fretboard???

[dremy2006]

What are the advantages / disadvantages of a no radius fretboard?

[vbasscustom]

i find that a flat, or something like a 25 inch radius, plays easier than a smaller radius, ie, 7,8,9 inches. i dont know why, but they seem to

[Upright Joe]

I believe the main purpose of putting a radius on a fretboard is comfort. It allows the top string to be closer to the bottom string while maintaining the same distance between adjacent strings. It also better follows the curve of your fingers.

Aggressively small radii on an electric guitar can be problematic because they will fret out when bending - especially on an instrument with very low action. This generally shouldn't be a problem on bass. I'm sure there's somebody out there who bends two steps regularly on a bass but I haven't met them.

Otherwise, it's all about personal preference. Play what feels best to you.

[jworrellbass]

Is this for a build your working on? And if so are you wanting not to radius the f.b? I'm just wondering.

A radiused board for me is better, I like a 13 inch radius. I think it has to do with the natural curve of your hand.

The amount of radius depends on how wide the f.b. is, the wider your fb the more you lose in thickness on the outer edges.

[dremy2006]

yes its for a build I'm working on.. and thank you all for all the info..the reason I ask, I have a 12" radius block and I started to sand it down..and then I felt pain in my arms...lol... and I said to myself...mannnnnnnnnnn.. I think I'm just gonna flat this back out!!.so that where this Q??? comes from....(Laziness) on my part and need some patience.....

[jworrellbass]

Try 60 grit for your first sanding. I used to start with 80, 60's much faster.

As far as the pain in your arm you just need to build up those muscles. No pain no gain.

[dremy2006]

got it... thank you

[ctmullins]

Personally, I find larger radii much more comfortable to play. My Tobias has something like a 20" radius on the board (dunno for sure, never measured). Much flatter than my other instruments, and I really like it.

BUT - don't let the sanding dictate the radius you use! Find out what radius your hands like, and do what it takes to get there. A little extra effort now will pay off down the road. You can't very easily change the radius after you've fretted it, and you wouldn't want to end up with an instrument that feels uncomfortable in your hands.

[Jools4001]

Don't shoot me 'cos this is only my opinion, but I think that radiused fingerboards are a hangover from:

Either, the radiused board on a double bass which is obviously needed to enable it to be played with a bow.

Or, a throwback from the electric basses odevelopment from the guitar where the radius helps comfort on barre chords.

I know that some bass players also use barre chords as well, I do so myself, but the bass is most often used to play a single line and, for that purpose, I can't see any real advantages of a radiused board.

All of my current basses have a radius, but the more I think about it the more I would like to go completely flat for my next bass. I've dabbled with classical guitar and I know that I enjoy the feel of a flat board on them.

[Beej]

I like boards with no radius, but I also don't mind having one.

I've played classical for ages and am used to a flat board, but all my electrics have radii, so really, I have no idea why I'm even posting this...

[Cy_Miles]

Originally Posted by Beej

I like boards with no radius, but I also don't mind having one.

I've played classical for ages and am used to a flat board, but all my electrics have radii, so really, I have no idea why I'm even posting this...

why? because "I have used both and I have no preference" is a perfectly valid and valuable response to the OP.

[Beej]

I guess I forgot the obligatory smiley, so here's two: