high G# is much shorter as you can see. It's literally a 25.5 capo'd at 3 in terms of size and gauges.
    You're in luck though as I don't feel you have to go so long for the F#. My low E is very good at 27.3 with that 075 gauge. Maybe knock an inch off overall? How did you come to your decisions?
    Hey:) I feel that shorter scale basses are much more viable than they are on electric, for a start. However length is still an advantage of course.
    A4 to F#1 - your octave numbers are correct :)

    I have some info here on my 2 classical guitars:
    Bartolex 8 string; E1 A1 D2 G2 C3 F3 Bb3 Eb4
    25.5”-27.362”
    Well balanced medium tension
    Trebles: Savarez Alliance KF Carbon – .0224 .0279 .0358 (Testing alternate D’addario Composite 3rd)
    Basses: D’addario Pro Arte Lightly Polished Basses (EJ45LP) – .027 .034 .043
    Strings 7-8: Savarez 5208R and 5211R – .059 .075

    Milagro 11 string; (G1 A1 B1 C2*) D2 G2 C3 F3 Bb3 Eb4 Ab4 – *Step tuned basses variable to suit the piece
    21.65” with extension to 28.858”
    Well balanced medium tension
    Trebles: Savarez Alliance KF Carbon – .0205 .0252 .0319
    Basses: D’addario Pro Arte Lightly Polished Basses (EJ45LP) – .027 .034 .043
    Strings 7-11: D’addario Classics Basses – .054 .054 .054 .056 .058
    Since you are playing with classical hand position I don't think there is a meaningful limit to fretboard width.

    I have a 10 string electric and an 8 string Chapman Stick with fretboards that are over 3" wide and I could easily handle another inch or more of fretboard width.

    I'd strongly encourage you to use the same string spacing that you're already used to with the standard classical. No point in making muscle-memory conflicts when switching from one instrument to the other - the technique is the same for both.

    Also, have you considered that the wider string spacing will actually reduce the angles of the frets?
    For example, a 5" fan on a fretboard which is 3.5" wide is less extreme than a 5" fan on a 3" wide fretboard. Throw some test specs into Fretfind2d and look at the column of fret angles to see what I mean.

    Keep going!!!
    Leo
    Hi Jack,
    I would have no hesitation to use your most optimum specs of 23-5/8" to 28-3/8".

    I've played a 25" to 30" fanned 8-string electric and it was very easy to play and very comfortable.

    If you have any doubts about playability make sure you make yourself a mockup of the fretboard using the FretFind2D website. Print out some paper and cut it onto a piece of cardboard and run your fingers over the imaginary frets and you can really get a feel for the spacing of the specs you've chosen.

    Go for it!
    Leo
    Hey Jack, that's a very exciting project. I intend to build a 9-string classical for myself whenever I can spare the time.

    I'm absolutely sold on fanned frets and have been playing them for the past 10 years. I'd go with the biggest fan you can imagine playing and print out lots of test fretboards using the FretFind2D website.

    The fanned frets will make all the difference for maintaining a clear tone throughout the massively extended range you'll have with 9-strings.

    I'd love to hear more about your project - keep in touch!
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