Fingerboards: To Scallop or Not to Scallop
- Thread starter Evan Skopp
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jmh151
Active member
Re: Fingerboards: To Scallop or Not to Scallop
I have an Yngwie Malmsteen Strat. Having a fully scalloped board, I here is my opinion:
1) What is good for Yngwie isn't good for me. The Fender Malmsteen scallop isn't very ergonomic, the Blackmore scallop is better. You need a deeper scallop on the high strings since those are the ones you're gripping, and a shallower scallop on the low strings isn't very comfortable, with extra jumbo frets you really don't need a scallop on the lower strings. The Blackmore scallop is more labor intensive
2) The action on the Fender Malmsteen Strat comes pretty high from the factory- and I've had 2 guitar techs refuse to cut the nut slots on the brass nut deeper to get lower action. Since the base of the nut is curved, you can't effectively sand the nut slot lower.Having medium to high action makes it feel like you're walking a tightrope. Lowering the action has a side effect as well- less tension of the fretted note, making it easier to make a note go sharp when fretting.
I have a recent Charvel Pro Mod with the huge 6000 frets, and they give an almost scalloped feel without feeling like you're playing on a tightrope. I think it would be helpful scalloping the higher frets to make those high bends easier
I have an Yngwie Malmsteen Strat. Having a fully scalloped board, I here is my opinion:
1) What is good for Yngwie isn't good for me. The Fender Malmsteen scallop isn't very ergonomic, the Blackmore scallop is better. You need a deeper scallop on the high strings since those are the ones you're gripping, and a shallower scallop on the low strings isn't very comfortable, with extra jumbo frets you really don't need a scallop on the lower strings. The Blackmore scallop is more labor intensive
2) The action on the Fender Malmsteen Strat comes pretty high from the factory- and I've had 2 guitar techs refuse to cut the nut slots on the brass nut deeper to get lower action. Since the base of the nut is curved, you can't effectively sand the nut slot lower.Having medium to high action makes it feel like you're walking a tightrope. Lowering the action has a side effect as well- less tension of the fretted note, making it easier to make a note go sharp when fretting.
I have a recent Charvel Pro Mod with the huge 6000 frets, and they give an almost scalloped feel without feeling like you're playing on a tightrope. I think it would be helpful scalloping the higher frets to make those high bends easier
Re: Fingerboards: To Scallop or Not to Scallop
I've played a couple scalloped necks-not long enough to really get used to them, mind you-and I don't really see much difference between that and a 6000-sized frets. I'll take the big frets and keep the flat board, thank you, if for no other reason than resale. It's easy to have big frets cut down and crowned but you can never put that lost material back on the board.
I've played a couple scalloped necks-not long enough to really get used to them, mind you-and I don't really see much difference between that and a 6000-sized frets. I'll take the big frets and keep the flat board, thank you, if for no other reason than resale. It's easy to have big frets cut down and crowned but you can never put that lost material back on the board.
jmh151
Active member
Re: Fingerboards: To Scallop or Not to Scallop
I found this guy years ago that does both the Malmsteen and Blackmore style scallop. Nice to experiment on a replacement strat neck
http://dccustomguitars.com/scalloping.htm
I found this guy years ago that does both the Malmsteen and Blackmore style scallop. Nice to experiment on a replacement strat neck
http://dccustomguitars.com/scalloping.htm
ImmortalSix
John Mayer's Mankini
Re: Fingerboards: To Scallop or Not to Scallop
Not to scallop - thread solved.
Not to scallop - thread solved.
fusion101
New member
Re: Fingerboards: To Scallop or Not to Scallop
I got a strat of mine scalloped, and it was cool for about 20 minutes. I got it done during my heavy shredding malmsteen phase, and thought I could be just like Yngwie if I did it. In truth, I frettedout all the time, notes go out of tune because of my monkey fingers, and it's just really uncomfortable. The "bending benefit" wasn't really positive for me, I really just ending up bending when I didn't want to. Bending is easy when you don't have ***** hands.
I got a strat of mine scalloped, and it was cool for about 20 minutes. I got it done during my heavy shredding malmsteen phase, and thought I could be just like Yngwie if I did it. In truth, I frettedout all the time, notes go out of tune because of my monkey fingers, and it's just really uncomfortable. The "bending benefit" wasn't really positive for me, I really just ending up bending when I didn't want to. Bending is easy when you don't have ***** hands.
I
iismet
Guest
Re: Fingerboards: To Scallop or Not to Scallop
I only recently got to play a scalloped board and I was very impressed. I bend a lot and use pull offs a lot and it really made it easy.
I only recently got to play a scalloped board and I was very impressed. I bend a lot and use pull offs a lot and it really made it easy.
TheLivingDead
Dawn Of The Shred
Re: Fingerboards: To Scallop or Not to Scallop
Played a few scalloped fretboards and I gotta say I actually really liked it!
You have a control over each string that just feels impossible with a normal fretboard. The wood actually does feel like it's in the way. I've got a crappy Yamaha strat I scalloped years ago but I do plan on getting something nice one day. The Yngwie strat I played felt amazing.
Gotta say, if you're into tapping, scalloped might not be for you. It just felt bizarre.
Played a few scalloped fretboards and I gotta say I actually really liked it!
