Scalloped frets? pros/cons

curly bassist · #1 03-30-2011, 03:05 PM

Wasnt really sure where to post this so apologies if this is the wrong place!

Im interested in scalloped frets - how would i go about doing this and what are the advantages/disadvantages?

Has anybody got any experiences with this?

Thanks

FunkMetalBass · #2 03-30-2011, 03:16 PM

There are plenty of written tutorials online (I believe projectguitar.com has one), as well as youtube videos that discuss scalloping.

Advantages - bending. This is the entire purpose for scalloping. It allows you to physically push the string down toward the fretboard in conjunction with bending the string for easier/larger pitch shifts.

Disadvantages - bending. If you play with a relatively heavy fretting hand, you will likely be sharp everywhere on the fretboard from fretting too hard and accidentally bending the string.

curly bassist · #3 03-30-2011, 03:22 PM

i see, thanks a lot.
I was told by a friend that the main reason for getting frets scalloped was to allow you to play faster, but your reasoning makes much more sense!

Thanks for enlightening me.

testing1two · #4 03-30-2011, 03:36 PM

Scalloped fingerboards require playing with a lighter touch with your fretting hand since pressing the string too hard will pull the notes sharp. Developing this touch can lead to greater speed (with your fretting hand anyways) but you can do this on almost any standard fingerboard.

As stated before the only real advantage is substantial leverage for bending.

grisezd · #5 03-30-2011, 04:18 PM

I've found on a guitar that my fat, flabby finger meat doesn't touch wood when I play a scalloped neck and I like this. I've not played a scalloped bass but I'd imagine that sensation isn't so much there.

The huge advantage to a scalloped neck guitar is that your friends will hate to play it. I've seen some draw blood expecting to get the finger on the wood. Yay.

gjbassist · #6 03-30-2011, 04:28 PM

The cheese will stick to your fingers!

(Sorry, I couldn't resist)

FretlessMainly · #7 03-30-2011, 05:31 PM

There's no such thing as scalloped frets; as others have posted, it's a scalloped fingerboard. The best example I can give you is Ritchie Blackmore. If you listen to some of that stuff he did, especially live, with Deep Purple Mark II, that crazy quick bending sound is a scalloped fingerboard.

I certainly would not say that it makes you faster if you use it to generate that type of sound (probably would slow you down, actually).

walterw · #8 03-30-2011, 08:53 PM

i don't really see a point for bass;

one, the strings are fat enough that your fingers don't often touch wood anyway.

two, the purpose of scalloping is to facilitate bending, which is not such a huge part of bass playing.

SLaPiNFuNK · #9 03-31-2011, 05:27 AM

If your gonna do it anywhere, its going to be 15-18th frett and higher...

Step · #10 03-31-2011, 05:46 AM

billy sheehan's yamaha sig bass has a few places in the FB that are scalloped, check it out. Maybe you could find one and try it to see if it suits you or has a real benefit

otis_thick · #11 03-31-2011, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gjbassist

The cheese will stick to your fingers!

(Sorry, I couldn't resist)

You beat me to it .... " I am not a fan of "cheeze" on my bass
Yingy made some pretty good money with that little trick!!!

Chrisk-K · #12 03-31-2011, 06:03 AM

Quote:

i don't really see a point for bass;

one, the strings are fat enough that your fingers don't often touch wood anyway.

two, the purpose of scalloping is to facilitate bending, which is not such a huge part of bass playing.

+100,000,000

NKBassman · #13 03-31-2011, 06:40 AM

I used to have a Yamaha Attitude bass which had some scalloping from around 18-21 or so on the D and G strings. On the odd time I found my way up into that region, I quickly found I hated it. I found it way harder to fret the notes consistently and it always felt like the strings would bend away from my fingers even when I didn't want them to. I blame my fret hand technique, but it was still annoying.