Fretboard radius?

Tonedef

Hi gang,

Can anybody please explain to a n00b what the purpose of the radius is, and what effect the various radii have?

And why do many accoustics have a concave radius? ???

Thanks!
Riaan

costafonix

Its all related to the curvature or arc of the fretboard, affects the comfort or fit of the hand and to the style of music you're playing. Classical guitars generally have a flat radius more suitable to that style of playing.
Alan explains it very well in his article here :-
http://www.ratcliffe.co.za/articles/radius.shtml

Tonedef

Thanks, I gave it a read.

My question is really more about the concave radius. I fiddled with an accoustic in TOMs the other day when I got the Cort, and it had a definite concave radius which became deeper the closer it came to the neck. It confused the hell out of me and I haven't been able to find an explanation for it, even after googling.

It definitely wasn't an optical illusion. ???

Bob-Dubery

Tonedef wrote: And why do many accoustics have a concave radius? ???

They do?

Tonedef

X-rated Bob wrote:
Tonedef wrote: And why do many accoustics have a concave radius? ???
They do?

TOMs bargain basement. A black-faced accoustic.

Lol, perhaps I should say "some"?

costafonix

you're not perhaps referring to a scalloped neck?

Tonedef

Nope, not scalloped. Negative radius. I figured it was a common thing.

costafonix

that sounds weird, maybe that's why its in TOMS' bargain basement,,, ? this calls for a trip to TOMS to investigate (any excuse to pop into a music shop)... ?

Tonedef

Just don't walk out with an impulse buy like I did! ?

Or maybe you should! ?

It was against the eastern wall of the bargain basement.

AlanRatcliffe

I've never seen a concave radius and there is no good reason to have one. Nylon string guitars are usually flat, which is the closest you get to concave. Optical illusion?

Tonedef

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Optical illusion?

I don't think it was. I looked at it down the fretboard and it still looked concave.

Bob-Dubery

Tonedef wrote:
Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Optical illusion?
I don't think it was. I looked at it down the fretboard and it still looked concave.

"Oh pooh! The appy really got heavy handed with the sanding block on that one. Let's put it on sale."

MikeM

Are you confusing bowed with concaved?

Tonedef

MikeM wrote: Are you confusing bowed with concaved?

No no no. ? The thing was shaped like a gutter, not like a speed bump.

Explorerlover

CostaFonix wrote: that sounds weird, maybe that's why its in TOMS' bargain basement,,, ? this calls for a trip to TOMS to investigate (any excuse to pop into a music shop)... ?

Terrible place that...makes you walk out with stuff you won;t really use, but at that moment, you just can;t go without... ?