View Full Version : Is this a PentaSystem
Check out this Ebay listing for a Parsons F5. Maybe the photo is warped; it appears to be a pentasystem fret job.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....23&rd=1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3739128923&rd=1)
Here's the photo. The frets don't appear parallel.
twaaang
Jul-29-2004, 1:19pm
But the strings don't look straight, either, so I think the picture is taken with a wide-angle lens from a bit too close. Or maybe my bifocals have gotten the better of me again! -- PDW
mandroid
Aug-26-2004, 12:59pm
Yup, looks like circular distortion , not a fan fret job.
is buzz feitin, like trying to drive sober, when you're not http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Ok, I'll bite
What exactly is the pentasysem fret job ?
Man I hope this isn't another Snipe hunt. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
B.Pat
Jim Hilburn
Aug-26-2004, 3:12pm
Has anyone made a 5-string with fanned frets? That would be worth trying. Mandola-mandolin all in one.
Won't be me, though.
Jim Hilburn
Aug-26-2004, 3:12pm
Sorry, 10 string.
sunburst
Aug-26-2004, 7:28pm
Dempsy Young wanted a 5 (10) string with an extra high string (B) many years ago. I couldn't think of any way to do it. Glad I didn't think of that!
delsbrother
Aug-26-2004, 9:18pm
PentaSystems and Novax Fanned Frets are two different deals; the Penta thing was about # of strings, tuning, headstock, and scale, I believe. Novax Fanned Frets are about muliple scales on one fingerboard. I'm sure emando Martin will correct me if I'm wrong. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
I suppose it would've been possible to get Novax frets on a PentaSystem, though I don't know if that ever happened. You can definitely get one on an Earnest Boomerang, though! I think there are a few other Novax licensees out there who would make you one.. You could also find them on Ralph Novak's own mandos, but I don't know if he's still making them.
mandroid
Aug-27-2004, 3:28pm
Penta system is a series of instruments all tuned in 5th intervals with 5 strings.
A range of them , pentabass upwards, all fretjobs are ,I think parralell, not fanned .
see emando webpage link / builders / alex gregory/ there is a link in the text - pentasystem, which brings up a photo of the range of instruments.
#http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif
Thanks Mandroid,
Not exactly sure how all that applies to the original post, but I'm not always the brightest bulb on the tree when it comes to things like this. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
B.Pat
Adare_Steve
Aug-28-2004, 4:10am
Has anyone made a 5 (10) -string with fanned frets? That would be worth trying. Mandola-mandolin all in one.
My Mandola has only got 8 strings. So has my bouzouki. Citterns have 10 strings, in so much as I use the terms, in Ireland. Have I stumbled across another problem of multiple musical definitions?
Steve
Jim Hilburn
Aug-28-2004, 7:48am
Wow, this is one confused thread.
I've never heard of Penta System, but from the photo, I thought the question was about fanned frets.
I once made a 5-string electric mandolin and didn't even consider the scale and just used a mandolin scale. As a result, I had to use about a .052 B string. So, when the concept of fan frets came up, I wondered about using fanned frets to compensate for the different scale lengths.
mandroid
Aug-28-2004, 2:47pm
Lee957 also was in the electric 4 & 5 string section and brought some of that back here.
Ive looked at the baritone 18" 5 string RonnO too,and was stoopid enough to order one ,apparently just getting my deposit nicked, instead. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif