Fingerboards: To Scallop or Not to Scallop

[Petrovsk Mizinski]

Re: Fingerboards: To Scallop or Not to Scallop

Now, unless I'm wrong, but was scalloping a thing that Malmsteen and Blackmore did before large frets were a widespread thing? I imagine the jumbo frets weren't very common before the popularity of super strats in the 80s.
I can see how that made a lot of sense.
However, I can't see there being much difference between a non-scalloped Dunlop 6000 fret-wire'd board and a scalloped board, and it seems odd that Malmsteen has his Strats spec'd out with such deep scallops with already very very big frets. Just seems like significantly diminishing returns after a certain point from a playability standpoint.
However, if someone digs the feel of that (Dunlop 6000s and deep scalloping), then I have no issue with that.

I've almost considered scalloping a neck, but I think if I ever get around to having a custom guitar made, I'll just get the tallest stainless steel frets I can get and call it a day

 

[uOpt]

Re: Fingerboards: To Scallop or Not to Scallop

Now, unless I'm wrong, but was scalloping a thing that Malmsteen and Blackmore did before large frets were a widespread thing? I imagine the jumbo frets weren't very common before the popularity of super strats in the 80s.
I can see how that made a lot of sense.
However, I can't see there being much difference between a non-scalloped Dunlop 6000 fret-wire'd board and a scalloped board, and it seems odd that Malmsteen has his Strats spec'd out with such deep scallops with already very very big frets. Just seems like significantly diminishing returns after a certain point from a playability standpoint.
However, if someone digs the feel of that (Dunlop 6000s and deep scalloping), then I have no issue with that.

I've almost considered scalloping a neck, but I think if I ever get around to having a custom guitar made, I'll just get the tallest stainless steel frets I can get and call it a day

Well there is a huge difference between the Blackmore scallop style and Malmsteen's.

It makes perfect sense to prefer a Blackmore scallop over huge frets, because on the lower 12 frets you can position your fingers to not raise the pitch of the note from the pressure. Large frets are like an even scallop but Blackmore's scallop isn't even, it has zones to press hard and "pitch-preserving" zones.

Malmsteen's scallop style seems to have the objective of removing an contact with wood.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Fingerboards: To Scallop or Not to Scallop

I think the hand can learn to not provide so much pressure- it is a muscle memory thing. If you are used to playing really hard, though- the transition will take a long time. I have used a scalloped neck for 10 years- a big Mahavishnu Orchestra fan- and I have fairly deep scallops on my Ernie Ball. If I play a non-scalloped guitar (like my Steinberger) for awhile, I will push chords out of tune for 10 minutes on my scalloped guitar. However, this quickly goes away. Bending and vibrato is so easy on a scalloped neck that I don't know why it is more popular. BTW, big frets don't feel the same to me at all.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Fingerboards: To Scallop or Not to Scallop

Your hand is a very sensitive instrument as Dave mentions. You CAN adapt to anything.

I myself prefer Bay Scallops, sauteed...

I played a Malmsteen a few times. I didn't find it that hard to adjust, but I wouldn't want one. I am pretty ham-fisted on the strings. I like low wide frets and feeling the wood.

 

[DustyCat]

Re: Fingerboards: To Scallop or Not to Scallop

One thing nobody here has mentioned here is the fact that the scalloping will also shave a little bit of weight off the neck If you went with a wider neck or big headstock, or heavier wood. Besides being insanely *comfortable* and leaving 5-6 guitars of mine on the chopping block (for sale), the neck might not droop so much when you are standing from the relief.

Scalloped board and the widest/tallest frets Warmoth has to offer has ruined me. I cant even look at 5-6 of my guitars, and now I need to save up more cash to replace the necks of all of my guitars that are able...with scalloped fingerboards and the tallest, widest frets Warmoth has to offer.

Just *insanely comfortable* I cant even imagine what this combination with the Fanned Fretboard might be like, and with the twisted neck. omg

 

[uOpt]

Re: Fingerboards: To Scallop or Not to Scallop

One thing nobody here has mentioned here is the fact that the scalloping will also shave a little bit of weight off the neck If you went with a wider neck or big headstock, or heavier wood. Besides being insanely *comfortable* and leaving 5-6 guitars of mine on the chopping block (for sale), the neck might not droop so much when you are standing from the relief.

Scalloped board and the widest/tallest frets Warmoth has to offer has ruined me. I cant even look at 5-6 of my guitars, and now I need to save up more cash to replace the necks of all of my guitars that are able...with scalloped fingerboards and the tallest, widest frets Warmoth has to offer.

Just *insanely comfortable* I cant even imagine what this combination with the Fanned Fretboard might be like, and with the twisted neck. omg

Dunno. I can't stand frets that are both tall and wide.

And I think they change sound quite considerably, too.

 

[Blix]

Re: Fingerboards: To Scallop or Not to Scallop

I've played scalloped necks for years and love them. Last few years I have had regular neck though, so I scalloped my Peavey strat a few weeks ago. Was like coming home, love the feel.

As for our fave Swede, he have high action and certainly doesn't use "008's" , yes his high E is 008, but it's a 008-048 set.