About six months ago I bought a used Yngwie Malmsteen Mexi-Strat. I was told it improves speed but soon learned that isn’t the case. I spent the first 8 weeks being too heavy-left handed and bending the notes out of tune. Now that I’ve gotten used to it and discovered (to your point) that bends and vibrato are easier, it’s my go-to guitar when I’m trying to pretend that I’m David Gilmour.
In a funny way in my experience it does make you play faster after you mastered having a light touch with the frets. It’s because of the light touch you can literally glide across the frets as opposed to sliding across with friction.
6 month now since i scalopped the fretboard of my old affinity strat and i wouldn't trade it for anything. As soon as you get used to it, it is an amazing Feature and it also helped my playing on regular necks, because it really helps you to develop a light touch while fretting notes. Oh and btw. It was Ritchie Blackmore who made this type of neck famous - even Yngwie got the Inspiration from him ;)
Was just about to comment about Blackmore! Spot on. Fender also makes a Ritchie Blackmore signature strat with a scalloped rosewood fingerboard no middle pickup and a 3-way switch. Quite a bit cheaper than the Malmsteen strat too.
I was stuck between getting an affinity strat then scalloping it and buying a squier tele but thanks to my Yngwie madness I think I'll go for the first option. Do you recommend it? I'll be using it on the stage btw because my Schecter loomis sig. is too heavy to carry on a whole show.
Exactly Bro I don't understand why people critizes them I have a les paul copy with medium or maybe even low frets feels so awkard after playing my scolloped tele .Cant really scollop it big inlays and binding thinking of re fretting it with really tall frets as an option
I actually scalloped my Harley Benton st62 sb by myself. I wanted to do it by hand because it was my first scalloping and wanted to be careful. It turned out alright! Not as professional as the ones you see on the malmsteem model but I am happy with it. It plays fantastic, maybe I'll put some dimarzio injectors on it at some point.
You nailed my exact opinion on it! I wanna add that I switched to scalloped because of arthitis from fretting way too hard and forcing myself to play lighter has been a lifesaver
I sometimes will get really intense nerve pain in my fretting fingertips, one finger will randomly give out and be seriously painful to the touch and I can't play with it for at least a week. I think it's from a lifetime of pressing in too hard on the fretboard. It's gotten better over the past couple years as I've learned to press more lightly and learned to feel when it's about to flare up. it's not just typical callous-forming pain, it's debilitating and I can't even type on a keyboard with that fingertip after it flares up. So I think if I buy a scalloped guitar and force myself to play without pushing the strings in to go flat, it could be just what I need to develop a lighter touch.
While touring Japan in '86 I went into a shop in Tokyo and picked up a scalloped E series Stratocaster (non-YM). I used it in the gig that night and for the rest of the tour. When I got home I had Joe Barden build me a set of pickups for it. I have tons of guitars including a '69 Stratocaster and a mid-80's Strat+. But the scalloped Strat has remained my main guitar for all these years. I absolutely love it.
My number one strat for about 6 years was scalloped. It's like having air for a fretboard, but takes some getting used to. If anything, it lightened up my touch immensely and I became much more efficient with my left hand after about a month. The big disadvantage of having a good scalloped-fret guitar is trying to switch to any standard fretboard type guitar with low frets - the wood feels so cumbersome.
I started scalloping some of my fretboards back around 2001, and I generally really liked the feel. I preferred to scallop only from the 12th fret upward. That was the perfect balance for me, leaving the standard neck for chording, but having the scallop for solos. Not many production models feature a scalloped board, but it's relatively easy to do on your own with some basic tools and a little elbow grease. If you think you might be interested, my advice would be to try it on a cheap neck to see if you like it, and don't forget to add some stain or finish to seal the grain of the wood (learned that one the hard way, lol).
Adrian, I scallop all my necks, except the ones with the block or shark-tooth inlays (worried that the inlay will tear out and leave monster hole in my fretboard, lol!).
@@DannyRayMilligan66 i also scalloped all my fretboards including one guitar with block inlays You are totally right! When you scallop block inlays they will break and you have to use a lot of woodfiller to make the neck playable again. But it will still look ugly
I was about 17 when I first heard Yngwie and he was just bursting onto the scene! I took a lot of crap in those days for still playing a traditional strat when everyone was going to the “super” strat or at least something with dual humbuckers. Yngwie didn’t really help my case a lot though since his strat was so heavily modified. The scalloped fretboard, brass nut, dimarzio pups, and a blazing fast, other worldly, guitar technique that no one could copy yet. I can still remember my cousin bringing over a video tape and all of us watching this guy just tear up the fretboard like a beast. I really, really, didn’t like the music but his abilities on the guitar were like watching an alien play! No one, NO ONE, was playing like that in those days and it was literally shocking to see and hear!
My primary reason for wanting a scalloped fretboard is honestly the downsides to it. I really want to become more aware of my touch and shapes. It also seems easier to get a clean tone out of, though my interest in that aspect is more likely due to my current guitar having low frets and abnormally high strings.
It sounds like a great idea to be "punished" for using too much force. I definitely apply too much force to anything and I think that's the main reason that keeps me from the ability to play faster, because I waste so much energy while playing... maybe I should give my old Pacifica the treatment and work the fretboard down...
It wouldnt make any difference to me. I play with lots of gain and a light touch, my guitars always got worn frets but the fretboards look brand new. Even with standard frets my fingers hardly touch the fretboard.
Just bought (finally!) the Fender Blackmore Strat a little over a week ago and could NOT be happier. Am just completely in love with that regal looking Lady. I’ve owned Fenders before, but she’s the best I’ve personally ever played by far. I’ll admit I was quite worried about the whole pressing too hard thing, so much so that I came very close to not buying it, but its been a total non issue, and in fact I even switched out the strings from nines to eights and she still stays completely in tune from top to bottom. To get her to go out requires pressing down very hard, and I kinda doubt there are very many guitarists out there prone to doing that. I’d say that almost every guitarist’s touch would be just fine on a scalloped board, with the possible exception of the beginner player, but even there I’m convinced they’d adjust pretty quickly. For sure, it’s a different feel, being that you never actually feel the fretboard under your fingers, but that’s not something that throws you off at all, and neither do the strings feel slippery, which I’d heard was the case. And, yes, bends are much easier, but in my experience leads have also been easier, and there was no adjustment period regarding speed, as right from the start I could play fast runs at least as easily as I could on my non scalloped boards, and maybe even a little faster. In conclusion, I’d just say that if you’re considering buying one, or making your own, I don’t think you’d regret it. Sure, it is different, but, in my experience, in a very good way. I actually wish I’d made the leap years ago.
I had the same experience. I found that even with 8s, it takes quite an effort to bend even 1 string sharp, let all 6 during chords. Unless you play like you're trying to strangle someone to death it doesn't seem like a big problem.
Ritchie Blackmore 🤘 I actualy tried to make one on a Lotus strat neck. It was a disaster but worked. After I played it i was glad I used a cheap neck. I do like jumbo frets on some guitars. Almost the same effect.
I scallopped a squier strat as an experiment and it turned out great,but it was a lot of work. It took awhile of playing it everyday to get used to it. I had to lighten my playing up a little and had to be careful on chords but like all tjings you can get used to it. Im thinking of putting a scalloped neck on one of my fender strats next.
I put a Yngwie scalloped neck on my MIM Strat and I love it...!!! The only difference I am seeing that tremolo picking is very difficult to play cleanly. Chords seem to be ok now, but a little difficult in the beginning. So after 6 months of conditioning you touch to play, its actually easier now going back to a un-scalopped neck when playing my other guitars.... Thanks Max...🤘 Keep it METAL 💯
I have scalloped a couple of fretboards myself and really like it. I don't use those exclusively but it's good sometimes to pick it up for a change of feel. When I first tried it about 5 years ago I'll agree that it can actually feel like you've taken a step backwards but actually it has really helped improve my technique insofar as you you've to be a lot more mindful of your finger pressure. On a normal neck you can get away with gripping too hard but that slows you down and can lead to hand cramp or even tendonitis. I'd say they are a great tool to improve your technique if nothing else, but the lack of friction for bends and vibrato is another big plus in my book!
