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03-27-2011, 11:34 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pasco, WA | | | Most Common Non-compound Fingerboard Radius?
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Information seeking . . .
I know that a Stingray 5 is 9.5" constant radius . . .
What are some of the other, most popular, radius'? |
03-27-2011, 12:42 PM
|  | Registered User
Owner/Builder: HJC Customs USA, The Cool Lute, C G O | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Southwest Michigan | | | Fender 7.25, 9.5, and 10. 12 is common for newer instruments, and for most modern basses 16 and 20, 24 for 6 strings(Yamaha) most notably.
Last edited by Musiclogic : 03-27-2011 at 01:00 PM.
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03-27-2011, 12:48 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pasco, WA | | | Also, I stand corrected: the radius for a Stingray 5 is 11"
So, from a playability standpoint . . . pros and cons to more or less curve? |
03-27-2011, 12:49 PM
| | Banned
Endorsing Artist: MLaghus Custom Basses | | Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Boca Raton - FL | | | Hmmm...
Fender Jazz - 7.25" |
03-27-2011, 12:59 PM
| | Registered User
Owner/Builder: HJC Customs USA, The Cool Lute, C G O | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Southwest Michigan | | | Flatter radius allows for easier bending without the string choking it out.
This is subjective to the player, and can be dictated by style and natural curvature of the fingers also. Most players I do work for prefer flatter radius(12" - 20") because they can play more quickly around the board. Most average players don't know the difference due to lack of comparisons in their experience.
Yes, Alex is correct,(for some models of Jazz bass, NOT ALL) the 2 skipped on my blackberry.
Last edited by Musiclogic : 03-27-2011 at 01:08 PM.
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03-27-2011, 01:16 PM
| | Banned
Endorsing Artist: MLaghus Custom Basses | | Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Boca Raton - FL | | | Very subjective...
When I'm playing a 7.25" 4 string my playing gets more basic, the ideas are raw and more "in the pocket".
Playing a 16" 5 string 24 frets my playing gets faster and the ideas change. I become a more modern "thinking" bass player.
I actually like both and everything in between, it really depends on what kind of music I'm playing. Totally flat boards feel strange to me... |
03-27-2011, 01:22 PM
|  | Less barking, more wagging! | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Diego, CA | | | How many strings we talking about?
Personally, I prefer a flatter FB; the more strings, the larger the radius. I had a very strong interest in a 5-string NS Omnibass until I found out the FB radius is 4". |
03-27-2011, 01:35 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pasco, WA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Jazzdogg  How many strings we talking about?
Personally, I prefer a flatter FB; the more strings, the larger the radius. I had a very strong interest in a 5-string NS Omnibass until I found out the FB radius is 4". | 4, 5, or 6 strings
F-Bass uses a 10-16 compound. Mine have (of late) been 9-16.
But I'm thinking of going to a constant radius . . . |
03-27-2011, 02:13 PM
| | Registered User
Owner/Builder: HJC Customs USA, The Cool Lute, C G O | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Southwest Michigan | | | If you offer a variety of radii, you will be able to cater to a wider variety of customer, but if you are set on a specific, look at who your clientele is. If they are soloists, then something flatter will suffice, if they are ensemble players, look to a more vintage camber. |
03-27-2011, 03:30 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Canadia | | | ^ I agree with JC here, radius is such a personal preference thing that I think limiting choices may limit customers. Your basses are so appealing and part of the appeal in my opinion, is the "bespoke" nature of the product you offer. Having more choices makes it more like buying a Mercedes and less like a Cadillac. They are both sweet, but if you want the extra touches, you have more choices with a Mercedes.
For me personally, I like a flatter radius with more strings, but I also like being able to choose to a certain extent. At least between a few options. Some limits will of course be deal-breakers for some customers but might not be flexible due to your own production limits. I know that some things would kill a deal for me. One would be string spacing. If I could only have 3/4", I'd be moving on to another product. I'm sure radius is similar for some... |
03-27-2011, 05:37 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Granada, Spain | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Musiclogic If you offer a variety of radii, you will be able to cater to a wider variety of customer, but if you are set on a specific, look at who your clientele is. If they are soloists, then something flatter will suffice, if they are ensemble players, look to a more vintage camber. | +1
__________________ Quote:
Originally Posted by steveksux If you hear something out of tune, slap the guitar player. That fixes it 99% of the time. | |
03-27-2011, 08:14 PM
| | Less barking, more wagging! | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Diego, CA | | | Hey Cleve, if it helps, the two basses I enjoy playing the most are a '73 4-string P-bass , and a Lakland 55-02 5-string (both fretless, if that's germain).
IIRC, the radius of my P-bass is around 9".
The Lakland is listed as compound 10" - 13". |
03-27-2011, 08:34 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: MA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by bajerovaquero | That was interesting, I never thought about that. Now I want to make my current build a compound radius...    |
03-27-2011, 09:22 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pasco, WA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Beej ^ I agree with JC here, radius is such a personal preference thing that I think limiting choices may limit customers. Your basses are so appealing and part of the appeal in my opinion, is the "bespoke" nature of the product you offer. Having more choices makes it more like buying a Mercedes and less like a Cadillac. They are both sweet, but if you want the extra touches, you have more choices with a Mercedes.
For me personally, I like a flatter radius with more strings, but I also like being able to choose to a certain extent. At least between a few options. Some limits will of course be deal-breakers for some customers but might not be flexible due to your own production limits. I know that some things would kill a deal for me. One would be string spacing. If I could only have 3/4", I'd be moving on to another product. I'm sure radius is similar for some... | Duly noted! |
03-27-2011, 09:25 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pasco, WA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by bajerovaquero | Again, duly noted.
I've always been a believer in the compound fingerboard radius, genuinely so . . . but the temptation is to simplify.
But, not if simplify means compromise . . . |
03-28-2011, 04:05 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Granada, Spain | | Quote:
Originally Posted by barnaclebeau | Why?
The point in the article is more about levelling string paths rather than build a compound radius which will generate a conical surface.
Also I understand that the difference between conical (compound) and cylindrical (constant) may be negligible when big radius is involved. 
__________________ Quote:
Originally Posted by steveksux If you hear something out of tune, slap the guitar player. That fixes it 99% of the time. |
Last edited by bajerovaquero : 03-28-2011 at 04:07 AM.
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03-28-2011, 06:54 AM
| | Registered User
Owner/Builder: HJC Customs USA, The Cool Lute, C G O | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Southwest Michigan | | Quote:
Originally Posted by LedBelli Bass Again, duly noted.
I've always been a believer in the compound fingerboard radius, genuinely so . . . but the temptation is to simplify.
But, not if simplify means compromise . . . | Cleve, here is a suggestion from the last person you want it from.
You have put forth an image of artisan inflected builds with an attention to detail. This is what people now expect from you. You either continue on the path you have chosen or absorb the impact of doing what some will percieve as complacency. Keep you name in the right place, and offer options while sticking to your original scheme. In the long run it will pay off. Besides, options always make people feel like they are getting more. |
03-28-2011, 07:39 AM
|  | quid verum atque decens
Builder: Rickett Customs | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Southern Maryland | | ^^^^^^ The elder speaks truth 
In all honesty, I see where he's coming from.......... I feel you can also diversify and keep with your current scheme......... |
03-28-2011, 08:29 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Listowel/KW Ontario | | | You could just build a belt sander radius jig like someone, I forget who, posted recently. You could knock out a fret board in less than a minute, with a compound radius.
lowsound
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