It’s a gimmick. Just like roasted maple. It’s a fad. It’s a pointless feature. I find the fret sprout reasoning especially hilarious since you can get sprout on a rolled edge too.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Rolled edges
- Thread starter marchone
- Start date
My Musicman SR5 didn't have rolled edges. That was the first time and it took me a while to work out what was making me feel uncomfortable. When the penny dropped, it was one of the reasons I sold that bass. Every bass since has had rolled edges and I'm happy to have that as a preference.
It's not a gimmick...neither is roasted maple, it's certainly not a fad, and it's far from a pointless feature.
Other than that, Epiphone has it on their $700 Thunderbird.
Why can't other less expensive basses?
I rolled the edges on my old Thundergun. Easy enough job.
As for fret sprout, another easy fix. If I can do it, $12 fret file, anyone can. Just a little bit of patience and some blue painter's tape...voila!
I didn't know it, but it appears Squier Indonesian Affinity Precisions have nicely rolled edges while the Chinese ones definitely don't. Strange. I own a few Indonesian ones, and recently bought a couple more, not realizing some are made in China. They are very different basses but share the same part number from Fender; I don't know how to tell when you order if you you will get an Indonesian or Chinese one.
The Chinese ones have larger necks, finished smoother on the back (whereas the Indonesian ones feel raw but aren't), while the fretboards on the Indonesian ones are nicely rolled and shaped just about perfectly. Glorious necks to play (if not to look at). The Chinese necks are bigger and smoother, but the edges aren't touched at all.
Oh, and the body shapes are different; the Indonesian ones are far more contoured and rounder while the Chinese ones are more squared off and abrupt in the contours. The pickups are also different; the Chinese version uses a standard bridge-sized jazz pickup while the Indonesian version uses a unique neck-sized jazz pickup made by Cort that has bridge-sized mounting posts. The headstock, knobs, neckplate, and strap buttons are also different. The Indonesian ones are finished better, but in my experience are more likely to chip at the body/neck joint.
Sorry for getting off track. My point was that the cheap Indonesian Squier Affinity Precisions have very nicely rolled edges. So, it's not just limited to more expensive basses.
The Chinese ones have larger necks, finished smoother on the back (whereas the Indonesian ones feel raw but aren't), while the fretboards on the Indonesian ones are nicely rolled and shaped just about perfectly. Glorious necks to play (if not to look at). The Chinese necks are bigger and smoother, but the edges aren't touched at all.
Oh, and the body shapes are different; the Indonesian ones are far more contoured and rounder while the Chinese ones are more squared off and abrupt in the contours. The pickups are also different; the Chinese version uses a standard bridge-sized jazz pickup while the Indonesian version uses a unique neck-sized jazz pickup made by Cort that has bridge-sized mounting posts. The headstock, knobs, neckplate, and strap buttons are also different. The Indonesian ones are finished better, but in my experience are more likely to chip at the body/neck joint.
Sorry for getting off track. My point was that the cheap Indonesian Squier Affinity Precisions have very nicely rolled edges. So, it's not just limited to more expensive basses.
It's one of those features that I dont notice until I play one then realize how uncomfortable non rolled are. Much like boutique instruments, spend some time on one and you'll understand it.
As to fret sprout, it's just the bass gods telling you to go fretless.
As to fret sprout, it's just the bass gods telling you to go fretless.
Rolled edges don't stop fret end sprout. Fret end sprout is a result of seasonal changes in the fingerboard when it is dry. The board shrinks; the metal frets don't. The shape of the end of the board doesn't change that.
I think rounding the fret board has more of a difference on guitars than basses.
I think rounding the fret board has more of a difference on guitars than basses.
D
2 times this week i have heard of rolled edges... first 2 times ever( thats not saying much really, there’s lots on TB that I haven’t heard before)
I assume a rolled edge is a soft edge of the fretboard/fingerboard and not a 90 degree edge. Honestly, I don’t know if any of mine are rolled or not but all mine are comfortable and not sharp.
Ignorance can be bliss i guess.
I assume a rolled edge is a soft edge of the fretboard/fingerboard and not a 90 degree edge. Honestly, I don’t know if any of mine are rolled or not but all mine are comfortable and not sharp.