A few years ago I was jamming out with a friend and we decided to try each others' guitars. I thought the scalloped neck on his super strat felt neat but I kinda felt like I didn't have as much control as I did on my tele. Meanwhile he liked the tone he could wrangle out of mine but he was not about the 13s life
I've been playing guitar on and off for 25 years, and studied music, and had never heard of a scalloped fret until now, thank you, it looks awesome, reminds me of those string instruments like that chinese one where you don't need to press the string against the fretboard.
Best Video on this subject i have seen on TH-cam. I've wasted many hours on TH-cam trying (desperately) to watch less talented, misinformed "people" try to explain a scalloped fretboard...so much time i will never get back haha. Great job Max, nailed it! The "chords-going-outta-tune"-thing is the main thing keeping from going from a partial scallop (12-21) to a full scallop (the whole neck), but i am positive i can recalibrate my left hand finger-pressure to compensate. The light-touch is what frees me up to blitz lightning fast across the sweep - but yur right, if u aren't already fast and accurate, this isn't a magic bean thats gonna make u "play fast". It just helps ALREADY fast (+accurate) players, move at speed WITH EASE (all caps is my italicize here, im not yelling :D) - and your advice to start with frets 12-21 was perfect! Brilliant! No complaints (so far lol). Grabbing the Dremel and taking my neck to the garage for a full scallop in about an hour. Perfect timing with this vid (for me) ;)
Well I think you nailed the whole pro and cons. I have built several guitars just because no one makes the custom stuff I want. I can customize myself for cheap and I enjoy doing it. I have taken 3 necks bought on ebay and scalloped them in 3 ways. 1 I did the whole neck. 2 I did the 12-24 frets and 3 I did the last 4 frets on a 24 fret neck. I found what I like the best is a 24 fret neck with 12-24 scalloped. Gets tight up there with my big hands and the scalloping makes it easier to control those notes. One more thing. I built a custom guitar from WARMOTH. Strat clone basically. The neck has massive stainless steel frets that have the same scallop feel without the bumpy feel sliding your hand up the neck. It does have a different bumy feel that are the frets. I TOTALLY LOVE stainless steel frets. very slippery feeling and will never wear out. They are more difficult to install and LEVEL. I dont have the correct files to work with stainless steel. When I got that neck from Warmoth the frets were not leveled correctly. I found someone online that fixed it spot on perfectly. Finger Lakes Guitar.
A buddy of mine swears by them. I tried one of his and honestly couldn’t wrap my head around it. I kept bending chords out and I got so aggravated that I just handed it back to him. For those that play them, my hats off to you. For me tho it’s just not for me at all.
Sounds to me like you'd like a partial scallop. I'm very heavy handed too, and taking the pointer from Steve Vai and Kiko Loureiro I scalloped frets 19-24. All the benefits of a scalloped fretboard, and on a place that I wasn't using for chords anyways (also it's basically impossible for me to bend those frets out of tune, way too narrow).
I have scalloped 3 of my guitars (using file and fine sandpapers ->more control using just fingers with sandpaper) but I scallop them not as deep as the scallops in this video. Or: less deep down the neck, but a little deeper between the ca. 10th-24th frets (and still not as deep as an Yngwie guitar). Those slight scallops do help the playing on some guitars but on others they would be unnecessary for my style which is about strong rhythm guitar simultaneously with leads and fills. On most guitars I don't want them though. I never knew someone was doing it before I tried it out. It just seemed logical so I did it.
There are many guitar channels on TH-cam, and I found yours the last days and I just want to say that you are doing a very great job. It is a pleasure to watch your videos and you are do it very well, better than many others
New to scalloped fretboards, but not having an issue with it so far, just concentrating more when I'm chording. Find it a little less smooth when I'm sliding notes.
I think confirmation bias plays a huge role in weather you will get on with scallops (much like fishmans/ emgs or even body shapes like explorers/ strandberg etc). If you've loved them for years but never had one, your dream guitar has scallops etc, then when you finally try one you'll ignore the learning curve drawbacks and spend so much time playing with your new toy that you'll adjust quickly and enjoy/ learn to use the quirks musically; If however you are passed one and your first instinct is "wow that looks weird, its ugly, It doesn't feel like my tele" etc; you'll focus more on drawbacks than you will on how many features are "unlocked" with the freedoms no backing to the strings presents. Personally I'd love to try one, but can't justify taking any of my guitars to get done (potentially ruining them) and there's no way I can justify buying one just to try, if shops had some tester guitars it would open so many doors in terms of spec'ing out your dream guitar and helping you when shopping around (Same principal as to why I haven't invested in a sustaniac upgrade I suppose).
For solos and lead is amazing however for faster riffs and more aggressive playing I wouldn't play a guitar with one.If you love lead you should get one for sure!
Thank you for not just shaking the neck uselessly like most YT guitar players seem to do. The neck shakes yet the sound of the note never changes. It looks ridiculous.
You're right, but the undeniable fact is that Mr Malmsteen took it to a whole new level never seen before therefore why he is cnsidered a pioneer in the genre and popularising the scalloped fretboard. Blame the game not the player.
I watched a video of Malmsteen and I have never heard a guitarist come up with so many damn excuses! He couldn't play on a Les Paul or a Strat, he has to have scalloped fretboards, he has to have the distortion cranked. Can the guy even play a regular guitar? I have my doubts lol. I remember when he first came out and was all the rage, I never got into his music and never will - to me it's just a bunch of fast notes with no soul.
You really do your research and always provide great understanding. I don’t really pay much mind to youtube reviews or demos cause most people are really promoting themselves. Yours are different. Thanks for the research and your honesty. By the way, your picking technique is great. You make it look effortless.
@Yard Sale Dale Got nothing to do with intonation. Fanned frets (which is actually a trademarked term) and multi-scale fretboards (non-trademarked and is on a mathematical level slightly different and superior from the Fanned Fret system) came about as a way of balancing tension between strings, usually on 8 and 9 string guitars. You'll notice the scale length on an extended range guitar will likely be a lot longer than your standard 24.75" - 25.5" scale, eg the Schecter Hellraiser C-9 BCH has a nearly 28" scale length. These longer scale lengths put much higher tension on the thinner high strings so by having shorter, more normal scale lengths on the high strings and longer scales for the thicker bass strings, you can balance the tension more evenly. This means you don't break high strings any more than you would on a normal guitar and your extended range bass strings don't flop around too loosely or don't have to be a stupidly thick gauge.
@Yard Sale Dale So by your logic a normally fretted instrument cannot ever be intonated correctly? I'll say it again for you, multi-scale or not, the scale has nothing to do with intonation. Intonation is the accuracy of the pitch at each of the frets and is adjusted as the last part of a guitar setup, regardless of multi-scale or not. Multi-scale exists purely to balance string tension on extended range instruments, it does not affect the accuracy of intonation in any way. As long as the nut is cut right and the bridge is in the right place, the saddles can be adjusted on either normal scale or multi-scale instruments in exactly the same way.
When I play months on my scalloped one and switch to a regular one, I feel like my fingers are "flying" because I get the habit of not "cramping" with my left hand.
Better to play soulful melodic solo runs and riff chasers than having fingers "fly". Try slowing down and saying something with your playing. A guitar is meant to sing, not "fly".
