Guitarist invents 'palmfrets' to let players add bass lines with their hands

Minnesota musician and inventor Ben Ranson has unveiled a new guitar accessory called 'palmfrets'. After five years of development, this invention adds a special set of frets near the guitar's body, allowing players to use their picking hand's palm to play new bass lines or melodies through a technique called palmfretting. Ranson, driven by a desire to get more notes from the guitar, started with artistic experiments before realizing the commercial potential of his garage-built prototypes.

The device evolved through several iterations involving 3D-printed plastic and laser-cut metal, culminating in Ranson receiving a patent for the design earlier this month. This innovation could offer guitarists a new way to expand their sonic palette, adding bass accompaniment without needing a separate instrument or complex foot pedals. It represents a creative hardware hack that blends traditional craftsmanship with modern fabrication techniques.