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Original Post By:
ookey
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Date: 5/1/2008 10:57:14 PM |
| and what are they advantages of having one? Thanks |
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Posted By:
schwartz
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Date: 5/1/2008 11:25:29 PM |
I don't mean to sound like a jerk here, but if you google "radiused fretboard" you get 270000 responses, several of them answering your question.
Why are people lazy about this stuff?
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Posted By:
Craig
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Date: 5/2/2008 12:04:15 AM |
It means there's a slight curve placed onto the fretboard. Ukuleles traditionally have flat fretboard. The radius makes the fretboard feel more like a steel-string or electric guitar.
I find them easier to make barre chords and my fingers don't tire as easily. I have a 16 degree (which is very slight) on both my Ko'olaus and love the way they play.
http://myspace.com/craigcbrandau
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Posted By:
Bob S.
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Date: 5/2/2008 12:16:41 AM |
| Maybe they don't know what Google is.
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Posted By:
Queequegowitz
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Date: 5/2/2008 6:20:59 AM |
| Craig, that's a beautiful version of "Tenderly."
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Posted By:
Vic Edmonds
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Date: 5/2/2008 6:40:16 AM |
I do not see any problem with starting a new thread on an old topic. FMM is essentially talking to your friends and when we do that we sometimes go back to topics we talked about before.
On this one I discovered Craig Brandau. He has the most wonderful touch and plays with great variety of sound. A younger more American sounding Ohta-San. On his site, linked above, are great pictures of his stunning instruments, including one that clearly shows the radiused fretboard.
I think his sound relates to the radiused fretboard. A clarity of notes and ease of playing. He does incredibly difficult things but the feel is natural and easy.
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Posted By:
Craig
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Date: 5/2/2008 8:44:52 AM |
| Thanks very much for the compliments Queen & Vic. Unfortunately, I don't know how much younger I am than Ohta-San, but he's one of my ukulele gods.
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Posted By:
singndance
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Date: 5/2/2008 12:13:33 PM |
| and I learned that an ukulele radius of 16 degrees is probably pretty good in case I ever get the urge to build one myself, which is probably the only way I will have a custom ukulele. (unless I really improve a whole whole lot.)
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Posted By:
ToeBone
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Date: 5/2/2008 1:09:50 PM |
The definition of a radiused fretboard:
ra-di-used fret-board (n): 1) A torture device commonly found on stringed instruments. 2) Any finger joint pain inducer. See arthritis, tendinitis, contrast baths, anti-inflammatory drugs, occupational therapy.
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Posted By:
MR Bulk
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Date: 5/2/2008 1:10:15 PM |
Actually singndance, I have a uke with a 12-inch radius coming in. The arc of its fretboard should match the line around a circle that is 24 inches in diameter.
I have one or two ukes with 16" radii; they're okay (for now) but after experiencing radiused fretboards I was really curious about an even tighter curve so when the opportunity came I took it immediately.
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Posted By:
PhotoJosh
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Date: 5/2/2008 1:24:31 PM |
| Are radiused fretboards a "custom-only" thing for ukuleles? I've been wanting to try one, but I'd hate to put the money into a custom uke only to find that the radiused fretboard didn't agree with me.
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Posted By:
Craig
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Date: 5/2/2008 1:40:37 PM |
| For Photo: I think the Ovations have a radius, but ask around first. I'm sure MGM would know.
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Posted By:
singndance
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Date: 5/2/2008 3:16:13 PM |
| Mr. B. I would love to play that instrument. Kind of like PhotoJosh, I'd hate to think its just the thing without testing. It seems logical to be able to make a more pleasant barred chord.
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Posted By:
MR Bulk
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Date: 5/2/2008 10:14:18 PM |
Yeah singndance, them violins/cellos have radiused fretboards for good reason too - oops, sorry, wrong reason - they use bows, don't they? Nevermind!
Hey, ya visiting Hawaii some time? I should have quite a selection of differently radiused ukuleles by then.
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Posted By:
Vic Edmonds
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Date: 5/2/2008 10:38:35 PM |
PhotoJosh, I was thinking the same thing and I didnt want to have to buy a custom to try one out. I finally ran into 3 Maui Music ukes hanging on the wall at Bounty Music on Kauai. I first tried the one with the curly koa which turned out to be a long neck tenor. Fell instantly in love. But I get around a lot and the Maui Music at Bounty are the only radiused in stock I have seen.
ToeBone,
You must have an out of date edition of the Physician's Desk Reference. My health plan paid for my Maui Music as arthritis therapy.
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Posted By:
Joe Silver
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Date: 5/2/2008 10:44:38 PM
(Updated: 1/15/2009 12:16:36 PM)
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Kiwaya has two models with radiused fretboards - the KTS-8RK soprano and the KTC-4RK concert, both of which are solid koa ukes.
Joe Silver
joesilver(at)hotmail(dot)com
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Posted By:
John Kavanagh
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Date: 5/4/2008 12:43:31 PM
(Updated: 5/4/2008 12:45:29 PM)
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Bowed instruments need a curved bridge so you can bow the strings separately. The fingerboard has to follow the curve of the bridge. I suppose some people found there was also a slight advantage to the left hand, and tried a subtler curve on plucked instruments.
It helps the left hand because it follows the way your fingers naturally curl. It does make bars easier, and can make some tight fingerings a little more comfortable - it feels like there's a little more room. (I have guitars and banjos with both, but only flat ukes. I've played radiused ukes, and it doesn't make much difference to me.)