Ignorance can be bliss i guess.
Since I received my Fender Custom Shop 64 Jazz Bass with excellent fretwork and rolled edges I want to have it done on my other two axes. It was an aha! moment for me.
YMMV
YMMV
I love bound necks. If the binding is sharp, that is a no-go. It is distracting and uncomfortable, but I only ever experienced it in lower-tier instruments. Necks of a mid-tier quality and up do not have this problem IME. You can always give the binding a light once-over, very carefully, with a razor at 45-degree angle to take the edge off.
For non bound necks, I find there is usually some rounding or angling to the fretboard edge, this tends to be enough for me, if the edge is sharp I round it over a little. A little goes a long way for me and I notice it the most when sliding my hand up and down the fretboard.
For non bound necks, I find there is usually some rounding or angling to the fretboard edge, this tends to be enough for me, if the edge is sharp I round it over a little. A little goes a long way for me and I notice it the most when sliding my hand up and down the fretboard.
I didn't intend to conflate the two in my opening post. Poor wording on my part. Agree that good fret work and rolled edges are two different details.
it is a gimmick used to intice buyers into thinking they are getting some added value feature. That’s what a gimmick is. Just like roasted maple. That is what makes it a pointless feature.
And it is a fad. Something people jump all over just like they did with new kids on the block.
Roasted maple isn’t a gimmick or a fad. Torrified wood is more stable and holds up better in the environment. I’ve had over a dozen roasted Warmoth necks in my herd and through my shop. None of them had fret spout, twist, or warping problems in the slightest.
My Warmoth necks have a bit of roll to their edges. My 5’s are 1 7/8 wide, and not having a sharp edge on a wide neck is really helpful.
If the edges need a little rounding (and the fretboard isn't finished) I've used the side of a screwdriver neck to round them a little. Unfinished maple works best, but any unfinished fretboard can be "rounded" a bit if desired.
I initially voted "Carrots" because it is not a specific feature that I have looked for when I bought any of my 4 very different basses (Gibson Grabber, Fender Aerodyne, Fodera Yin Yang, and Sterling SR5). But I just went and looked at em, and they are all rolled. What is important is the way a neck feels in my hands and how comfortable it is to play. And my hands have voted unanimously in favor of the rolled edges. (Well, I guess my right hand really doesn't give a...)
I agree that fret sprout has nothing to do with rolled edges and everything to do with the physical properties of wood vs metal. (I love the StewMac tool for filing and rounding the edges. Even the Fodera needed a little fret edge work after it settled into its new home.)
I do have one question, though. If you roll the edges on a finished FB with sharp edges, how do you stain the exposed wood to match the rest of the FB? Or do you just avoid doing it if it's not an oiled board?
I agree that fret sprout has nothing to do with rolled edges and everything to do with the physical properties of wood vs metal. (I love the StewMac tool for filing and rounding the edges. Even the Fodera needed a little fret edge work after it settled into its new home.)
I do have one question, though. If you roll the edges on a finished FB with sharp edges, how do you stain the exposed wood to match the rest of the FB? Or do you just avoid doing it if it's not an oiled board?
I bought a warmoth replacement neck years ago. Beautiful neck ,but they didnt finish the neck, as far as I know,so the frets are a little sharp, not sprout,but a little pokey. So I took it to a good Tech and he finished the frets, rounding them over and in the process rolled the edges over. I didnt ask him to, I figured it was just part of the process. I loved the feeling, as the the new neck was a little sharp, not complaining. I just found the the newly rolled & dressed neck Felt great. It felt faster & more comfortable! like I'd played on it for years! It made me realize which of my basses had "finished"edges! and which ones didn't! So yes, I Prefer them! But not required. I can play on an unfinished Neck (non rolled edges), but given a choice id go rolled!
I like rolled edges, the sharp edges dig into my hand (warmoth was the first I noticed, maybe the cheap Gretsch I had a while back) although my warmoth is roasted maple, which I like because it has no finish, and apparently doesn't need it. Or at least I thought I liked it, but I guess I've now read that I'm mistaken. What do I like? Dang it, I thought I liked ice cream too.
Rolled edges have been around for decades.
Hardly a fad.
