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Post by UnklMickey on Sept 29, 2005 13:51:15 GMT -5
i'm not sure if this post belongs here or in Guitars or the Coffee Shop. it's not about how to do it, just what can be done.
last weekend, went to see a percussionist friend of mine filling in on a gig at a local club. chatted with the guitarist, got lots of answers to technical questions (he used to work in a lutherie) and at the end of the night he invited me to try out his guitar.
it is a custom built, maple neck (rosewood fretboard), mahogany body, strat shaped axe. locking nut, floyd rose tremolo (oops, i mean vibrato) 3 plastic covered springs (he DOESN'T like "built in reverb"), HB at the bridge, SC at the neck. no pickguard top routs for the pickups, partial rear routs for controls and springs. simple 3way switch and one volume control. NO tone control. an interesting configuration on it's own. played without an amp it sounds WAY more like a 'Paul than a Strat. quiet, lots of sustain. but to make a short story long, whats more noteworthy about it was the fretboard. it was scalloped.
For those of you who have never experienced a scalloped fretboard, lets me say this: I guarantee you will HATE it for at least the first 5 minutes! the strangest playing experience i have ever had. if you play midway between the frets where most of the wood has been carved away, the natural tendency is to pressed hard 'til you feel the board against your finger. not only is this next to impossible to achieve, but you bend the note way sharp.
after a few minutes you learn to use a light touch, just behind the fret. after that you discover that as you bend a note (laterally - not by downward pressure) that there is no friction or drag between your finger and the fretboard, 'cause your finger is a LONG way above the fretboard.
just about that time, you get this silly grin on your face as you go from thinking "why the hell would anyone DO this to a fine instrument!" to "Oh, i get it now!"
mind you, i'm not recommending that everyone go out and get their fretboards scalloped. it's not for everyone, in fact i'm not sure yet if it's for me. i wonder if the same thing could be achieved with "more than jumbo" frets. that would certainly be reversible.
bottom line: if you ever get the chance to play one, don't pass it up!
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Post by Happyguy on Oct 8, 2005 9:03:26 GMT -5
I scalloped one of my guitar and I love it. I now play almost exclusively that guitar. I have found that playing a scalloped guitar has improved my playing because I now always press lightly just behing the frets, on any guitar.
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Post by RJB on Oct 11, 2005 11:56:03 GMT -5
I tried a BC Rich guitar a while back that had REALLy tall frets. I could get better than a 1/2 step bend just by pressing the string down. You could almost consider that a "lightly" scalloped neck.
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Post by nowhereismyhome on Nov 22, 2005 18:42:54 GMT -5
Any info on how to scallop a guitar neck? Or is it not something for the average DIYer?
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Post by bam on Nov 23, 2005 6:15:38 GMT -5
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Post by nowhereismyhome on Nov 23, 2005 12:34:17 GMT -5
Looks tough. Here's a different question for your guys. I've got some stains on my fretboard (from god knows what) and I'd like to get rid of them. What's the best thing to use? Sandpaper? Bleach? Its a maple neck...
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Post by dunkelfalke on Nov 23, 2005 16:56:25 GMT -5
if it is unlaquered then you can use the side of your plec to scratch away the worst dirt and then use some fretboard oil (lemon oil+solvents) on it
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