Says who? a guitar can be or do whatever the person playing it wants....I love how guys who can't play fast always try to make it seem like playing fast is somehow wrong or less than someone who plays slow
In 1975 I went in the Navy. I bought a 1974 white Strat with a maple neck. Loved it. Soon after while jamming with some guys in San Diego one had a similar Strat but during the lacquer stage the neck had rolled. The high strings barely had frets you c feel. He had managed to set an insanely low action. Everyone talked about it. I played it and it invited me to play fast. I freaked out it was so fast I crashed the first run with my mind trying to get catch up. I tried to buy it with no luck. Inconsistent production made an amazing guitar I've never seen the like of.
I started building a parts guitar in which ive scalloped the fretboard myself but havent had the money to complete it yet. Im really happy how the fretboard came out and cant wait to try it.
I scalloped fretboard of my guitar by myself in 1975. After that i played that guitar 2 month and moved it to trash. I failed to have exact pitch of notes on chords and in hard solo and i was young to admit that. Great video as always.
I always wanted to know about a scalloped fretboard. Now that I know I am going to try one out. I believe I will like it and I will then proceed to buy one at Guitar Center. Good night.
Well totally unrelated to the video topic but I just watched this from start to finish I didn't buy this guitar!! Whew......this is HUGE Max! I'm so proud of myself. But wait.........is that a Telecaster on your left side of the wall?!?!? It has a two-tone paint job........binding......dammit man. Now I want THAT guitar. Can we get a review??
@@GuitarMAXMusic NIIIICE!! Man, now I'm really curious since the only neck through guitar I know of is the "Annihilator" guitar that Doyle played in the Misfits. You know I really thought I could close out 2018 without buying anymore guitars. Oh well....😆
Well, maybe it can be a New Year's present to yourself! The guitar is amazing, the top is solid walnut, with a mahogany neck. I should have the review up in a few weeks-ish.
@@GuitarMAXMusic Is that the Wolf neck-through tele? If you have any sort of in with them, could you convince them to make one lefty? I have dollars American to give them.
Did one myself Not as drastic as a Fender one Came out great Also weight relieved the body Routed away whatever wood I could behind guard guard And in opposing areas from the back It is now my favorite Been playing since the 70s and have owned sooooo many
Around 7 years ago my friend and shred guitarist Dean Cascione finally convinced me to let him scallop my 2004 MIM Strat rosewood fredboard. I was really nervous even though I've always liked the look of scalloped necks. At first my fingers felt like they were on a high wire becase I couldn't feel any wood underneath. But I soon got past that by remembering you're only supposed to press just enough to fret notes. It did help me develop a lighter touch and like you said the best part is better bending and vibrato control. It indeed makes you more expressive which is what all aspiring guitarists want. \m/
Hi! Love your content & know this is a "old" video, but just newly got curious on scalloped fretboards :) I've always been a hard-handed SG player, but just changed string gauge from 11 to 8 - and I love it! Because it was like my brain stoped my hands from playing to hard. So now I'm curios on scalloped boards. So I'm wondering if they might make me play even softer... Would you recommend a high end, or a Chinese YJM to try it?
What a welcome video this is coming on the tail of one I saw on how to scallop a fret board without an explanation. Even though I'll never need a scalloped neck, it's good to know what is happening when a player plays on one. Wow! That demo of bending chords was awesome!
You have to use super jumbo frets. Stainless steel. You can not re-fret a scalloped neck. You can level and crown it many times. I have been playing a Warmoth scalloped neck with stainless steel frets for six years. No wear.
I put together a body and neck from Warmoth Guitars and the neck was a fully scalloped fretboard. I couldn't get used to feeling just the strings under my fingers. I ended up selling the guitar and never looked back. I do have to say the only guitars I have with any kind of scalloping are my Ibanez JEM's which has the 21st to 24th frets scalloped. Now that I can handle and it really does help with grabbing those notes up that high on the fretboard. Keep up the informative video's and you do go work.
When I first started practicing 10 hours a day back in the 80's, I started getting terrible pains in my hand. To solve the problem, I scalloped my strat and changed the way I play to a light touch. Once I got it, I could play all day and all night with no pain. The scallops really help with arpeggios as well. Jumbo frets can do the same thing as well and that is what is found on most shred guitars. Blackmore was the first rock player to play scalloped necks and he did it himself with sandpaper. BTW, that strat sounds nothing like a strat, change your pickups. If you need a humbucker sound, play a different guitar.
John, even Fender makes some of their strats with humbuckers in them, for those who prefer a different sound. For myself, I do not like the traditional strat sound, but I do like the strat body, so all my guitars have 3 dragonfire duo-rails installed, with separate coil-tap switches for each one. I scallop all my fretboards, and also laminate the fretboard with fabric or pearloid. Since the strings never touch the frets, I have no worries that my decorations will be damaged or worn off.
@@DannyRayMilligan66 Cool about your fretboards. Are there any pictures online that we can check out? Also, I have an Yngwie strat with HS-3's in it. The humbucker style pickups are great for tracking alone when you have to be next to the pre amps, console and all the other stuff. It's good to have choices when it comes to gear, more is gooder.
@@JohnDoe-pq8yw hoping these show up: facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10162507629645367&set=pcb.10162507637670367&type=3&__tn__=HH-R&eid=ARBP_VS6bo8kmJE-IN5CZwUMWDX8GtBMpGWh-MXt1A-8GfUXgOQ_xP2e9i-O9jy6rhth4XhkTOWnAzx3
To anyone on the fence like i was, Max suggested going with a partial scallop at first (frets 12-21) to "get the best of both worlds" he said, and this was sage advice. No regrets.
I scalloped my old Aria Pro by myself - at least the top twelve frets. The handy work was a bit ruff because I had no idea what i was doing, but it was playable and bends on high notes were super comfortable. I just used a round rasp. If you have any old guitar lying around you can just give it a try.
Maybe it will add some discipline...if you're fretting so hard to push chords out of tune on a scalloped then you are probably doing it too hard on a regular fretboard as well. Also I bet playing lighter helps with hand fatigue! Or maybe not.lol
Thank you for the unbiased explanation, which is really helpful. A little sidenote: the text below the video contains the sentence: "Please read the following grading rubric, as the assignment has changed for this video, due to me wearing a Danzig shirt." ... not on THIS one :-)
Also Aliexpress & EBay sell just the bolt on scalloped necks for $75-80. In the comments on a previous video, someone said Guitar center scalloped his for $75.
When I started playing guitar my parents got me a a 1980 American Standard Stratocaster. The first thing I did because I was a Ritchie Blackmore fan, was to scallop the fretboard. I learned how to play guitar on a scalloped fretboard. For the first 15 years of my playing I exclusively played scalloped fingerboards. I honestly believe that I played better on a scalloped fingerboard than I do on a regular fingerboard. I'm glad that I learned how to play on one because it made my fingers strong and my calluses ultra-tough. I cannot say enough nice things about scalloped fretboards, I absolutely love them.I still play on them to this day(although I own both types of guitars now instead of exclusive scalloping on my guitars)
I bought a custom-built Strat last year, one with a fully scalloped fingerboard. In the last I've had a great many Strats including three Jeff Becks, but this scalloped neck guitar is the loveliest to play of them all without a doubt. It plays in tune, bends effortlessly and with fat stainless steel frets it seems to play itself. Sustain is also excellent. It's a fabulous idea that reminds me of sitar necks. I'm now thinking of scalioping another el guitar I have...
You're absolutely right about having to get used to it, I'm a 25 year long player and recently picked up a Tele with a scalloped Strat neck on it and it's a completely different animal. It almost feels like the action is higher, even though the action on this one I got is set just about perfectly.
I have a nice Squire Affinity Strat that was scalloped by "Smoove grooves"..bought it on E bay about 13 years ago. It was a chance to check one out without paying the big money for a Malmsteen Strat. I love playing on it, and it is one of my favorites in my collection..
