Radiused fingerboard

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Ramon Amira

Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City

Radiused fingerboard

I've seen them on classical guitars, but has anyone seen or played a flamenco guitar with a radiused fingerboard? And are there any luthiers making them? Or would the low action be a problem for this.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 1 2010 14:48:36

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: Radiused fingerboard (in reply to Ramon Amira)

I havent seen a radiussed fingerboard on a flamenco yet.

It could be done, but you would need a saddle and a nut which is radiussed as well, and I personally dont think that a radiussed saddle would work very well with rasgueados.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 1 2010 16:09:15

Ramon Amira

Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City

RE: Radiused fingerboard (in reply to Anders Eliasson)

Thanks Anders –
I never even thought about what the radiussed saddle would do to rasgueados. Now that you point it out I can see where that could definitely be a problem.

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Classical and flamenco guitars from Spain Ramon Amira Guitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 1 2010 16:35:18

Doitsujin

Posts: 5078
Joined: Apr. 10 2005

RE: Radiused fingerboard (in reply to Ramon Amira)

This radius makes no sense in flamenco when you want to hit all strings the same time and other things. Just imagine alzapua on a radius... I would also not go for it caz it would waste the coordination of arpegios that you would always have to adjust, depending on which strings you do the arpegio.

From me a clip and clear "NO" to radius fretboards in flamenco.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 1 2010 16:52:00

XXX

Posts: 4400
Joined: Apr. 14 2005

RE: Radiused fingerboard (in reply to Ramon Amira)

Acoustic players can also hit all strings, or not? Im pretty sure little radius range over the fretboard would only have little effect on right hand techniques.

Best would be to test it out oneself but there is no flamenco guitar with this feature, so its a non-topic yet.

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Фламенко

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 1 2010 16:55:50

HeavyWood

Posts: 37
Joined: Apr. 19 2010
From: San Antonio, TX

RE: Radiused fingerboard (in reply to Ramon Amira)

Prominent Critic,

I had a luthier (Johnny Walker in Oklahoma) build a flamenco guitar for me with a VERY slight radius to the fingerboard of approximately 36 degrees. Almost imperceptible. Of course, as Anders mentioned above, the nut and bridge are of similar radius.

My reasoning behind this is that I have a very uneven index finger on my fretting hand, and I thought this might help with some dead notes while playing certain barre chords...

The slight radius IS a slight disadvantage to rasgueado, but not that great. Any more curve and it would be bothersome.

Recently, I have come to realize that I would prefer a flat fingerboard,
and that HIGHER FRETS would cure my problem of dead notes and help my fretting hand comfort level.

So my advice would be to talk to any prospective luthier about higher frets first, if you are looking for increased playability and ease of sound production.

Hope this helps...

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 1 2010 22:20:15

Ramon Amira

Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City

RE: Radiused fingerboard (in reply to HeavyWood)

Thanks, HeavyWood. Actually I'm not looking for a radiussed fingerboard guitar, it was merely curiosity. I was reading some threads about them on Delcamp classical guitar forum, and got to wondering about the same thing on a flamenco guitar.

Let us know if the higher frets make playing easier on your left hand.

P.S. Great monicker.

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Classical and flamenco guitars from Spain Ramon Amira Guitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 2 2010 4:41:24

Doitsujin

Posts: 5078
Joined: Apr. 10 2005

RE: Radiused fingerboard (in reply to Ramon Amira)

But what would be the advantage of curved fingerboard in flamenco? I dont see it.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 2 2010 8:38:20

XXX

Posts: 4400
Joined: Apr. 14 2005

RE: Radiused fingerboard (in reply to Doitsujin)

Barrés.

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Фламенко

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 2 2010 9:19:36

Doitsujin

Posts: 5078
Joined: Apr. 10 2005

RE: Radiused fingerboard (in reply to Ramon Amira)

quote:

Barrés

Come on.. Only pussys have probs with barre... (You dont have, I know ;.) Just work on your strength and technique.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 2 2010 9:56:41

XXX

Posts: 4400
Joined: Apr. 14 2005

RE: Radiused fingerboard (in reply to Doitsujin)

LOL
yes im getting better at barres, but in my case it is anatomical. my index finger has a "hole" in the middle and no matter how hard i press the note under that hole will not sound. so i have to be SUPER CAUTIOUS on how i place my index. a curved fretboard would make this easier.

for normal people with no problems on barrés it would still reduce the amount of force needed and people would also learn barrés faster. risk of injury is decreased by that.

