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ChristopherSchlegel
Guitar Tricks Instructor
Joined: 08/09/05
Posts: 8,328
ChristopherSchlegel
Guitar Tricks Instructor
Joined: 08/09/05
Posts: 8,328
06/07/2010 6:15 pm
Originally Posted by: hunter1801So I just heard/found out about scalloped frets. What are people's thoughts on them?[/quote]
Growing up and learning guitar I was influenced by Ritchie Blackmore. I read he had a scalloped fretboard on his Strats. Then I saw him in concert & heard it live! Next, along comes YJM with his scalloped Strats. After that I had to have one. :p

So, I scalloped my strat-copy to try it out. Since then I've scalloped several other strats & strat copies. I still have two of them. My black '72 Strat & the ugly Strat copy are both here:

http://www.truthagainsttheworld.com/files/Tools/SchlegelFourElectricGuitars.jpg

You can kind of see the scallop in the pic.

Playing a scalloped neck is something you have to get used over a long period of time. Vibrato is much easier to achieve, but harder to control.

The main thing is this: the fretboard has been essentially changed to a gridwork of steel on steel. There is no wood of the fretboard under the strings for your fingers to rest or graze upon to "find their location". This means if you press too hard you will immediately bend the string sharp. Many people find this very frustrating and difficult to control.

They wind up trying to play barre chords and find that one or two of the notes in the chord are sharp because they are pressing them down slightly harder than the other notes of the chord. Typically, the wood of the fretboard keeps your fingers from doing this.

Also, notice Malmsteen's amazing, gorgeous, wide "violin-like" vibrato. That is a direct result of mastery of the scalloped fretboard. The steel on steel does make the strings "sing" differently than a non-scalloped guitar.

I've found it also makes you much more precise in your finger placement. This can result in being able to play much faster and more cleanly. Which is very hard, but worth the effort. It's definitely carried over to my playing on non-scalloped guitars.

The other thing it helps with is learning to only apply enough pressure to make the notes sound properly. Any more is wasted effort on a normal guitar. Any more on a scalloped guitar will make you sound terrible! (notes played too sharp in pitch, sloppy mechanics, etc.)

For those with full access I've got a series of lessons in which I explain & demonstrate different necks & fretboards (including the scalloped necks) here:

http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=653
[QUOTE=hunter1801]
On that note, can you buy them like this or is it more of a mod you have to have done?

Both. Although, I'd recommend buying one unless you are prepared to ruin a few necks climbing the learning curve. :)

DIY:

http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/scal1.htm

Buy it:

http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/necks/Scalloping.aspx

Hope this helps, have fun!
Christopher Schlegel
Guitar Tricks Instructor

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