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Writer's pictureShane Speal

VIDEO: How to Make Old Time Copper Wire Frets

Updated: Jan 10, 2022


I'm building an old fashioned one-string cigar box guitar and decided to use copper wire frets. Here's the simple way of doing it.

You'll need

  • bare copper wire (found in the picture hanging section of a hardware store)

  • Needle nose pliers

  • Hammer (such as the C. B. Gitty Fretting Hammer shown here)




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Rick Post
Rick Post
Feb 12, 2022

This is great! I have a C. B. GITTY lap steel guitar kit on the way. I wasn't real excited about using zip ties for the fret markers. This looks like a great alternative to making a classy lap guitar!


Thanks for all you do for the community!

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Charles Zuhlke
Charles Zuhlke
Jan 20, 2022

I like this - a nice lo-tech way to add frets


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Philip Taylor
Philip Taylor
Dec 29, 2021

Great project, I will build one once this rain stops (having a wet winter for once here in Cal). For the nut I plan to use a 1/8" diameter rusty old bolt. Could use a 3/16" and cut a shallow slot in the neck at the nut line for stability and height adjustment. There are all kinds of possibilities for such primitive projects. Keep up the good work; love your videos.

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