Necks with rolled edges

[Nephilymbass]

Have owned 20 something basses over the years. Sharp fretboard edges has never been one of my complaints

 

[M.R. Ogle]

I really noticed it on the SIRE that was in the shop. VERY rolled edges.

 

[Bassngtr]

My Sire M2 5 string has rolled edges and they are sweet. Never touched a Sire neck w/o rolled edges so cannot compare.

One note of minor significance: I noticed it was easy to accidentally pull my G string off the fretboard, until I got used to having a little less FLAT real estate width wise. Don't be put off because of this, I got used to it quickly, but this would be my only Con to a rolled FB.

 

[iammr2]

Rolled edges definitely increase the comfortability. I find it to be a "must have".

 

[Fresh Eddie]

Me too. I generally use the side of the shaft on a screwdriver or similar tool. If you apply hard, even pressure along the length of the neck edge, the wood compresses and it can come out looking pretty good.
Noticeable difference in playability but you might also have to re-dress your fret ends a bit afterwards cuz it will feel like they stick out more. Although I've used it on a maple board, it is not recommended for maple with the thick coat of varnish as it will crack. I've heard you can use a razor blade to shave off material on those types of neck edges.

edit: I just saw your comment @FreshEddie
Looks like you know that trick too.

In all honesty, I'm pretty sure I learned that trick here (TalkBass rules).

 

[cmcbass]

On unfinished boards I use a fine sanding sponge on the edge to smooth things out if I find it a bit sharp. I dont heavily roll them, but I find it feels better in the hand.

 

[andare]

All American Fender necks (built in the Mexican factory I believe) have rolled edges. It's a premium feature for MIA Fenders, just like decent fretwork...

Personally I don't feel the edges even on a wider board but I'll definitely do it to any unfinished wood like rosewood/pau ferro/Indian laurel because it's very simple and I usually have to dress and polish the frets anyway - I can only afford Squiers and MIM fenders and they all have sharp fret ends.

My Player Precision has sharp edges but it's a glossy maple fretboard (glued on the maple neck, unlike the one-piece maple necks on the Vinteras) so it'll stay that way. It's no big deal unlike the fret sprout and sharp ends. I will definitely take care of those soon.

Weirdly enough my 2020 Squier Bronco has rolled edges on an unfinished one-piece maple neck+fretboard while its cousin the Mini Precision had sharp edges on the Indian laurel board (now rolled by me).

For me it's all about nicely flush, beveled, dressed and polished frets.

 

[pineweasel]

My Sire M2 5 string has rolled edges and they are sweet. Never touched a Sire neck w/o rolled edges so cannot compare.

I wouldn’t describe the Sires as having rolled edges. They have a proper rounded profile applied to them, far more pronounced that the gentle knocking off of the sharp edge that rolling produces.

 

[Shawn Luckman]

Love the feel of the neck on my 2014 Am.Std Precision. So much so that if I ever bought another one the neck, would have to have a rolled edged fingerboard.

 

[Engle]

I went shopping a few months ago.
Tried the new Fender '50s Vintera P bass, thought it looked great in Seafoam Green and was really looking forward to buying it.
I also tried the Epiphone '60s Thunderbird.
No rolled edges on the Fender, but the Epiphone?
Couldn't put it down.
If I'd never before played a bass with a neck that had rolled fretboard edges, the difference would've been obvious within the first minute.
I have played basses with rolled edges, though, but I simply didn't know you could expect such quality on a $700 bass.
The T-bird blew the Fender out of the water...incredible tone...but the comfort of the neck was definitely the deciding factor.

Watch out! Tbirds have really horrible neck dive, the headstock snaps off if you look at it the wrong way, and they sound so muddy you’ll never be heard again playing with a band

 

[maxschrek]

Rolled fretboard edges=very good

 

[scubaduba]

Devon basses take rolled edges to another level.

 

[Rev. Cornelius]

I like the rolled edges on my Fender Active Flea.

 

[ELG60]

I think..........all the old Fender 50s P Basses with maple necks had rolled edges. Then in 1959, they started using rosewood and the rolled edges thing kind of stopped. Please don't quote me on this. Rolled edges feel nice but they do narrow up the neck width a little bit. Not much but a little. Then in the 70s, they started offering maple again but I have no idea if the edges were rolled. (In the late 60s, the Telecaster Bass was born with maple neck but I don't know if the maple edges were rolled. Perhaps someone can chime in.)/QUOTE]

I have a de-fretted '71 Jazz with a maple board. It's blocked and bound like any other of that era. My 3 Devons are equipped with rolled edges. They feel superb, however I've noticed that I have a propensity to slip the G strings off their necks which I attribute to my inadequacy in technique and/or focus rather than some fault in the design of those instruments.

Here's a close-up of the '71:

 

[chris_b]

My 1989 Musicman SR5 didn't have rolled edges to the fretboard. That was the main reason I sold it. The feel of the neck started to annoy me after awhile.

I've made sure every bass since has had rolled edges.

 

[LBS-bass]

I wouldn’t describe the Sires as having rolled edges. They have a proper rounded profile applied to them, far more pronounced that the gentle knocking off of the sharp edge that rolling produces.

That's what Sire calls it, though.

OUR CRAFT

 

[Rip Van Dan]

In particular the Fender rolled edges necks, haven’t played one, is it a thing,noticeable difference?

Since I've been playing a Jazz Bass sing 1966, I was considering a 5-string Jazz about 10-years ago or so. Local music store had one so I picked it up and tried playing it. It had a wider neck of course, which was expected, but the straight edges of the neck were terribly uncomfortable. I just hung it back up and thought, well, that's no good! Outside of that one time, I've never really paid attention to it. I do know that Sire came out with rolled edges on their Generation 2 basses to the point you could find a lot of first generation Sire basses at really good prices for a while.

I just looked at my current 5-string and it does not have rolled edges, but it's not uncomfortable to play. So I guess there are both, straight edges and uncomfortably straight edges that can come on bass necks. My guess would be the flatter the neck (larger the radius) the more pronounced the problem would be...but that's a guess.

 

[Jack Butler]

All of mine have rolled edges .
Fender Elite Jazz V , USA Geddy Lee, and Classic Vibe 60’s Precision.
Even my Sire V3-5.

The cv precision came with rolled edges?

 

[Drifter8230]

Man...I don't know if I would take a screwdriver to the neck of any of my basses that sounds crazy to me!

But...if I were to acquire a "beater bass" I might experiment a little.

 

[Cutter8]

To me, it makes a big difference. If I get a bass with a "standard" fretboard, typically I roll the edges and round/polish the fret ends so they are flush with the radius of the rolled edges.