Rolled edges

[Pings Bass]

Pretty sure none of my basses have rolled edges, except maybe my L-2500; it's definitely smoother than my fenders at any rate. The only fingerboard edge that has bothered me is my cheapo fretless 6. That thing has an edge you could shave with. I thought about sanding it off, but if doesn't bother me enough to put in that kind of effort

 

[Mastermold]

I like carrots on rolls.

 

[C Stone]

Every "rolled edge" bass neck I have ever played I found more comfortable, every one...

 

[dedpool1052]

I find the fret sprout reasoning especially hilarious since you can get sprout on a rolled edge too.

Yup. What he said.

 

[FFEJY]

As I get older, my neck seems to be getting a bit rolled as well.

 

[marchone]

I like carrots on rolls.

Me, too. Pickled carrot strips on Banh Mi.

 

[mongo2]

My left hand doesn't like fingerboards with sharp corners.

 

[Rabidhamster]

Rolled neck edges are an absolute requirement for me. Most good, fully-built basses have them already.

Sharp fret ends are a totally separate issue

 

[vinlander]

I like the feel of a rolled neck but as long as its smoothed out at the fret end its fine. Not a fan of sharp protruding fret edges. Very often it is what differentiate a cheap instrument versus a more expensive one. Nothing a luthier or guitar tech can't fix in a couple minutes.

 

[lokikallas]

After a few years they all get rolled naturally.

 

[Raoul_Duke]

I’ve owned two basses that had rolled fret and fingerboard edges, and it was a feature I immediately noticed and appreciated. That being said, I have owned plenty without that particular touch which were just as comfy.

I would guess that the overall neck feel and specs would determine whether the rolled edges are an improvement or not. If I were to order a replacement Fender style J or P neck, I’d most likely go with Musikraft and select the “heavy roll” option.

 

[Lenny JG]

You either notice, don't notice, or don't notice until you file em. Ime. It's 100% more comfortable every time.

 

[okabass]

I have a 65' PB with rosewood fretboard. Its very comfortable and part of that is naturally rounded FB edges. I've try to duplicate that on my other basses. I used a hand scraper for that.

 

[DJ Bebop]

None of us were getting out much last summer.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

When I finish fret ends, I run a pencil along the board edge, just a thin line on the sharp corner. When I bevel the fret ends to 30 degrees, I keep going until the file just removes that pencil line, voila, "rolled" edge. Followed up with some fine sandpaper as I polish the.fret ends, and Bob's Your Uncle. I dont know why instrument makers hype it as some kind of "premium" feature, its a few minutes works with file and sandpaper on a new bass. On laquered maple necks, you'll cut through the finish though, better to do it before finish. Per previous statement, fret sprout has nothing to do with rolled edges. If you file them down in the winter when the wood is dry, they will only recede from the board edge when it swells in humid weather, problem solved. I "roll" the edges on my bound necks the same way, no big whup.

 

[BAG]

Once I played my fretless after having the Warmoth neck leveled and fully refinished (including edge rolling) by a good luthier i immediately sent him my fretted warmoth neck to roll the edges. It is just so much more comfortable to play. My Ibanez also has beautifully rolled edges from the factory. I won't keep a bass without rolled edges these days. I am actually surprised at how sharp the edges of the fingerboards were on the Warmoth necks.

it is a gimmick used to intice buyers into thinking they are getting some added value feature. That’s what a gimmick is.

But to many of us rolled edges are a value added feature. They make the neck much more comfortable to play and move around on.

I could say that a bass with 3 pickups is a gimmick. Why would you need more than two?

 

[40Hz]

Much ado about nothing AFAIC. I couldn’t care less whether the fretboard edges were rolled or not. But that’s just my opinion. I can’t speak for everyone.

So if rolled edges are important to someone else then it’s nice to know some manufacturers are offering it.

 

[seanm]

My favorite bass neck has rolled edges. My gigging basses do not. So not sure how to vote

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Anything that increases the comfort of playing is positive in my mind. String spacing, tension of the strings, ergonomics of the bass itself. I cant see a downside to it, and no upside to a sharp edge. Its not a test of manhood to "endure" a sharp edge, if you dont notice it, good on ya.

 

[Old Fart]

Personal taste: I like rolled fretboard edges and good fret work. Not a fan of binding.