I like it. I had a Gibson SG Melody Maker that was scalloped from the 12th fret down. I just played a scalloped Strat today and I loved the feel. I might have to get one.
Had a luthier scallop my Fender American rosewood neck. Loved that guitar. It does offer a big difference and helps with grip. Plus you can get a weird tone by pressing the note into the fretboard. Over all I loved it. I wish fender offered this as an option. Especially in the days where we can get a C to D neck, it's a market Fender keeps a lid on.
I bought one from Warmoth. I love the control and bending!!! I hate my non scalloped necks now. I bought another neck and scalloped it myself. Fret 1-4 I did not touch. 5-12 I scalloped only the high e b and g strings. 12 up I did s full scallop.
You nailed it right on ,you have to get used to not pressing down too far on chords ,or risk pushing the notes out of tune ,and you can really feel those frets as you run your fingers down the neck ,but as you get used to it ,you really find ,you can get extra bend ,and vibrato out your notes,pull offs are alot more pronounced too , I wouldn't hesitate to go scalloped if your skeptical about trying it !
I love scalloped necks. Ive had several YJM Strats. My current one is a 2017 model and i just upgraded the trem to a Vega-Trem system. huge difference for the better
I remember playing one of the first Yngwie model guitars when they first came out and I felt the same way, at first, about playing chords since some strings are held down with more pressure than others but the Yngwie guitar is not really meant for playing chords. I have a couple of Ibanez Jem's now with the highest frets scalloped. I think there' might be some middle ground that would be best, like shallower scallops on an Yngwie style guitar. Just lightly beveled, like a well-worn in guitar.
Yep , I scalloped my strat my self years ago, my girl friend gave me a strat when I already had one ,so it became my beater and experiment guitar . From my high end guitars , the free one is my favorite and didn’t put much to it .
I first tried a scallops neck about 30 years ago. It was at a guitar show in London and it cost about three times what a Les Paul cost at the time. There were not many people investigating so I got to spend quite a bit of time with it and some time talking to the people on the stand. My conclusion was that it was far too expensive for me partly just because of the actual cost and also because it would never completely replace a more conventional instrument but the main impression was that if I could have afforded it then it would have helped me with using a much lighter touch and avoid aiming for the fingerboard, which I only realised I was doing when I couldn't do it anymore. I know in the video there is the comment that it does not make playing fast any easier but I think it would, with practice, improve my technique which will in turn help with accuracy and speed. It felt unforgiving but I am sure with dedication it could be mastered in a way which would make my playing overall a lot better. Fast forward to the present and I have some cheap guitars that I am going to hack around over the next few months as I set up my long awaited workshop and one project is going to be a scalloped neck. Time to find out if my original conclusions were correct....
I "borrowed" an Yngwie strat for an month and loved it. I had both my 2 main guits (LP & a Larrivee acoustic) converted to scalloped fretboards. What I find is that because you're only pushing on the strings not the fretboard it requires a lot less pressure so you play lightly with less tension. Bending *is* easier (esp. as I use SS frets) but all in all your ears will train you to not bend chords. Borrow an Yngwie off someone or buy a used one. You can always sell it for what you laid out.
Yes i love scalloped necks! All 3 of my guitars have them,i did the work myself. Love the control of the notes ,that being said the first time you play one it feels naked ....... Once you get the feel,its hard to go back ,to much wood and resistance fighting against your hand.
BMG guitars, refurbished fully set up scalloped fretboard guitars ready to play.. Three in stock right now, a black tele, a red strat, and a natural maple strat..
About six months ago I bought a used Yngwie Malmsteen Mexi-Strat. I was told it improves speed but soon learned that isn’t the case. I spent the first 8 weeks being too heavy-left handed and bending the notes out of tune. Now that I’ve gotten used to it and discovered (to your point) that bends and vibrato are easier, it’s my go-to guitar when I’m trying to pretend that I’m David Gilmour.
In a funny way in my experience it does make you play faster after you mastered having a light touch with the frets. It’s because of the light touch you can literally glide across the frets as opposed to sliding across with friction.
@@gameroftheyear1000 Right? Its all a matter of you getting used to it. But it can take several months tho.
It's designed to give you more control over the strings at the expense of having to be more precise with your fingers.
@@smokingcrab2290 which is great technique chops builder for those who aspire to shred.
I broke my headstock today so I just decided to order a scalloped neck. I like pretending to be Gilmour as well
6 month now since i scalopped the fretboard of my old affinity strat and i wouldn't trade it for anything. As soon as you get used to it, it is an amazing Feature and it also helped my playing on regular necks, because it really helps you to develop a light touch while fretting notes.
Oh and btw. It was Ritchie Blackmore who made this type of neck famous - even Yngwie got the Inspiration from him ;)
Was just about to comment about Blackmore! Spot on. Fender also makes a Ritchie Blackmore signature strat with a scalloped rosewood fingerboard no middle pickup and a 3-way switch. Quite a bit cheaper than the Malmsteen strat too.
I was stuck between getting an affinity strat then scalloping it and buying a squier tele but thanks to my Yngwie madness I think I'll go for the first option. Do you recommend it? I'll be using it on the stage btw because my Schecter loomis sig. is too heavy to carry on a whole show.
Exactly Bro I don't understand why people critizes them I have a les paul copy with medium or maybe even low frets feels so awkard after playing my scolloped tele .Cant really scollop it big inlays and binding thinking of re fretting it with really tall frets as an option
@@davidparkes7977 you can lightly scallop a les paul very very lightly ive done it and yes taller frets can help immensely
its a crime to not mention blackmore
I actually scalloped my Harley Benton st62 sb by myself. I wanted to do it by hand because it was my first scalloping and wanted to be careful. It turned out alright! Not as professional as the ones you see on the malmsteem model but I am happy with it. It plays fantastic, maybe I'll put some dimarzio injectors on it at some point.
You nailed my exact opinion on it! I wanna add that I switched to scalloped because of arthitis from fretting way too hard and forcing myself to play lighter has been a lifesaver
That is a big selling point for my brand! Thank you for confirming this!
@@bmint cheers man! Do you make lefty guitars too?😃
I sometimes will get really intense nerve pain in my fretting fingertips, one finger will randomly give out and be seriously painful to the touch and I can't play with it for at least a week. I think it's from a lifetime of pressing in too hard on the fretboard. It's gotten better over the past couple years as I've learned to press more lightly and learned to feel when it's about to flare up. it's not just typical callous-forming pain, it's debilitating and I can't even type on a keyboard with that fingertip after it flares up. So I think if I buy a scalloped guitar and force myself to play without pushing the strings in to go flat, it could be just what I need to develop a lighter touch.
@@christopherharv I would definitely give it a go if I was you💯
While touring Japan in '86 I went into a shop in Tokyo and picked up a scalloped E series Stratocaster (non-YM). I used it in the gig that night and for the rest of the tour. When I got home I had Joe Barden build me a set of pickups for it. I have tons of guitars including a '69 Stratocaster and a mid-80's Strat+. But the scalloped Strat has remained my main guitar for all these years. I absolutely love it.
Is it hard to tap with scalloped fretboard?
@@simpatiko6392 No
My number one strat for about 6 years was scalloped. It's like having air for a fretboard, but takes some getting used to. If anything, it lightened up my touch immensely and I became much more efficient with my left hand after about a month. The big disadvantage of having a good scalloped-fret guitar is trying to switch to any standard fretboard type guitar with low frets - the wood feels so cumbersome.
Fantastic! I don´t know why no one else talks about this. Great explanation as always!
I started scalloping some of my fretboards back around 2001, and I generally really liked the feel. I preferred to scallop only from the 12th fret upward. That was the perfect balance for me, leaving the standard neck for chording, but having the scallop for solos.
