Diesel Posted January 25, 2007 Report Share Posted January 25, 2007 Folks,I'm looking for thoughts, experiences, hints, tips etc on scalloped fretboards.Anyone who's seen my recent wanted post will know that I'm after a Steinberger or Hohner headless guitar (like the wee short-arsed one EVH used in the 80's).I have the opportunity of buying one, but it has a professionally scalloped fretboard. The guitar is in London, I'm up up here, so trying it out first is not an option.It's not particularly expensive, so it might be worth the risk.They are hard to come by and I just missed out on a standard one on eBay, but I want to have secured one before the end of Feb, when I head off.I appreciate that it may be a matter of taste, but any advice would be most welcome.Many thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottyboy Posted January 25, 2007 Report Share Posted January 25, 2007 never tried one but i understand they are great for shredding (you barely need to touch the string to fret it), not so great for string bending and vibrato, and that's basically it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest b-bert Posted January 25, 2007 Report Share Posted January 25, 2007 what i had heard is that it doesnt make you play quicker (the action will still be the same) but allows for greater grip/control of bends. But then again never played on a guitar with a scalloped neck so it may just be the internet rumor mill at work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Cynic Posted January 26, 2007 Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 I've got an ancient lute guitar with scalloped frets, and it makes sliding along the string very easy. String bends are crap on it, but that's probably cos it's nylon strung, rather than the scalloped frets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DustyDeviada Posted January 26, 2007 Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 The only time I've ever seen one was when we used to play gigs with Pure Lead, their guitarist had scalloped one of his guitars. I think they have reformed as Liars Dice now.You might want to check out some reviews of the Malmsteem strat on Harmony Central, it has a scalloped fretboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoonie Posted January 26, 2007 Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 billy sheehan's attitude bass has scalloped frets over the 12th on the D&G strings. it's something that's always intrigued me but there aren't many opportunities to try them out. /x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HateEvent Posted January 26, 2007 Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 Less wood under the strings and such mean that using a lighter touch will let you play across the strings alot quicker (apparently).I've never tried one though so can't confirm that or anything :S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hog Posted January 26, 2007 Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 I dont like seafood.Im sure Mr Cynic can better that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest b-bert Posted January 26, 2007 Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 from good old Wikipedia:Advantages and disadvantagesThe "scooped out" nature of scalloped fingerboards creates a number a changes in the way the guitar plays.Most obvious, is that the string only comes into contact with the frets of the guitar, not the fingerboard itself, creating less friction for bends and vibratos, which results in more overall control while playing. Another advantage is that the player only needs to apply a fraction of the pressure to a scalloped fingerboard to make the note sound, as compared to a traditional fingerboard. This allows the guitarist to play faster, because they don't have to invest as much effort into fretting each note.However, that is also one of the main disadvantages. Many players, especially new players, may find a scalloped fingerboard to be too different to play easily. And it does take practice to play well on a scalloped fingerboard. The player has to first become accustomed to not actually touching the fingerboard, which may take a while in itself. Playing a scalloped fingerboard also requires a careful balance of pressure; because too much pressure can change the pitch of the fretted note, as during a bend, and too little pressure can cause fret buzz. As a result the majority players choose to use a traditional fingerboard on their instruments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Cynic Posted January 26, 2007 Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 I dont like seafood.Im sure Mr Cynic can better that one.Dear dear....this wasn't the plaice for that joke!10 Fish/Seafood bands, etc...(Haven't we done this before???)Lee 'Scratch' PeriwinkleSmokie RobinsonDolly PartanBuckie Owens808 SkateAnemone of the SkateSquid RowRingo StarfishNew York DulseGoldfish Lookin' Chain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hog Posted January 26, 2007 Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 Squid Row*glass of red wine all over the computer screen* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel Posted January 27, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2007 Hey Cunts!Nae hijacking ma thread just for the halibut.Sling yer (fish)hook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan G Posted January 27, 2007 Report Share Posted January 27, 2007 Dear dear....this wasn't the plaice for that joke!10 Fish/Seafood bands, etc...(Haven't we done this before???)Lee 'Scratch' PeriwinkleSmokie RobinsonDolly PartanBuckie Owens808 SkateAnemone of the SkateSquid RowRingo StarfishNew York DulseGoldfish Lookin' ChainSepultunaPrawnteraGerri HalibutCod Forbid/Lamb Of Cod/Eyehatecod etc etc etcEel Big FishStickleback...and so forth! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Gold Posted January 27, 2007 Report Share Posted January 27, 2007 I never understood scalloped fret boards. Can't beat the feeling of wood on the fingers on a Sunday morning etc etc....I have a bad feeling that my entendre is going to be well and truely doubled there.But yes, Yngwie Malmsteen swears by 'em, so it's probably best to steer clear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Cynic Posted January 27, 2007 Report Share Posted January 27, 2007 Hey Cunts!Nae hijacking ma thread just for the halibut.Sling yer (fish)hookDamned good retort!But I've got to get 'Limpet Bizkit' off my (sea) chest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hog Posted January 27, 2007 Report Share Posted January 27, 2007 Im having a whale of a time reading this thread.If I had a (s)quid for each time I laughed I would be a rich man. Although I didnt understand some of these jokes because Im as thick as a plank(ton) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel Posted January 27, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2007 I surrender Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David B Posted January 28, 2007 Report Share Posted January 28, 2007 When you say "I surrender" you lead me perfectly into my brief reply.I am a fan of Ritchie Blackmore and read many years ago that he played scalloped fretboards.The article said that it really suited his style because he never usually played more than 3 strings at a time.Does that mean that it is less suitable for playing full chords? That seemed to be the implication. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel Posted January 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2007 All - I've sourced an "unscalloped" Hohner GT3, so thank you all for your input, aquatic or otherwise.The general conscensus is "barge-pole" on the scallops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel Posted January 29, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2007 All - I've sourced an "unscalloped" Hohner GT3, so thank you all for your input, aquatic or otherwise.The general conscensus is "barge-pole" on the scallops FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK !!!!Fuckin' bastardin' FUCK!!!!The one I've sourced is a LEFT-HANDER.FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!I'm NEVER going to get one of these, Oh Lord, why do you taunt me so ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundian Posted January 29, 2007 Report Share Posted January 29, 2007 When you say "I surrender" you lead me perfectly into my brief reply.I am a fan of Ritchie Blackmore and read many years ago that he played scalloped fretboards.The article said that it really suited his style because he never usually played more than 3 strings at a time.Does that mean that it is less suitable for playing full chords? That seemed to be the implication. It's probably because you don't have a fretboard to stop you when you exert too much pressure on a string. I imagine it's easy enough (with practice) to play a few notes at a time when but if you try a barre chord for example, it would be very difficult to apply the same (light) amount of pressure to each string. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voodoo_chile Posted January 30, 2007 Report Share Posted January 30, 2007 why not try scalloping it yourself..whats the worst that could happen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DustyDeviada Posted January 30, 2007 Report Share Posted January 30, 2007 FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK !!!!Fuckin' bastardin' FUCK!!!!The one I've sourced is a LEFT-HANDER.FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!I'm NEVER going to get one of these, Oh Lord, why do you taunt me so ???Ha! Surely though in the same way that a Hofner bass is easy to convert between right/left handed, a Steinberger would be the same? Probably just need a new nut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gasss Posted January 30, 2007 Report Share Posted January 30, 2007 I'm sorry......I tried to resist. I really did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel Posted January 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2007 I'm sorry......I tried to resist. I really did.You really should have - jizzing all over the nice man's shitey fretboard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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