You have a control over each string that just feels impossible with a normal fretboard. The wood actually does feel like it's in the way. I've got a crappy Yamaha strat I scalloped years ago but I do plan on getting something nice one day. The Yngwie strat I played felt amazing.
Gotta say, if you're into tapping, scalloped might not be for you. It just felt bizarre.
9unslin9er
New member
Re: Fingerboards: To Scallop or Not to Scallop
I had a Yngwei vintage white model back in '07. Before he switched to Duncan, and thank God because those DiMarzio YJMs were terrible.
I think a lot of shredders go out and buy one of those guitars and expect this monster tone machine. I know I bought it and slapped a set of 10's on it and was wondering why my fingers were bleeding.
Truth is, Yngwie uses 8's or below and contrary to the sound of his tone, he has an incredibly light touch. His hammer-ons and pull-offs barely touch the strings.
If you like that scalloped feel for string bends, get an Ibanez Jem. It's placed between the 21st and 24th frets where it's actually practical for most rock players and even instrumental players.
-OR-
Just get super jumbo frets.
I had a Yngwei vintage white model back in '07. Before he switched to Duncan, and thank God because those DiMarzio YJMs were terrible.
I think a lot of shredders go out and buy one of those guitars and expect this monster tone machine. I know I bought it and slapped a set of 10's on it and was wondering why my fingers were bleeding.
Truth is, Yngwie uses 8's or below and contrary to the sound of his tone, he has an incredibly light touch. His hammer-ons and pull-offs barely touch the strings.
If you like that scalloped feel for string bends, get an Ibanez Jem. It's placed between the 21st and 24th frets where it's actually practical for most rock players and even instrumental players.
-OR-
Just get super jumbo frets.
T
tonello
Guest
Re: Fingerboards: To Scallop or Not to Scallop
I think that this choice is all about your playing style. A scalloped board can be helpful or it can be harmful. I myself am so used to traditional boards, that it would be a difficult move from the traditional to the scalloped. I think it's awesome if you can play that way, but I don't find myself carving out my fretboards anytime soon. I feel like I would put to much pressure on the string and bend them up too much.
I think that this choice is all about your playing style. A scalloped board can be helpful or it can be harmful. I myself am so used to traditional boards, that it would be a difficult move from the traditional to the scalloped. I think it's awesome if you can play that way, but I don't find myself carving out my fretboards anytime soon. I feel like I would put to much pressure on the string and bend them up too much.
xxxplorer
Well-known member
Re: Fingerboards: To Scallop or Not to Scallop
I have huge hands and I really whack the strings hard and play hard. When i tried it, it was like trying to learn to play all over again. I spent years trying to pretend to be a shredder... I'm just not that guy lol. I do admire guys that do it. Different tools for different jobs. I just like a baseball bat neck, thick strings and frets that don't poke me.
I have huge hands and I really whack the strings hard and play hard. When i tried it, it was like trying to learn to play all over again. I spent years trying to pretend to be a shredder... I'm just not that guy lol. I do admire guys that do it. Different tools for different jobs. I just like a baseball bat neck, thick strings and frets that don't poke me.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Fingerboards: To Scallop or Not to Scallop
+1 on all counts. Scalloping permanently modifies an instrument in order to get something that you can get via less permanent means. My G&L Legacy with the huge frets feels scalloped, and you can get frets even higher than those ones. I don't have any problem with my fingers catching up on the fretboard even with old-school Fender frets. Only on my '68 SG and '68 330, which have extremely low (and fat) frets.
As for the article, it just spends several paragraphs saying pretty much nothing that someone cannot figure out for themselves. Pretty pointless. "If you are curious about scalloped fretboards, then try one." Gee, thanks for that. I never would have figured that out.
+1 on all counts. Scalloping permanently modifies an instrument in order to get something that you can get via less permanent means. My G&L Legacy with the huge frets feels scalloped, and you can get frets even higher than those ones. I don't have any problem with my fingers catching up on the fretboard even with old-school Fender frets. Only on my '68 SG and '68 330, which have extremely low (and fat) frets.
As for the article, it just spends several paragraphs saying pretty much nothing that someone cannot figure out for themselves. Pretty pointless. "If you are curious about scalloped fretboards, then try one." Gee, thanks for that. I never would have figured that out.
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J
Jessie's ghost
Guest
I scalloped a Squier Strat a few years ago, just to try it. What it does is, quite simply, get the fretboard out of the picture -- at least in the mechanical sense -- and make the act of playing all about fingers, strings, and frets. This could be good, bad, or indifferent, depending on the player. I happen to like it, not just for Yngwie-type playing but for anything I'd do with a Strat.
xntrick
New member
Re: Fingerboards: To Scallop or Not to Scallop
I luv a scalloped neck and i was about to have my 20 year old neck scalloped but i decided to get a new neck with the wolfgang profile and just get the 6100 frets. Which current guitars use that fret size? I'd like to go into GC and try one out just to see how it feels.
I luv a scalloped neck and i was about to have my 20 year old neck scalloped but i decided to get a new neck with the wolfgang profile and just get the 6100 frets. Which current guitars use that fret size? I'd like to go into GC and try one out just to see how it feels.