Not many production models feature a scalloped board, but it's relatively easy to do on your own with some basic tools and a little elbow grease. If you think you might be interested, my advice would be to try it on a cheap neck to see if you like it, and don't forget to add some stain or finish to seal the grain of the wood (learned that one the hard way, lol).
I just had my Telecaster scalloped (Blackmore style); it's just fantastic! I don't know how played without a scalloped neck before.
Adrian, I scallop all my necks, except the ones with the block or shark-tooth inlays (worried that the inlay will tear out and leave monster hole in my fretboard, lol!).
@@DannyRayMilligan66 i also scalloped all my fretboards including one guitar with block inlays
You are totally right!
When you scallop block inlays they will break and you have to use a lot of woodfiller to make the neck playable again. But it will still look ugly
Holy biceps. What a strong guy
Scalloped fan-fret harp guitars with kahler trem and optic pickups will soon be all the rage.
I need this in my life.
Mine is on order cant wait to get it 😜
@Coldern Ice lemme guess, you hate tosin abasi's playing because he uses an 8 string?
I won't be satisfied until I see a guitar that's just frets floating in free space, suspended with magnetic force.
@@BradTheProducer there's guitars that come close atm
I was about 17 when I first heard Yngwie and he was just bursting onto the scene! I took a lot of crap in those days for still playing a traditional strat when everyone was going to the “super” strat or at least something with dual humbuckers. Yngwie didn’t really help my case a lot though since his strat was so heavily modified. The scalloped fretboard, brass nut, dimarzio pups, and a blazing fast, other worldly, guitar technique that no one could copy yet. I can still remember my cousin bringing over a video tape and all of us watching this guy just tear up the fretboard like a beast. I really, really, didn’t like the music but his abilities on the guitar were like watching an alien play! No one, NO ONE, was playing like that in those days and it was literally shocking to see and hear!
Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple) was the first to use a scalloped electric guitar. he did it himself with a kitchen knife.
Yes...there was life before Malstream..lol
These young guys don't know there history,.lol
R.B. wishes he could ever play like Yngwie
@@elsenorx·hace.10.años found Yngwie’s burner
Omg🥺bolt move...thinking of use a knife on one of my guitars...😭😭😭
My primary reason for wanting a scalloped fretboard is honestly the downsides to it. I really want to become more aware of my touch and shapes. It also seems easier to get a clean tone out of, though my interest in that aspect is more likely due to my current guitar having low frets and abnormally high strings.
It sounds like a great idea to be "punished" for using too much force. I definitely apply too much force to anything and I think that's the main reason that keeps me from the ability to play faster, because I waste so much energy while playing... maybe I should give my old Pacifica the treatment and work the fretboard down...
It wouldnt make any difference to me.
I play with lots of gain and a light touch, my guitars always got worn frets but the fretboards look brand new. Even with standard frets my fingers hardly touch the fretboard.
Just bought (finally!) the Fender Blackmore Strat a little over a week ago and could NOT be happier. Am just completely in love with that regal looking Lady. I’ve owned Fenders before, but she’s the best I’ve personally ever played by far. I’ll admit I was quite worried about the whole pressing too hard thing, so much so that I came very close to not buying it, but its been a total non issue, and in fact I even switched out the strings from nines to eights and she still stays completely in tune from top to bottom. To get her to go out requires pressing down very hard, and I kinda doubt there are very many guitarists out there prone to doing that. I’d say that almost every guitarist’s touch would be just fine on a scalloped board, with the possible exception of the beginner player, but even there I’m convinced they’d adjust pretty quickly. For sure, it’s a different feel, being that you never actually feel the fretboard under your fingers, but that’s not something that throws you off at all, and neither do the strings feel slippery, which I’d heard was the case. And, yes, bends are much easier, but in my experience leads have also been easier, and there was no adjustment period regarding speed, as right from the start I could play fast runs at least as easily as I could on my non scalloped boards, and maybe even a little faster. In conclusion, I’d just say that if you’re considering buying one, or making your own, I don’t think you’d regret it. Sure, it is different, but, in my experience, in a very good way. I actually wish I’d made the leap years ago.
I had the same experience. I found that even with 8s, it takes quite an effort to bend even 1 string sharp, let all 6 during chords. Unless you play like you're trying to strangle someone to death it doesn't seem like a big problem.
I have a scalloped board on one of my guitars, it was actually one of my first. it's a GREAT feeling and I love it!
Ritchie Blackmore 🤘
I actualy tried to make one on a Lotus strat neck. It was a disaster but worked. After I played it i was glad I used a cheap neck.
I do like jumbo frets on some guitars. Almost the same effect.
I scallopped a squier strat as an experiment and it turned out great,but it was a lot of work. It took awhile of playing it everyday to get used to it. I had to lighten my playing up a little and had to be careful on chords but like all tjings you can get used to it. Im thinking of putting a scalloped neck on one of my fender strats next.
I concur on the jumbo frets effect. I have them and my fingers don't touch the neck.
I put a Yngwie scalloped neck on my MIM Strat and I love it...!!! The only difference I am seeing that tremolo picking is very difficult to play cleanly. Chords seem to be ok now, but a little difficult in the beginning. So after 6 months of conditioning you touch to play, its actually easier now going back to a un-scalopped neck when playing my other guitars....
Thanks Max...🤘
Keep it METAL 💯
I have scalloped a couple of fretboards myself and really like it. I don't use those exclusively but it's good sometimes to pick it up for a change of feel. When I first tried it about 5 years ago I'll agree that it can actually feel like you've taken a step backwards but actually it has really helped improve my technique insofar as you you've to be a lot more mindful of your finger pressure. On a normal neck you can get away with gripping too hard but that slows you down and can lead to hand cramp or even tendonitis. I'd say they are a great tool to improve your technique if nothing else, but the lack of friction for bends and vibrato is another big plus in my book!
HOW CAN SOMEONE THAT PLAYS GUITARS SO GOOD, BE SOO JACKED, AND LOOKED MAGICAL AT THE SAME TIME BRO???
Because this dude is a Guitar PLayin' Fuckin' Adonis!!
Hes 3 people, cgi is just really good now indays.
Now, I'm not gay
*but...*
gay
@@olgoat6460 yes?
A few years ago I was jamming out with a friend and we decided to try each others' guitars. I thought the scalloped neck on his super strat felt neat but I kinda felt like I didn't have as much control as I did on my tele. Meanwhile he liked the tone he could wrangle out of mine but he was not about the 13s life
I've been playing guitar on and off for 25 years, and studied music, and had never heard of a scalloped fret until now, thank you, it looks awesome, reminds me of those string instruments like that chinese one where you don't need to press the string against the fretboard.
Best Video on this subject i have seen on TH-cam. I've wasted many hours on TH-cam trying (desperately) to watch less talented, misinformed "people" try to explain a scalloped fretboard...so much time i will never get back haha. Great job Max, nailed it!
The "chords-going-outta-tune"-thing is the main thing keeping from going from a partial scallop (12-21) to a full scallop (the whole neck), but i am positive i can recalibrate my left hand finger-pressure to compensate. The light-touch is what frees me up to blitz lightning fast across the sweep - but yur right, if u aren't already fast and accurate, this isn't a magic bean thats gonna make u "play fast". It just helps ALREADY fast (+accurate) players, move at speed WITH EASE (all caps is my italicize here, im not yelling :D) - and your advice to start with frets 12-21 was perfect! Brilliant!
No complaints (so far lol). Grabbing the Dremel and taking my neck to the garage for a full scallop in about an hour. Perfect timing with this vid (for me) ;)
I had my guitar scalloped because Richie Blackmore,I love it and totally agree wish more companies made them.
