Musiclogic
Commercial User
- Aug 6, 2005
- 6,505
- 73
- 60
- Disclosures
- Owner/Builder: HJC Customs USA, The Cool Lute, C G O
See youtube for jigs. There are a number of "radius jigs" demonstrated , and might give you some clarification. 
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Fretless fretboard radius
- Thread starter Fleo
- Start date
Not going to jump into the flat vs radius question but I don't see anyone answering the original question about nut height. Imo on a fretless the nut slots should be almost down to the fingerboard. I like about 0.015 inches, about the thickness of a business card.
Here's an example of the fingerboard radiusing jig (this one is sold by Grizzly, and I believe the one that they show in the Roscoe video).
G0577 Fretboard Radius Attachment Only
YouTube - roscoeguitars's Channel
G0577 Fretboard Radius Attachment Only
YouTube - roscoeguitars's Channel
RedLeg
Supporting Member
Fleo, you also asked about nut-height.
I am not a builder, but all my fretlesses, which include a couple of Wals, a Zon, a Fender Jazz and a custom, have nuts where the strings either are touching the fingerboard as they come out and over the nut and down the fingerboard, or are just a hair above. I keep my necks very straight with low action and get great fretless growl.
I am not a builder, but all my fretlesses, which include a couple of Wals, a Zon, a Fender Jazz and a custom, have nuts where the strings either are touching the fingerboard as they come out and over the nut and down the fingerboard, or are just a hair above. I keep my necks very straight with low action and get great fretless growl.
Thank you all for the replies.
Her are some pictures before the job is done. At this moment Sander de Gier of Invalid Link Removed is adjusting the radius.
After reading Jaco's bio and hearing all of the mentioned recordings on the net, I really got into fretless. Still a wannabee ''Greatest Bass Player in the World".
Her are some pictures before the job is done. At this moment Sander de Gier of Invalid Link Removed is adjusting the radius.
After reading Jaco's bio and hearing all of the mentioned recordings on the net, I really got into fretless. Still a wannabee ''Greatest Bass Player in the World".
Attachments
Here's a shot of my jig.
Invalid Link Removed
which is my version of this one by Ledbelli Bass
If I'm seeing this right ( I'm new to building ), the router follows the path determined by the curved ends of the box the rails are sitting on? If I'm right ( LOL ) that's a cool jig and I would imagine a HUGE time, stress saver.
SDB Guitars
Commercial User
Big B. said:
It just seems to me that a blanket statement like the one quoted above only samples a very narrow demographic, and is of limited statistical value.
It's funny... I've been building professionally for 10 years now, and have only in the last 9 months or so started doing flat fingerboards. I've only done them on fretless instruments, so far, but I've really enjoyed the feel, as have others who've played my instruments.
Normally I radius my fretted 4-string basses (and 6-string guitars) to 12", and my 5- and 6- string basses compound, from 12" at the nut to around 24" at the 24th fret.
As for nut height, on fretless instruments I like the strings to actually rest on the edge of the fingerboard, with the nut acting mostly as a string guide, but not setting the height of the string. Same idea as using a zero fret on fretted instruments.
C'mon folks, it's just an opinion , but it is based on MY experience as a luthier and as a professional bassist. IMO almost every opinion is a blanket statement. Its based strictly on my personal experience with people I know who have started building instruments, including myself, threads that I have seen right here in the LC and other successful luthiers I have spoken with. Most of them made their first instrument or two, as did I, with a flat board because it was easier. If not, they ordered a pre radiused board instead, but that still makes my point for me about it being more common among less experienced builders. All of these builders went on to start using radiused boards instead. In fact, I went back and radiused that first bass after the fact to help fix the "problem". I am not saying some people dont like flat boards, and if you do, please dont let me stop you, but I think it is fair to say that most people find some sort of radius more comfortable or the incredible vast majority of commercial builders wouldnt go through the time and effort needed to radius a board if they could just run it across a jointer and glue it to the neck. I cant think of one major bass maker who uses a flat board as the standard radius. If there is please let me know, I am here to learn just like anyone else.
, but it is based on MY experience as a luthier and as a professional bassist. IMO almost every opinion is a blanket statement. Its based strictly on my personal experience with people I know who have started building instruments, including myself, threads that I have seen right here in the LC and other successful luthiers I have spoken with. Most of them made their first instrument or two, as did I, with a flat board because it was easier. If not, they ordered a pre radiused board instead, but that still makes my point for me about it being more common among less experienced builders. All of these builders went on to start using radiused boards instead. In fact, I went back and radiused that first bass after the fact to help fix the "problem". I am not saying some people dont like flat boards, and if you do, please dont let me stop you, but I think it is fair to say that most people find some sort of radius more comfortable or the incredible vast majority of commercial builders wouldnt go through the time and effort needed to radius a board if they could just run it across a jointer and glue it to the neck. I cant think of one major bass maker who uses a flat board as the standard radius. If there is please let me know, I am here to learn just like anyone else.
