Any experience with scalloped guitar necks?

[Shard]

Recently jammed with a friend and noticed he had a scalloped fretboard... I fucked around with it for a bit, found it kind of interesting. Any advice/opinions on them? Do strings break faster? Will my left hand get weaker? Is it more fragile?

Thanks,
-Tim

P.S. If you don't know what I mean, take a look here:
http://www.warmoth.com/guitar/necks/necks.cfm?fuseaction=scalloping
or
http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/scal1.htm

 

[sumairetsu]

Just try not to fret the strings too hard. With the extra room, you could bend the strings out of pitch by grabbing the neck too hard.

 

[Krigloch the Furious]

thats just wierd.

 

[RideForVengance]

doesnt that make a leggato slide fucking impossible?

 

[TekChef]

Basically, you have to play VERY light and be aware of how much pressure you are applying to the neck. It's hard to master, but as I understand, if you become skilled at playing on it, you can do some cool microtonal bends, etc.

Yngwie and Blackmore seem to like it quite a bit.

 

[Razorjack]

I have a half scalloped neck on my heavily customised 1st guitat, it's great for the upper-register but I find it hard to use anywhere lower.

Blackmore's strat doesn't actually have a full scallop, it is sloped so that the scallop is only over the first 3 strings (E, G, B). It basically gives you the best of both worlds, un scalloped for lower rhythm playing and scalloped for higer lead playing.

 

[Bryant]

Recently jammed with a friend and noticed he had a scalloped fretboard... I fucked around with it for a bit, found it kind of interesting. Any advice/opinions on them? Do strings break faster? Will my left hand get weaker? Is it more fragile?

Thanks,
-Tim

I've only played one a few times, but I found I am too heavy handed for it. I tend to fret too hard and detune the notes. If you naturally have a light touch when fretting, I think using a scalloped neck will give you an advantage in using vibrato without bending strings up or down the fretboard. That seems to be the only advantage I see in using one, but I suppose if your style integrates precision and quick vibratto along with the fact you have a light touch, a scalloped fretboard is for you.
As far as string breaking, left hand getting weaker, and the neck being more fragile, I seriously doubt it. I also think a scalloped fretboard is for an intermediate player. A beginning player will detune too easily and it will pose an additional obstacle to overcome to become a proficient player. An advanced player will probably use the neck in his/her fireplace. Too much stuff to learn over due to having to be so precise on fret pressure.


Bryant