Love your videos man. Straight to the point, very informative and they're a joy to watch. I can't believe you only have 50k-ish subscribers
Well I think you nailed the whole pro and cons. I have built several guitars just because no one makes the custom stuff I want. I can customize myself for cheap and I enjoy doing it. I have taken 3 necks bought on ebay and scalloped them in 3 ways. 1 I did the whole neck. 2 I did the 12-24 frets and 3 I did the last 4 frets on a 24 fret neck. I found what I like the best is a 24 fret neck with 12-24 scalloped. Gets tight up there with my big hands and the scalloping makes it easier to control those notes. One more thing. I built a custom guitar from WARMOTH. Strat clone basically. The neck has massive stainless steel frets that have the same scallop feel without the bumpy feel sliding your hand up the neck. It does have a different bumy feel that are the frets. I TOTALLY LOVE stainless steel frets. very slippery feeling and will never wear out. They are more difficult to install and LEVEL. I dont have the correct files to work with stainless steel. When I got that neck from Warmoth the frets were not leveled correctly. I found someone online that fixed it spot on perfectly. Finger Lakes Guitar.
Good topic I always wondered what the advantage was
Nice to see someone paying attention to their body but not afraid to be delicate too. I approve.
A buddy of mine swears by them. I tried one of his and honestly couldn’t wrap my head around it. I kept bending chords out and I got so aggravated that I just handed it back to him. For those that play them, my hats off to you. For me tho it’s just not for me at all.
Sounds to me like you'd like a partial scallop. I'm very heavy handed too, and taking the pointer from Steve Vai and Kiko Loureiro I scalloped frets 19-24. All the benefits of a scalloped fretboard, and on a place that I wasn't using for chords anyways (also it's basically impossible for me to bend those frets out of tune, way too narrow).
Fabián Riquelme I’ll have to check out one of the Vai models and see if I would like that. You’re probably spot on too. Thank you for the suggestion
I was going to suggest a partial scallop. I think I would like that better myself. It wouldn't affect your chords like a full scallop does.👍😎🎸🎶
I have scalloped 3 of my guitars (using file and fine sandpapers ->more control using just fingers with sandpaper) but I scallop them not as deep as the scallops in this video. Or: less deep down the neck, but a little deeper between the ca. 10th-24th frets (and still not as deep as an Yngwie guitar). Those slight scallops do help the playing on some guitars but on others they would be unnecessary for my style which is about strong rhythm guitar simultaneously with leads and fills.
On most guitars I don't want them though.
I never knew someone was doing it before I tried it out. It just seemed logical so I did it.
@@ytusersumone Light touch is something you'll have to practice.
There are many guitar channels on TH-cam, and I found yours the last days and I just want to say that you are doing a very great job. It is a pleasure to watch your videos and you are do it very well, better than many others
New to scalloped fretboards, but not having an issue with it so far, just concentrating more when I'm chording. Find it a little less smooth when I'm sliding notes.
my man your reviews blow me away. The absolute best I've ever seen
I think confirmation bias plays a huge role in weather you will get on with scallops (much like fishmans/ emgs or even body shapes like explorers/ strandberg etc).
If you've loved them for years but never had one, your dream guitar has scallops etc, then when you finally try one you'll ignore the learning curve drawbacks and spend so much time playing with your new toy that you'll adjust quickly and enjoy/ learn to use the quirks musically; If however you are passed one and your first instinct is "wow that looks weird, its ugly, It doesn't feel like my tele" etc; you'll focus more on drawbacks than you will on how many features are "unlocked" with the freedoms no backing to the strings presents.
Personally I'd love to try one, but can't justify taking any of my guitars to get done (potentially ruining them) and there's no way I can justify buying one just to try, if shops had some tester guitars it would open so many doors in terms of spec'ing out your dream guitar and helping you when shopping around (Same principal as to why I haven't invested in a sustaniac upgrade I suppose).
I scalloped the top 5 frets on my partscaster… it’s ok, a bit overrated as far as difference… it feels about the same..
I’m impressed with how efficient you delivered the information I came for. New favorite guitar channel
1:36 By God, was that a 2 1/2 step bend?!
Yes it was and I was able to get 3 steps, only on a scalloped though.
@@georgeludvik1506jeez I'd get worried about breaking a string...
For solos and lead is amazing however for faster riffs and more aggressive playing I wouldn't play a guitar with one.If you love lead you should get one for sure!
Gilmour does that all the time...
I can do a 3 step with a guitar with a Floyd rose, without using the tremolo
Tried one and put it back on the wall in 5 minutes if not less. I couldn't do it... Bravo to guys who can.
Insted Of Doing This To One Of Your Guitars That You May Regret, Aliexpress Or EBay Is The Way To Go
Thank you for not just shaking the neck uselessly like most YT guitar players seem to do. The neck shakes yet the sound of the note never changes. It looks ridiculous.
Blackmore was doing it before ingwei was even born .. he got the idea from blackmore
You're right, but the undeniable fact is that Mr Malmsteen took it to a whole new level never seen before therefore why he is cnsidered a pioneer in the genre and popularising the scalloped fretboard. Blame the game not the player.
Blackmore doesn't have the whole fretboard scalopped
The rosewood fingerboard of Richie's white '78 Strat was scalloped so deep that the inlays were hardly visible
I watched a video of Malmsteen and I have never heard a guitarist come up with so many damn excuses! He couldn't play on a Les Paul or a Strat, he has to have scalloped fretboards, he has to have the distortion cranked. Can the guy even play a regular guitar? I have my doubts lol. I remember when he first came out and was all the rage, I never got into his music and never will - to me it's just a bunch of fast notes with no soul.
@@alabamahebrew that only what he preefers, He can play everything
You really do your research and always provide great understanding. I don’t really pay much mind to youtube reviews or demos cause most people are really promoting themselves. Yours are different. Thanks for the research and your honesty. By the way, your picking technique is great. You make it look effortless.
Hey Max, great explanation. Can you do a similar video on the whys and why-nots of fanned frets please? Thanks! Cheers, Chris.
rather than asking this vai wanna - be, better search youtube for fanned frets. zillions of great vids here:)
@Yard Sale Dale Got nothing to do with intonation. Fanned frets (which is actually a trademarked term) and multi-scale fretboards (non-trademarked and is on a mathematical level slightly different and superior from the Fanned Fret system) came about as a way of balancing tension between strings, usually on 8 and 9 string guitars. You'll notice the scale length on an extended range guitar will likely be a lot longer than your standard 24.75" - 25.5" scale, eg the Schecter Hellraiser C-9 BCH has a nearly 28" scale length. These longer scale lengths put much higher tension on the thinner high strings so by having shorter, more normal scale lengths on the high strings and longer scales for the thicker bass strings, you can balance the tension more evenly. This means you don't break high strings any more than you would on a normal guitar and your extended range bass strings don't flop around too loosely or don't have to be a stupidly thick gauge.
@Yard Sale Dale So by your logic a normally fretted instrument cannot ever be intonated correctly? I'll say it again for you, multi-scale or not, the scale has nothing to do with intonation. Intonation is the accuracy of the pitch at each of the frets and is adjusted as the last part of a guitar setup, regardless of multi-scale or not. Multi-scale exists purely to balance string tension on extended range instruments, it does not affect the accuracy of intonation in any way. As long as the nut is cut right and the bridge is in the right place, the saddles can be adjusted on either normal scale or multi-scale instruments in exactly the same way.
@Yard Sale Dale the intonation sucks on both multiscale and normal. You're thinking of true temperment frets for better intonation.
@@fenrir7969 "balancing tension without having to use too heavy bottom (as in pitch) strings" is what you wanted to say
Never heard of, nor played, a scalloped fretboard. But I want one now.
When I play months on my scalloped one and switch to a regular one, I feel like my fingers are "flying" because I get the habit of not "cramping" with my left hand.
