Guitar Necks - ROLLED EDGES

[DreX]

Re: Guitar Necks - ROLLED EDGES

I agree that it's a gimmick insofar as it's a preference being sold as a feature, just like jumbo frets or certain types of woods, or nitro finish.

I like to switch back and forth between rolled an non-rolled fret boards. The rolled feels smooth and ergonomic, it feels like you're holding a baseball bad or something else more than a guitar, but the hard edged fret boards have a crisp and precise feel. The sharper edge helps with tactile orientation a bit, a rounded edge makes the whole neck feel more vague. Yet another reason you should give into GAS and get another guitar.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Guitar Necks - ROLLED EDGES

Rolled edges, including rounded fret ends, makes a huge difference in the comfort of a neck . It's not a gimmick...unless you believe that a process to reduce slicing your fingers up is a gimmick.

Many guitars are made cheaply and very little detail work is included due to the extra costs involved which have to be added to the cost of the guitar.

It's not a complicated process, but to do it correctly (including dressing the fret ends) can take a good half hour or so. I do this on every guitar I buy or make.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Guitar Necks - ROLLED EDGES

I love the way that Relic haters omit to whine about "pre-worn" fingerboard edges.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Guitar Necks - ROLLED EDGES

I bought a mid level Ibanez RG a year ago. For quite a few days, I couldn't figure out what was shredding the skin on my thumb until I realized it was that guitar's fret ends. My thumb looked like someone had sat with a razor blade and lightly scratched at it for an hour or two. Took me hours to round those fret ends and polish them smooth. It plays great now, but seriously, when your guitar is so poorly finished that it is damaging people, you need to think about quality control.

When I first began working on student guitars (which are almost all lower to mid priced models) years ago, cheap electronics were the main problems. Now it is high frets and sharp fret ends. I have worn out two burrs for my fret file since school started just doing fret levels and recrowns and three of those were my guitars, including a new Fender American Special Strat.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Guitar Necks - ROLLED EDGES

Details such as a high standard of fret finishing is one of the things for which we pay on high end instruments.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Guitar Necks - ROLLED EDGES

I love the way that Relic haters omit to whine about "pre-worn" fingerboard edges.

Simulating age on a guitar isn't the same thing as completing the process of building one. I took a sanding block to my Faded V as soon as I realized how unlikely I was to play it enough for my hand to wear down the exposed ends of metal fret wire. It was 0% for cosmetic reasons and 100% for functional reasons.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Guitar Necks - ROLLED EDGES

Details such as a high standard of fret finishing is one of the things for which we pay on high end instruments.

Yep. If you know how and have the right tools, by all means go ahead and do it yourself. But if you want someone else to do it as part of their day job, it's going to cost money.

 

[DreX]

Re: Guitar Necks - ROLLED EDGES

If your frets are cutting into your fingers, thats a completely different issue. That's caused be the neck wood shrinking and expanding and causing the fret ends to protrude. One reason I dislike buying used guitars is that tends to be something that requires attention.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Guitar Necks - ROLLED EDGES

^ That kinda happened to me on a new guitar. I guess it's the beer-goggles effect that the excitement of trying a new guitar in the store sometimes has on me; I don't always notice flaws that I really should.

 

[InbredJunk]

Re: Guitar Necks - ROLLED EDGES

I use a checklist so I don't forget any crucial details about what I want in a guitar. I hate to be that guy that goes into the store and criticizes every last detail of every guitar I pick up, but with how the economy is and the very little amount of money I get to spend, it's very necessary. Nobody wants to buy something new that they have to work on as soon as they get it. And it's nearly impossible to find a guitar that has had the attention it needed to be a great guitar. There's always something.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Guitar Necks - ROLLED EDGES

^ Yep. And the two times I've gotten burned, it was over frets.

 

[Diminished Triad]

Re: Guitar Necks - ROLLED EDGES

I would think over the years guitar frets would not become smooth at the ends, or the fretboard better protect guitar players' fingers - but more often the opposite? Whether from neck or fretboard changes over the years, seems like the chances of a fret or two actually beginning to protrude as guitars age is higher than the chances of that portion of the guitar becoming more smooth.

 

[ibis]

Re: Guitar Necks - ROLLED EDGES

Just buy a Godin.

 

[Diminished Triad]

Re: Guitar Necks - ROLLED EDGES

Just buy a Godin.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Godin-LGX-S...t-/361031722800?pt=Guitar&hash=item540f2ae730
Looks good! Wow...and under 2k also. Very nice guitar!

 

[El Supremo]

Re: Guitar Necks - ROLLED EDGES

I have a Charvel San Dimas which has the rolled edges. Probably the most comfortable neck I have.

 

[Diminished Triad]

Re: Guitar Necks - ROLLED EDGES

Now, if I can find rolled edges + binding + 7.25 radius neck I'm there!
Seems like only Custom Shops produce such necks.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Guitar Necks - ROLLED EDGES

Now, if I can find rolled edges + binding + 7.25 radius neck I'm there!
Seems like only Custom Shops produce such necks.

Of course its custom shop only... todays average player doesnt care for 7.25 radius... production guitars are usually the most popular features

 

[Archer250]

Re: Guitar Necks - ROLLED EDGES

I prefer 9.5 radius myself.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Guitar Necks - ROLLED EDGES

Believe it or not, I bought this cheapo guitar recently which had some of the best fretwork of most of my guitars regardless of price. I ALWAYS have to do some fretwork (especially the edges) on every guitar I purchase, but not this one. I didn't have to touch the frets.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/dean-evo-xm-electric-guitar

 

[Diminished Triad]

Re: Guitar Necks - ROLLED EDGES

Believe it or not, I bought this cheapo guitar recently which had some of the best fretwork of most of my guitars regardless of price. I ALWAYS have to do some fretwork (especially the edges) on every guitar I purchase, but not this one. I didn't have to touch the frets.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/dean-evo-xm-electric-guitar

Amazing reviews considering a price of under 100! Thanks for sharing.