Do They Scallop Boards Because?

[jack butler]

When you scallop the board I would think you have eliminated the radius. Even though the frets are still at 9.5" the lack of fingerboard material between the frets nullifies the radius, basically making the board flat with jumbo frets. So would a 16" radius board with jumbo frets feel similar to a 9.5" board with medium frets thats been scalloped? If this is true you would only scallop boards with a round radius or smaller frets, that is to say there is no real need to scallop a 16" or 20" radiused board that has jumbo frets. I've never played a scalloped board so this is just a theory.

 

[Digital Jams]

No, the radius is very much still there as you mentioned the frets are at the radius. You are fretting the strings at the fret and the board does not come into play during that moment. A 9.5 radius will still feel like 9.5 hense my new scalloped board is 12, I would have too many issues playing 9.5. I went with jumbos and glad I did as I like the feel and the rest of my guitars are 6100 wire.


FWIW......n00b with scallopes as I have just a week with one but I feel that the radius is very uch in play, same as a no scalloped neck.

 

[jack butler]

So have you tried a flat 16" or 20" with Jumbo's before? If so does scalloped 12" feel faster? Why would you choose a 12" radius to scallop? Seems to me for speed playing the flatter the better, and scalloping is for speed right? I'm only looking for info, text form is making me sound like a dick.

 

[Digital Jams]

YOu need to ask 70strathead as he is the board's scallope expert but I will give you my opinion, speed would not be the reason I would buy a scalloped board because imo a flat radius and 6100 wire with a light touch would get the same results. You would barely be touching the wood with jumbos and a 16 radius if your light and flying. I choose 12 as that was the best fit for what was offered, was going to go 9.5 but guys in the know explained that 12 would be better for me and they were right.

Things I am finding easier,

Vibrato, you can really get your sykes on if you have a good vibrato already due to the very low resistance.
Whole step bend vibratos, much much easier and more control.
Easier to fret notes clean higher up on the neck

Best I can do for ya, hope that helps and maybe someone else with more experience can chime in.

 

[Greazygeo]

So have you tried a flat 16" or 20" with Jumbo's before? If so does scalloped 12" feel faster? Why would you choose a 12" radius to scallop? Seems to me for speed playing the flatter the better, and scalloping is for speed right? I'm only looking for info, text form is making me sound like a dick.

I don't think radius, neck or fret size has anything to do with how fast a person plays. Whatever you have and get used to, if you spend enough time on you'll get the speed.

Scalloped necks IMO help with vibrato, string bending and being able to grab the string easier.

 

[Code001]

Scalloped necks IMO help with vibrato, string bending and being able to grab the string easier.

+1

 

[degenaro]

So have you tried a flat 16" or 20" with Jumbo's before? If so does scalloped 12" feel faster? Why would you choose a 12" radius to scallop? Seems to me for speed playing the flatter the better, and scalloping is for speed right? I'm only looking for info, text form is making me sound like a dick.

I don't think radius, neck or fret size has anything to do with how fast a person plays. Whatever you have and get used to, if you spend enough time on you'll get the speed.

Scalloped necks IMO help with vibrato, string bending and being able to grab the string easier.

What he said, plus tapping stuff is easier on them. The reason is that there is no friction from fungers against wood.

 

[chunktone]

So have you tried a flat 16" or 20" with Jumbo's before? If so does scalloped 12" feel faster? Why would you choose a 12" radius to scallop? Seems to me for speed playing the flatter the better, and scalloping is for speed right? I'm only looking for info, text form is making me sound like a dick.

I don't think radius, neck or fret size has anything to do with how fast a person plays. Whatever you have and get used to, if you spend enough time on you'll get the speed.

Scalloped necks IMO help with vibrato, string bending and being able to grab the string easier.

What he said, plus tapping stuff is easier on them. The reason is that there is no friction from fungers against wood.

I've played scalloped boards for years. It will not help your speed, but you may have increased endurance because it forces you to play very lightly. It big advantage is on bending and vibrato. there is no friction between the fingerboard and your fingers. The radius is not effected.

 

[SeaDog]

I have both scalloped and super large frets and I prefer either lighly scalloped or the large frets. I've played a few of the Yngwie strats that the scallops seemed too deep to me. Anyone else see this?

 

[Code001]

I have both scalloped and super large frets and I prefer either lighly scalloped or the large frets. I've played a few of the Yngwie strats that the scallops seemed too deep to me. Anyone else see this?

I feel the same way. In reality, the scallops only need to be deep enough to where you don't feel the wood under light fretting.

 

[Digital Jams]

I have both scalloped and super large frets and I prefer either lighly scalloped or the large frets. I've played a few of the Yngwie strats that the scallops seemed too deep to me. Anyone else see this?

I feel the same way. In reality, the scallops only need to be deep enough to where you don't feel the wood under light fretting.

The allparts neck I have would be perfect for you, the scallopes are deep enough that youare not touching wood but not crazy deep.

I need to get off my ass and take pics

 

[Digital Jams]

So have you tried a flat 16" or 20" with Jumbo's before? If so does scalloped 12" feel faster? Why would you choose a 12" radius to scallop? Seems to me for speed playing the flatter the better, and scalloping is for speed right? I'm only looking for info, text form is making me sound like a dick.

I don't think radius, neck or fret size has anything to do with how fast a person plays. Whatever you have and get used to, if you spend enough time on you'll get the speed.

Scalloped necks IMO help with vibrato, string bending and being able to grab the string easier.

What he said, plus tapping stuff is easier on them. The reason is that there is no friction from fungers against wood.

Tapping must be a style that takes some time because legato and tapping seems more difficult right now for me, I must have used the board too much.

 

[70strathead]

When you scallop the board I would think you have eliminated the radius. Even though the frets are still at 9.5" the lack of fingerboard material between the frets nullifies the radius, basically making the board flat with jumbo frets. So would a 16" radius board with jumbo frets feel similar to a 9.5" board with medium frets thats been scalloped? If this is true you would only scallop boards with a round radius or smaller frets, that is to say there is no real need to scallop a 16" or 20" radiused board that has jumbo frets. I've never played a scalloped board so this is just a theory.

Pretty much what George said and Ed as well. A lot of people dont know this, but Yngwie has most of his old vintage strats scalloped leaving the original 7.25" radius and in the early days never used big frets, he just scalloped them ...he didn't start using 9.5" until his first signature model in 88' which has stock fender frets on them. I used 7.25 necks for years until I played that first Yngwie model and that was the game changer for me. Its all preference though, i go back and forth with scalloped necks depending what sound I'm going after. they're just a matter of getting used to just like anything, but you definitely have more string control with bending, vibrato, etc. I do notice though after years of playing them, my left hand/right hand touch is definitely lighter than what it used to be and i have more of natural listening capability now because you really do have to pay attention to pitch. I think doing arpeggios are way easier IMO less friction.

 

[Digital Jams]

What's the matter, the metal kids at maplifiers dont want to play with ya?