Topic: scalloped neck guitars
Joe have you ever played a scalloped neck guitar and if you did what is your opinion on them?
- geob
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- helrazr84
- BONAMETAL
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Re: scalloped neck guitars
geob wrote:
Joe have you ever played a scalloped neck guitar and if you did what is your opinion on them?
I have 2 strats and had both of them scalloped. I really like it on a stratocaster, I even scalloped another neck myself. I don't think there is a drastic difference in feel, and I never understood why people sometimes say it's difficult to play on them. It IS harder to play fast on them though. ..I guess due to not having the wood under your fretting hand's fingers. There is a slight difference to the feel of the neck once you take away the wood from between the frets, but you get used to it. Your fingers DO grip the strings much better, so that is an advantage. It's a preference thing, and most people will shy away from it I guess, but I like it. You don't need a deep scallop either, if you try and do it yourself. Not like I'm a big shot guitar player or anything, but any strat I own, I will scallop.
-Seth
- dave_5150
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Re: scalloped neck guitars
I've had 2 scalloped neck guitars (one of which I did myself).
My experience is that they give more control in terms of bends vibrato etc. but you need better technique too for the same reasons. I also found it far easier to play fast runs due to the lack of resistance from the board.
In all honesty I can't think of any downsides to them. But that said I don't have either now and I probably won't own another. However I did like them very much at the time.
Re: scalloped neck guitars
dave_5150 wrote:
I've had 2 scalloped neck guitars (one of which I did myself).
My experience is that they give more control in terms of bends vibrato etc. but you need better technique too for the same reasons. I also found it far easier to play fast runs due to the lack of resistance from the board.
In all honesty I can't think of any downsides to them. But that said I don't have either now and I probably won't own another. However I did like them very much at the time.
I had the pleasure of playing with a guitar player named Dave W a few times. He had a Strat or two with scalloped frets tuned down a 1/2 step. If I recall correctly he did it because he had carpal tunnel syndrome. I also recall that he played through two Fender Deluxe amps and had a really good tone.
After moving South I realize how much talent there was in the Mohawk Valley. Too bad there aren't more people there to appreciate it.
I was thinking of getting a Dremel and trying this on one of my cheap acoustics. I would think playing a scalloped neck would require a light touch when chording. Since I am mostly a bass player that may be like teaching the Incredible Hulk how to be a watch maker. 