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Fretless fretboard radius

#2
Yes. Not everyone is going to agree but IME you will find very few professional luthiers that build basses with flat boards because most people just dont find them as comfortable. Most of the people I see who expouse the virtues of flat fingerboards are amatuer luthiers who dont want to deal with properly radiusing the board. I am a six string guy and I would find a six string with no radius very uncomfortable. IMO a flat board makes the inner strings feel sunken in and harder to get to. Of course all of this is just my opinion so take it for what it's worth. :smug:
 
#4
my very first bass was a fretless with a flat fretboard... i didn't like it... now i put a radius on every board... what radius is up to you!!! i like 12 or 16... 10 is a bit to round for me and would only use it on a 4 string or on special request...

but be very careful when making the fb radius!!! here technique counts a lot how precise are you going to make it... making some sort of a jig and using belt sanders is the best and easiest way... me and my friend build a jig like that but at the end my process of building didn't allow me to put my neck in that jig!!! so i had to do it the best way i could... use a good old aluminium long radius block from sewmac!!!
 
#7
Have you ever tried a flat fingerboard? I find I prefer them and have made several. A lot also has to how you like your string heights set. I tend to set them up straight horizontally across the top for the right hand, but then again most of my boards are flat.

Yeah I'm no huge builder, but I have been playing for a long time, so I find that comment that only rookies do flat fingerboards stereotypically generic and comical. But that's the kind of thing that makes web forums an interesting diverse place.

Fretless is a wonderful thing, you can't lose either way. :)
Good luck,
Dirk
 
#8
I prefer a flat board on a fretless just seems much easier to play to me. I now find things like 9.5" very uncomfortable and more a throw back to double basses than any real need for it on a bass.
I have quiet a few basses with flat boards out and the customers seem to be happy with them several are on to second basses and keep with the flat board. Not for every body but a lot of the time most players have never tried one and stick with what they know.
 
#10
I think it is more about the player than any specific skill level of the builder. I do see more players wanting to try flat boards, And a lot of guys using them regularly. Like Alan said, it's not for everyone, but it is in demand enough that we all have it as an option. I have both flat and radius basses, and prefer the flat, but feel very little difference from my cambered boards, that's just me.
 
#11
I apreciate all your comments, and agree on some of you who say that it makes the overall flow playing across the string feel unnatural especially playin on outer strings the feel is like à counter curved hollow fb. I' m gonna fix this asap. Reading Jaco by Bill Milkowsky inspired me to complete this long run project .

Ever seen à double Bass or cello with à flat board? No? There must be good reason for that.
 
#13
fuNKmaster83 said:
my very first bass was a fretless with a flat fretboard... i didn't like it... now i put a radius on every board... what radius is up to you!!! i like 12 or 16... 10 is a bit to round for me and would only use it on a 4 string or on special request...

but be very careful when making the fb radius!!! here technique counts a lot how precise are you going to make it... making some sort of a jig and using belt sanders is the best and easiest way... me and my friend build a jig like that but at the end my process of building didn't allow me to put my neck in that jig!!! so i had to do it the best way i could... use a good old aluminium long radius block from sewmac!!!
Click to expand...

Thanks, can You explain beltsanding?
 
#14
Everyone has different size hands, different bone geometry, different training, technique, playing style, preffered number of strings/spacing/height/neck width/thickness/scale length/.... mix in a little "my-bass-idol-said-blah-about-blah" and other nonsense and this is a fantastically subjective topic, and it's nonsense to make any claims that one is better than another for anyone but yourself. Make what you think you'll like, and if you don't like it make something else. Good luck!
 
#15
Fleo said:
I apreciate all your comments, and agree on some of you who say that it makes the overall flow playing across the string feel unnatural especially playin on outer strings the feel is like à counter curved hollow fb. I' m gonna fix this asap. Reading Jaco by Bill Milkowsky inspired me to complete this long run project .

Ever seen à double Bass or cello with à flat board? No? There must be good reason for that.
Click to expand...

Yes, the reason is so that the strings can be bowed correctly. Not necessary on a bass guitar.
But, being a double bass player, I prefer some radius on my bass guitar too.
 
#16
first you have to have a belt sander... horizontal is best!!!
the flat sanding area must be long enough to fit the entire board on there... then you must make some sort of a jig that acts like a swing... it is pivoted at predetermined hight and this hight is your radius!!! the way you secure the neck on there is up to you...we use vacuum so only fb by itself or not shaped neck get a chance to enter our jig...

when every thing is ready start the belt sander and lover the fb and wing away... check the board from time to time to lower it more or not...
 
#17
Fleo said:
What's à hybrid ?
Click to expand...

radius_profile2.gif
 
#18
fuNKmaster83 said:
first you have to have a belt sander... horizontal is best!!!
the flat sanding area must be long enough to fit the entire board on there... then you must make some sort of a jig that acts like a swing... it is pivoted at predetermined hight and this hight is your radius!!! the way you secure the neck on there is up to you...we use vacuum so only fb by itself or not shaped neck get a chance to enter our jig...

when every thing is ready start the belt sander and lover the fb and wing away... check the board from time to time to lower it more or not...
Click to expand...

I think Roscoe has a video showing this...t
 
#20
fuNKmaster83 said:
first you have to have a belt sander... horizontal is best!!!
the flat sanding area must be long enough to fit the entire board on there... then you must make some sort of a jig that acts like a swing... it is pivoted at predetermined hight and this hight is your radius!!! the way you secure the neck on there is up to you...we use vacuum so only fb by itself or not shaped neck get a chance to enter our jig...

when every thing is ready start the belt sander and lover the fb and wing away... check the board from time to time to lower it more or not...
Click to expand...

I would love to see pics of this jig.
 

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