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Rolled edges
- Thread starter marchone
- Start date
Quite a few of my basses developed fret sprout and the cure is simple, file back the fret edges, polish them up and while I'm at it I use a fret file to gently round the edge of the frets. I've never had one reoccur after this process so I assume it's a permanent or at least long term fix.
Not an issue as I don't bring my thumb up onto the fretboard.
I don’t even know which of my basses have rolled edges. I don’t think my hand touches the edges of the neck very much.
I have a Musikraft P-Bass style Maple neck with 1-3/4" nut width. After I heavily rolled the fingerboard edges, and gave the fret ends a semi-spherical profile, I was sold. Neck is significantly more comfortable, overall, and feels smaller, a bit more like a neck with 1-5/8" nut width.
As for fret sprout, it can be touched up with a small fret shaping file and Micro Mesh foam pads.
As for fret sprout, it can be touched up with a small fret shaping file and Micro Mesh foam pads.
I know that last summer I found the G&L site's promise of 'generous neck roll' very seductive
Sire Gen2 Fretless 5 has rolled edges and it’s a wonderful upgrade.
I roll the edges on all my basses - much more comfortable IME.
Fret sprout? Bang the tip back in gently with the handle end of a screwdriver.
Poorly shaped fret ends? Those require filing & proper shaping.
Fret sprout? Bang the tip back in gently with the handle end of a screwdriver.
Poorly shaped fret ends? Those require filing & proper shaping.
None of us were getting out much last summer.
Yet another marketing spiel I have zero interest in.
Might have small hands and short fingers but in 40 odd year of playing I've never felt the need to grab the neck like a bat.
My hands immediately notice when necks lack this refinement.
I don't like the way it feels. It feels like I loose a physical reference point.
Hate to break it to folk, but... Fender started rolling their fretboard edges in the late 90s. I bought a 2002 Fender American Deluxe Jazz after reading all about the new features of the new line. I worked at a Fender dealer for many years. Read a lot of literature during that time. The rolled edges aren't a new thing. Just old marketing hype. Big companies and major manufacturers did this on their main, upper end offerings. And not on their less expensive import lines.
As for me? I've played some of the widest necks in the industry since switching to 6 string basses in 93 or so. I prefer full spacing at the bridge, so my old necks were very, very wide. The edge of the fretboard does not touch my fretting hand at all during my playing. So, the feature means next to nothing to me. But, for those that do insist on it? It's a great time to be a player, as everyone is now adding the feature.
As for me? I've played some of the widest necks in the industry since switching to 6 string basses in 93 or so. I prefer full spacing at the bridge, so my old necks were very, very wide. The edge of the fretboard does not touch my fretting hand at all during my playing. So, the feature means next to nothing to me. But, for those that do insist on it? It's a great time to be a player, as everyone is now adding the feature.
I have a little fine grit sharpening stone I use when I have sprout. A few minutes with the stone and its all gone.
I never really thought of rolled edges until I bought a Warmoth neck and couldn't believe how sharp the edges of the fretboard were. It felt like it could slice you it was so sharp. It wasn't just uncomfortably not-rolled, it was almost like it was purposely made to be as uninvitingly sharp as possible. Ever since then I've paid attention to the edges of fretboards when I honestly never noticed it before I bought that tortuous Warmoth.
I play with the thumb of my fretting hand on the back of the instrument neck (my guitar teacher beat proper classical guitar technique into me when I was in 4th grade LOL) therefore a rolled fretboard edge along the thumb side doesn’t affect me much.
However I really appreciate a rolled edge along the G string side of the fretboard. When muting strings with my fretting hand the portion of my finger closest to the knuckle really notices the 90 degree defined edge of my Fender P relative to the more rounded edge of my G&L’s or the nicely bound and rolled fretboard edge of my Sire V7 Jazz. The Sire has the most narrow neck so that may have something to do with my fingers not contacting the finger side fretboard edge, too.
However I really appreciate a rolled edge along the G string side of the fretboard. When muting strings with my fretting hand the portion of my finger closest to the knuckle really notices the 90 degree defined edge of my Fender P relative to the more rounded edge of my G&L’s or the nicely bound and rolled fretboard edge of my Sire V7 Jazz. The Sire has the most narrow neck so that may have something to do with my fingers not contacting the finger side fretboard edge, too.
just this week i rolled the edge of one fingerboard. i've purchased three maple necks but one of them had a fairly 'severe', sharp edge --- and because it's wider/fatter than the ibby-style necks on my mains = i was always aware of that sharp edge.
for me: it's about reducing 'distractions'. some of my fingerboards need a rolled edge, some don't.