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Фламенко

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 2 2010 10:01:47

HeavyWood

Posts: 37
Joined: Apr. 19 2010
From: San Antonio, TX

RE: Radiused fingerboard (in reply to Ramon Amira)

Doitsujin,

I explained in my first post what I perceived as being an advantage
of a curved fingerboard, for ME. You are a pussy reader.

Thanks Deniz for your comprehension of the subject and your thread contribution.

Thanks 'Critic. I read that Delamp thread also.
Older Heavy Metal is still a favorite, so I thought it would be
a fitting name considering the respect I have for Flamenco's
and the associated attitude.

Oh, Un-A-Droit-sujin,

Besides my misshaped finger, I have broken wrists from playing American football (you know, knocking some 250 pound 'pussys' on their ass) that can make it hard to want to press too hard when playing guitar for 3 to 6 hours a day on a 660mm scale...

So I hope you were not referring to me...cause I took offense to your brand of humor.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 2 2010 11:45:20

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: Radiused fingerboard (in reply to HeavyWood)

Hi Heavywood,

I think maybe Doit has a thick ass from being knocked down on it..

Don't worry amigo...I don't think he read your post in detail and just assumed you were one of the many who complain that barres are hard to do, hence the harsh response.

He just speaks English like that...nobody takes any offence here...

cheers,

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 2 2010 12:41:40

Ramon Amira

Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City

RE: Radiused fingerboard (in reply to HeavyWood)

quote:

Recently, I have come to realize that I would prefer a flat fingerboard,
and that HIGHER FRETS would cure my problem of dead notes and help my fretting hand comfort level.

Regarding high frets and playability, there is a terrific thread on Delcamp about this very subject. From the comments, including many from luthiers, it is far more complicated than it would seem to be at first glance, with numerous variables that not only have to be taken into consideration independently, but furthermore interact with each other to create various equations.

http://www.delcamp.us/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=44631

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Classical and flamenco guitars from Spain Ramon Amira Guitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 2 2010 14:11:49

XXX

Posts: 4400
Joined: Apr. 14 2005

RE: Radiused fingerboard (in reply to HeavyWood)

No probs Heavy Wood. Doit was not referring to anybody in person, he is just lucky to have hands that fit the guitar ;)
About raising the frets. It is such a good idea. I have my neck thickened (i mean the neck of the guitar...) by a luthier but when he showed me the effect of raised frets i thought i should have invested in that.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 2 2010 15:43:10

Doitsujin

Posts: 5078
Joined: Apr. 10 2005

RE: Radiused fingerboard (in reply to Ramon Amira)

quote:

So I hope you were not referring to me...cause I took offense to your brand of humor.

I was not referring to you HeavyWood. I didnt even see your post. I just gave reply to Deniz.

I remember when I played basketball and always cut the other players by accident with my guitar-fingernails.. I think playing guitar is not compatible to sports.

quote:

I think maybe Doit has a thick ass from being knocked down on it..

Maybe 1 out of 1000.... since we have a lower frequency of self proclaimed flamenco guitar gurus here,... the people got very serious and dry here. Ron you are one of the few buddys left here with whom I can joke.. Why are the people all so tensed...

Too bad.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 2 2010 16:55:13

HeavyWood

Posts: 37
Joined: Apr. 19 2010
From: San Antonio, TX

RE: Radiused fingerboard (in reply to Ramon Amira)

Thanks all,
Sorry for my bad attitude. Doitsujin is right, I have been too tense lately since I gave up beer and women for a while...

'Critic,
Thanks for the link. I read that thread the other day, and thought it was comical how some players, and luthiers, cannot grasp the idea of how larger frets can increase playability for SOME people.

I guess they never played an electric guitar with jumbo frets.

After I have my guitar refretted with taller frets, l will report back.
It is going to cost me $200 to $250, but after discussing my problem with the luthier, I think it will be worth it... He agreed that it would help with playability.

Deniz,
maybe you should save up and try it also? I know it is very frustrating when the notes don't come out clean and clear.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 3 2010 4:23:05