Classical guitars never have a radius, and I don't think it's entirely conservative snobbery - the radius seems to help with grabbing chords and single lines, but not so much for counterpoint and fingerpicking - where the wider flat fingerboard seems better. But maybe it's just what I'm used to. Other things being equal, I prefer the feel of a flat neck.
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Posted By:
duane
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Date: 5/4/2008 1:08:39 PM |
| John, some classical guitar builders do put a slight radius in the fret boards. It is not as curved as a steel string guitar but it is there. Some put a slight radius only on the bass side.
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Posted By:
PhotoJosh
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Date: 5/4/2008 2:27:41 PM |
| That Kiwaya concert seems to be over a grand. For that price, I'm in the same problem as having someone build me one.
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Posted By:
Joe Silver
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Date: 5/4/2008 4:27:13 PM
(Updated: 1/15/2009 12:16:47 PM)
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Kiwayas are pricey, no doubt. I bought one (a solid mahogany tenor with a flat fingerboard) on an impulse at this year's NY Uke Fest. Big-time sticker shock; the cost of the uke was indeed in the ballpark of a custom build. However, all the Kiwayas that I tried that weekend were beautifully made and set up, sounded great, and played wonderfully. The folks from the company were very friendly and helpful too. In all likelihood I never would have bought a Kiwaya had I not had the opportunity to try out a bunch of ukes under one roof and to talk with Kiwaya reps.
I tried out a LoPrinzi tenor that weekend too. Nice uke, but honestly I preferred the Kiwaya. Their laminate ukes are indeed fine instruments too.
Joe Silver
joesilver(at)hotmail(dot)com
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Posted By:
PhotoJosh
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Date: 5/4/2008 10:54:38 PM |
| I'm not saying that the Kiwayas are overpriced. I'm just saying that I don't want to shell out a grand just to try a radiused fretboard.
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Posted By:
William King
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Date: 5/5/2008 12:21:44 PM
(Updated: 5/5/2008 12:26:34 PM)
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John, to elaborate on what Duane said about classical guitars, in my experience, when you find a radius on the bass side of a classical guitar fingerboard, it is usually more of a slight taper down towards the soundhole, starting at about the 10th fret. This allows the action to be set lower on the low E and A without buzzing up higher where these strings are rarely fretted. The excursion of the string is greatest at the 12th fret due to the sinusoidal nature of its vibration.
edit: FWIW, those builders who use hot hide glue to glue the fingerboard can, if necessary, remove and replace a radiused fingerboard with a flat one without too much hassle.
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Posted By:
George Harper
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Date: 5/5/2008 1:05:17 PM |
| If a radiused fingerboard is what you want for your ukulele, then by all means, get one. To me, however, they make about as much sense as a rear spoiler on a Kia Rio.
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Posted By:
mLKauai
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Date: 5/5/2008 8:10:28 PM
(Updated: 5/5/2008 8:12:53 PM)
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when i saw JKʻs post: " I've played radiused ukes, and it doesn't make much difference to me.)"
i breathed a relaxed sigh, since i dont hope to "have to try one" like i usually do....
then i say William Kingʻs post: edit: FWIW, those builders who use hot hide glue to glue the fingerboard can, if necessary, remove and replace a radiused fingerboard with a flat one without too much hassle."
i got the slightly antsy-ish feeling... uh oh...
but yet, i have to try one first no? so iʻm still safe so far...
I dont care for a spoiler on a Kia Rio, but maybe a doo dadd or two.... as usual.
oops; just saw William was saying one can remove a radiused fret board and return it to flat.... hmmm, thats a bit of round trip tripping for my uke; born in Austin; resides in Hawaii now...
so to Austin again for a radius; ... hmm. CHarlie???
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Posted By:
koalohapaul
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Date: 5/6/2008 2:03:30 AM |
I never really cared for radiused fret board ukes, until recently. My dad made some way back and I never took a liking to them. I don't remember what size he used, but they were fairly curved.
A friend of mine, and also customer twisted my arm, then twisted some more to put a radiused fret board on his instrument. I begrudgingly agreed. It actually turned out really nice. I used a very slight radius of 20". It's not very noticeable to the eye, but the fret board plays oh so smoothly. I liked it so much, I debated telling him that I broke the instrument, so I could keep it. I actually did break the first one I built, when the buffer got nasty, but that's a story in itself.
So, having gone from practically hating them, I know am debating putting one on my own instrument, if I ever get around to building it. A lot of it has to do with the degree of radius, and of course, personal preference. 20" felt nice under my fingers, but others might like a tighter curve.
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Posted By:
jeff mercer
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Date: 5/6/2008 8:18:18 AM |
| Bluegrass Mandolinist David Grisman requested a radiused fingerboard on his John Monteleone-built "signature" Mandolins many years back, as he felt the slight curve to left-hand playing surface might help the tendonitis he developed over years of playing cramped chords on a short-scale instrument.I tried a Japanese-licenced version of one of these Mando's( a "Kentucky" brand) and found it quite odd at first, but was lucky enough to get an extended loan of the instrument, & eventually found it difficult to go back to my standard Gibson..If you play long hours each day, radiused does seem easier on the fingerboard hand.See ya.
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Posted By:
Teletodd
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Date: 5/7/2008 10:16:35 AM |
| I have a Parker Fly electric guitar that has a Compound Radiused fretboard. I think its a 9 radius by the nut, like a Fender for easy chording, and flattens out to a 12 by the 12th fret like a Gibson for easier fretting. On older Fenders with 7.5 radius necks, if you overbend notes on the upper fretboard they choke out. I wonder if any ukes, possibly Tenors have compound radius fretboards?
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