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Spiral Math
I am an amateur guitar builder. I am trying to solve a problem for a hobby project but my math skills are not up to the task:
To calculate the locations for a number (N) of frets along a guitar string of length (L) we start at the nut and divide the remaining length of string by 17.817 (a number related to the 12th root of 2 = 1.059463094359). The frets get successively closer together as we move closer to the bridge.
The problem is how do you construct a spiral such that as that spiral is rolled along the string from the nut to the bridge it contacts a fret at every R degrees of rotation? R is a constant angle. My N=32, L=30", and R=36degrees but I would prefer a more general solution.
At first I thought that I could simply make concentric circles where each fret spacing subtends R degrees of each circle's circumference, then simply mark the edge of each segment and connect the dots. Unfortunately, this will not work because the axis changes height continually as it is rolled. It might be a logarithmic spiral of some sort.
Although the logarithmic spiral formula on wikipedia baffles me (what is a & b?) I did find some more understandable java code that plots a log spiral. That doesnt really help me to solve this problem though. If I could understand the solution I might be able to edit the code to provide a general solution. I am a java engineer. Any clue?
Thanks,
Clark
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Addendum...
Here's more info. The 17.817 method of calculating fret spacing is really only a simplification of this:
distance from bridge = L / (2 ^ (F / 12))
L= string length
F= fret number
This is a more general solution that can calculate the position of any single fret.
Imagine that a spiral could roll along a string (with the center of the spiral at the closer frets) and contact a fret every 30 degrees. What would that spiral be?
The general formula for a log spiral in polar coordinates is here.
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Hello,
I'm not quite sure but by your description I believe that you are looking for a clothoid or cornu-spiral.
Have a look here: The Clothoid
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What is it you're doing? building a guitar with a spiraling neck?
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