Better to play soulful melodic solo runs and riff chasers than having fingers "fly". Try slowing down and saying something with your playing. A guitar is meant to sing, not "fly".
Says who? a guitar can be or do whatever the person playing it wants....I love how guys who can't play fast always try to make it seem like playing fast is somehow wrong or less than someone who plays slow
@@minititan999 😉👍
Could you explain this I don't get what you mean
Andy M he means there’s less tension in his hands so he plays faster
In 1975 I went in the Navy. I bought a 1974 white Strat with a maple neck. Loved it. Soon after while jamming with some guys in San Diego one had a similar Strat but during the lacquer stage the neck had rolled. The high strings barely had frets you c feel. He had managed to set an insanely low action. Everyone talked about it. I played it and it invited me to play fast. I freaked out it was so fast I crashed the first run with my mind trying to get catch up. I tried to buy it with no luck. Inconsistent production made an amazing guitar I've never seen the like of.
Nice Metaltronix Amp ;)
I started building a parts guitar in which ive scalloped the fretboard myself but havent had the money to complete it yet. Im really happy how the fretboard came out and cant wait to try it.
How about fanned scalloped frets?
I scalloped fretboard of my guitar by myself in 1975. After that i played that guitar 2 month and moved it to trash. I failed to have exact pitch of notes on chords and in hard solo and i was young to admit that. Great video as always.
His body, his arms, his hair, his face, his guitar, his pickups don’t match.
Those pickups are actually really warm minihumbickers (neck/bridge). Theyre amazing for shredding.
His body, hair and face are matching perfectly!
.. you know when you build a character in a video game? He is that.
fabio's long lost son!
hahahaha
I always wanted to know about a scalloped fretboard. Now that I know I am going to try one out. I believe I will like it and I will then proceed to buy one at Guitar Center. Good night.
Well totally unrelated to the video topic but I just watched this from start to finish I didn't buy this guitar!! Whew......this is HUGE Max! I'm so proud of myself. But wait.........is that a Telecaster on your left side of the wall?!?!? It has a two-tone paint job........binding......dammit man. Now I want THAT guitar. Can we get a review??
Review coming soon! But it's not a two-tone paint job.... it's a neck through telecaster!
@@GuitarMAXMusic NIIIICE!! Man, now I'm really curious since the only neck through guitar I know of is the "Annihilator" guitar that Doyle played in the Misfits. You know I really thought I could close out 2018 without buying anymore guitars. Oh well....😆
Well, maybe it can be a New Year's present to yourself! The guitar is amazing, the top is solid walnut, with a mahogany neck. I should have the review up in a few weeks-ish.
@@GuitarMAXMusic Is that the Wolf neck-through tele? If you have any sort of in with them, could you convince them to make one lefty? I have dollars American to give them.
Did one myself
Not as drastic as a Fender one
Came out great
Also weight relieved the body
Routed away whatever wood I could behind guard guard
And in opposing areas from the back
It is now my favorite
Been playing since the 70s and have owned sooooo many
Love scallops. Guitars and seafood.
Around 7 years ago my friend and shred guitarist Dean Cascione finally convinced me to let him scallop my 2004 MIM Strat rosewood fredboard. I was really nervous even though I've always liked the look of scalloped necks. At first my fingers felt like they were on a high wire becase I couldn't feel any wood underneath. But I soon got past that by remembering you're only supposed to press just enough to fret notes. It did help me develop a lighter touch and like you said the best part is better bending and vibrato control. It indeed makes you more expressive which is what all aspiring guitarists want. \m/
Hi! Love your content & know this is a "old" video, but just newly got curious on scalloped fretboards :)
I've always been a hard-handed SG player, but just changed string gauge from 11 to 8 - and I love it! Because
it was like my brain stoped my hands from playing to hard. So now I'm curios on scalloped boards. So I'm
wondering if they might make me play even softer... Would you recommend a high end, or a Chinese YJM to try it?
What a welcome video this is coming on the tail of one I saw on how to scallop a fret board without an explanation. Even though I'll never need a scalloped neck, it's good to know what is happening when a player plays on one. Wow! That demo of bending chords was awesome!
God damn he has good hair
And bewbs
Crazy ‘bout the scalloped fretboard. I’ve scalloped three myself for myself and now those guitars are priceless to me.
I bet a scalloped fretboard is easier to damage when replacing fretwire, but would make redressing frets easier.
You would be correct.
You have to use super jumbo frets. Stainless steel. You can not re-fret a scalloped neck. You can level and crown it many times. I have been playing a Warmoth scalloped neck with stainless steel frets for six years. No wear.
@@0421072 warmoth necks are PERFECTION!
Justin yes you can refret a scalloped neck and you dont need staineless wire. Yes its more difficult and takes more care but can definetely be done
f ibibedo I've done it a couple of times on YJM Strats..... it sucks , but it can be done on a well equipped bench.
I put together a body and neck from Warmoth Guitars and the neck was a fully scalloped fretboard. I couldn't get used to feeling just the strings under my fingers. I ended up selling the guitar and never looked back. I do have to say the only guitars I have with any kind of scalloping are my Ibanez JEM's which has the 21st to 24th frets scalloped. Now that I can handle and it really does help with grabbing those notes up that high on the fretboard. Keep up the informative video's and you do go work.
When I first started practicing 10 hours a day back in the 80's, I started getting terrible pains in my hand. To solve the problem, I scalloped my strat and changed the way I play to a light touch. Once I got it, I could play all day and all night with no pain. The scallops really help with arpeggios as well. Jumbo frets can do the same thing as well and that is what is found on most shred guitars. Blackmore was the first rock player to play scalloped necks and he did it himself with sandpaper.
BTW, that strat sounds nothing like a strat, change your pickups. If you need a humbucker sound, play a different guitar.
John, even Fender makes some of their strats with humbuckers in them, for those who prefer a different sound. For myself, I do not like the traditional strat sound, but I do like the strat body, so all my guitars have 3 dragonfire duo-rails installed, with separate coil-tap switches for each one. I scallop all my fretboards, and also laminate the fretboard with fabric or pearloid. Since the strings never touch the frets, I have no worries that my decorations will be damaged or worn off.
@@DannyRayMilligan66 Cool about your fretboards. Are there any pictures online that we can check out? Also, I have an Yngwie strat with HS-3's in it. The humbucker style pickups are great for tracking alone when you have to be next to the pre amps, console and all the other stuff. It's good to have choices when it comes to gear, more is gooder.
@@JohnDoe-pq8yw hoping these show up: facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10162507629645367&set=pcb.10162507637670367&type=3&__tn__=HH-R&eid=ARBP_VS6bo8kmJE-IN5CZwUMWDX8GtBMpGWh-MXt1A-8GfUXgOQ_xP2e9i-O9jy6rhth4XhkTOWnAzx3
facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10162507630255367&set=pcb.10162507637670367&type=3&__tn__=HH-R&eid=ARACpl5ofSUECqxousv1bBfvBN-AN4Z5fhvdRJSVg3MHacpdKPLYXRr7QeozKueo5xGVPcBuX5qY_Z7F
facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10162507633785367&set=pcb.10162507637670367&type=3&__tn__=HH-R&eid=ARCnwqyuSxe2xJcqsUg0KV973eqtyhltdu2jfQo3H89z3tO7UyC9MdLBJl4lrAFDrlepvcnvkOGi1_Qy
To anyone on the fence like i was, Max suggested going with a partial scallop at first (frets 12-21) to "get the best of both worlds" he said, and this was sage advice. No regrets.
Every time I see max I think of Wayne’s world
I scalloped my old Aria Pro by myself - at least the top twelve frets. The handy work was a bit ruff because I had no idea what i was doing, but it was playable and bends on high notes were super comfortable. I just used a round rasp. If you have any old guitar lying around you can just give it a try.
