Novax mandolin

[Treblemaker]

Novax Fandolin - Extremely cool Electrict Mando (http://www.novaxguitars.com/images/Sales_Custom_fandolin.jpg)

This gets me juiced to buy and I barely play amplified these days since I bought a Lawrence Smart F5... Cool nonetheless...

[Treblemaker]

Doubleneck Novax - Even cooler (http://www.novaxguitars.com/images/Sales_Custom_guitarfando.jpg)

Another even cooler doubleneck to drool over.

[clem]

I owned a Klein guitar with a Novax neck. Very cool.

I emailed Ralph 2x to inquire about a fandolin (I was interested in a 5 string). No reply.

[david blair]

I saw a fanned fretboard at Michael Lewis' shop a while back. Maybe ask him?

[mrmando]

I owned a Klein guitar with a Novax neck. Very cool.

I emailed Ralph 2x to inquire about a fandolin (I was interested in a 5 string). No reply.
Ralph was very, very seriously ill a while back. That may be why he didn't e-mail you back. In fact ... is he still with us?

[Jim Garber]

http://earnestinstruments.com/jpgs/boomerang.jpg

The Boomerang from Earnest Instruments (http://earnestinstruments.com/).

Jim

[Spruce]

I've got an Ernest Boomerang similar to the one in the pic, and it's a killer instrument....

The Novax system is perfect for getting that C string to work right...

I saw Ralph a month or so ago and he's doing fine....

[MNDOLNR]

Have any of you ever heard Charlie Hunter? Not a mandolin player, but he's by far the most amazing jazz guitarist I've ever heard, and he plays an 8-string Novax with 3 bass strings. It'll blow your mind. Most terrific players make me want to go home and practice, but Chuck makes me want to quit.

[keith_rowan]

got to see Charlie Hunter in NO during jazz fest a few years ago.. his playing blew me away
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[clem]

+1000 Charlie Hunter is a monster player. So talented he created an instrument to facilitate what he was hearing in his head. His "guitar" really shows what the fanned fret system can do.

[MNDOLNR]

has anyone played the Novax fandolin? I'd be interested to hear what it's like...

[Jacob]

If Ralph Novak invented fanned frets, he is really, really old. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
Fanned frets have been used in the public domain since the 1580's when the orpharion was created.

http://peterbull.com/music/instruments/plucked-wire/images/orpharion.jpg

[mrmando]

Do you see anyone in this thread claiming that Ralph "invented" fanned frets?

No, you don't.

Do you see any page on the Novax Web site claiming that Ralph "invented" fanned frets?

No, you don't. At least I don't. If you find one, let me know.

Ralph designed a particular system of fanned frets, registered a couple of trademarks, obtained a U.S. patent, and licenses his design to other makers.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that prevents anyone else from putting fanned frets on an instrument. You'd have to do your own math, and you couldn't use the name "Novax," but other than that I'd think you would be in the clear.

If you have a beef beyond that, perhaps you should take it up with the U.S. Patent Office.

You don't have to be the inventor of a category of things in order to hold a trademark or patent on a specific item in that category. Gibson didn't invent mandolin bridges or pickguards, but I don't see anyone whining about the patent stamps on vintage Gibson hardware.

Every time the subject of Ralph Novak comes up, someone invariably starts howling about the fanned frets on Renaissance instruments. I don't get it, frankly. The last time, some guy posted a photo like this, then got mad and deleted all his posts.

[mandroid]

FWIW, Judging from the pictures, the 7 string lute-guitar starts out square at the nut,
Ralph's doesn't look like it squares up till the octave,then goes askew again higher up.
A different approach.

[MNDOLNR]

Personally, I'd rather have a fandolin than that wimpy lute. GO RALPH!