Maybe it will add some discipline...if you're fretting so hard to push chords out of tune on a scalloped then you are probably doing it too hard on a regular fretboard as well. Also I bet playing lighter helps with hand fatigue! Or maybe not.lol
Works for me fine! If you're playing one for the first time, its really easy to get use to!
Okay but where in the hell did you find a real Metaltronix head?
Xero Delacroix was curious about that myself?? I’m sure he has a crazy good hookup in the music hardware biz....
Thank you for the unbiased explanation, which is really helpful.
A little sidenote: the text below the video contains the sentence: "Please read the following grading rubric, as the assignment has changed for this video, due to me wearing a Danzig shirt."
... not on THIS one :-)
Good catch! +5 points!!
Where can you even get one scalloped?
you can get a fake fender signature strat on aliexpres for around 150$
Find a local luthuir, and pay them to scallop the fretboard.
It's frankly easier to do it yourself, it's not difficult if you've handled a file at any other point in your life.
or a Dremel roto tool with a drum sander... :D
Also Aliexpress & EBay sell just the bolt on scalloped necks for $75-80. In the comments on a previous video, someone said Guitar center scalloped his for $75.
Very good post again, thank you. I have been curious about a scalloped fret board for a while now.
Damn I didn’t know Kylo ren played guitar
I'm not a doctor but I think you might need glasses.
@@atoaster6715 it’s quite the stretch I’ll agree lol
When I started playing guitar my parents got me a a 1980 American Standard Stratocaster. The first thing I did because I was a Ritchie Blackmore fan, was to scallop the fretboard. I learned how to play guitar on a scalloped fretboard. For the first 15 years of my playing I exclusively played scalloped fingerboards. I honestly believe that I played better on a scalloped fingerboard than I do on a regular fingerboard. I'm glad that I learned how to play on one because it made my fingers strong and my calluses ultra-tough. I cannot say enough nice things about scalloped fretboards, I absolutely love them.I still play on them to this day(although I own both types of guitars now instead of exclusive scalloping on my guitars)
one word.... Nope!!
I first heard about scalloped fretboards through Vietnamese Vong Co folk music, a haunting sound in that context, really cool!
I scalloped my strato it's a crap, very difficult playing, my advice, don't do that!!
U sux
@@rinzxc8857 he might not suck, different things work for different people
The Ritchie Blackmore Strat has entered the chat. 😀
I have a couple of scalloped strats and really like the both.
I bought a custom-built Strat last year, one with a fully scalloped fingerboard. In the last I've had a great many Strats including three Jeff Becks, but this scalloped neck guitar is the loveliest to play of them all without a doubt. It plays in tune, bends effortlessly and with fat stainless steel frets it seems to play itself. Sustain is also excellent. It's a fabulous idea that reminds me of sitar necks. I'm now thinking of scalioping another el guitar I have...
You're absolutely right about having to get used to it, I'm a 25 year long player and recently picked up a Tele with a scalloped Strat neck on it and it's a completely different animal. It almost feels like the action is higher, even though the action on this one I got is set just about perfectly.
I have an ibanez Japan era rg 450 neck all scalloped and ready for my Frankenstein build! Can't wait to finish her up! Nice vid max!✌
I have a nice Squire Affinity Strat that was scalloped by "Smoove grooves"..bought it on E bay about 13 years ago. It was a chance to check one out without paying the big money for a Malmsteen Strat. I love playing on it, and it is one of my favorites in my collection..
I did a partial scallop of a project I put together, courtesy of a Brad Angove video. I like it and the next project will be the whole fret board.
I like it. I had a Gibson SG Melody Maker that was scalloped from the 12th fret down. I just played a scalloped Strat today and I loved the feel. I might have to get one.
Back in high school my buddy and I scalloped the frets past the 12th. Just went for it with some fine grit sandpaper. We got there eventually!!
Had a luthier scallop my Fender American rosewood neck. Loved that guitar. It does offer a big difference and helps with grip. Plus you can get a weird tone by pressing the note into the fretboard. Over all I loved it. I wish fender offered this as an option. Especially in the days where we can get a C to D neck, it's a market Fender keeps a lid on.
Good video my friend - so much better than the other 'scalloped' video some other guy put up. many thanks!!
I bought one from Warmoth. I love the control and bending!!! I hate my non scalloped necks now. I bought another neck and scalloped it myself.
Fret 1-4 I did not touch.
5-12 I scalloped only the high e b and g strings.
12 up I did s full scallop.
You nailed it right on ,you have to get used to not pressing down too far on chords ,or risk pushing the notes out of tune ,and you can really feel those frets as you run your fingers down the neck ,but as you get used to it ,you really find ,you can get extra bend ,and vibrato out your notes,pull offs are alot more pronounced too , I wouldn't hesitate to go scalloped if your skeptical about trying it !
I love scalloped necks. Ive had several YJM Strats. My current one is a 2017 model and i just upgraded the trem to a Vega-Trem system. huge difference for the better
Very good video. You are doing a great job with your videos, that is why your subscriber count is growing so fast.
Thank you!
I made my own electric guitar and I had scalloped it n it feels so like a new next level of playing with it.,.. it's best
I love my scalloped aria stg xD did it myself :) The result is quiet magnificent if I may say!
I remember playing one of the first Yngwie model guitars when they first came out and I felt the same way, at first, about playing chords since some strings are held down with more pressure than others but the Yngwie guitar is not really meant for playing chords. I have a couple of Ibanez Jem's now with the highest frets scalloped. I think there' might be some middle ground that would be best, like shallower scallops on an Yngwie style guitar. Just lightly beveled, like a well-worn in guitar.
Yep , I scalloped my strat my self years ago, my girl friend gave me a strat when I already had one ,so it became my beater and experiment guitar . From my high end guitars , the free one is my favorite and didn’t put much to it .
I first tried a scallops neck about 30 years ago. It was at a guitar show in London and it cost about three times what a Les Paul cost at the time. There were not many people investigating so I got to spend quite a bit of time with it and some time talking to the people on the stand. My conclusion was that it was far too expensive for me partly just because of the actual cost and also because it would never completely replace a more conventional instrument but the main impression was that if I could have afforded it then it would have helped me with using a much lighter touch and avoid aiming for the fingerboard, which I only realised I was doing when I couldn't do it anymore. I know in the video there is the comment that it does not make playing fast any easier but I think it would, with practice, improve my technique which will in turn help with accuracy and speed. It felt unforgiving but I am sure with dedication it could be mastered in a way which would make my playing overall a lot better. Fast forward to the present and I have some cheap guitars that I am going to hack around over the next few months as I set up my long awaited workshop and one project is going to be a scalloped neck. Time to find out if my original conclusions were correct....
I "borrowed" an Yngwie strat for an month and loved it. I had both my 2 main guits (LP & a Larrivee acoustic) converted to scalloped fretboards. What I find is that because you're only pushing on the strings not the fretboard it requires a lot less pressure so you play lightly with less tension. Bending *is* easier (esp. as I use SS frets) but all in all your ears will train you to not bend chords. Borrow an Yngwie off someone or buy a used one. You can always sell it for what you laid out.
Thanks GM, simplest and best explanation.
Yes i love scalloped necks! All 3 of my guitars have them,i did the work myself. Love the control of the notes ,that being said the first time you play one it feels naked ....... Once you get the feel,its hard to go back ,to much wood and resistance fighting against your hand.
Currently own an yngwie, and a chinyngwie lol, best guitar ever, i can never go back to a regular fretboard, the scallops for me was a revelation
BMG guitars, refurbished fully set up scalloped fretboard guitars ready to play..
Three in stock right now, a black tele, a red strat, and a natural maple strat..
I really enjoy mine. Fun to play and forces me to concentrate on chords.