Confusion about Scalloped Frets

[sanitarium]

OK guys and girls i'm a bit confused as to what is actualy done to frets when they are "Scalloped" and is this easy ot get used to. I've read various guides on it but I was hoping one of you nice people could explain it in simple english to me.
You see, at some point when I have enough cash I want to get my first JEM, I've set my heart on the 777VBK and it like others has Scalloped frets at the top, I was just wondering how easy it is to get used to this as I've never played a guitar with them?
Thanks,

[hanban]

Scalloped frets in the last 3-4 frets are pretty much useless in my opinion, but it makes it a little easier to pull on the high notes because there is less friction between your finger and the fretboard.
thay just dig out the fret wood a little.

u'll get used to it.
ask that guy.. whats his name.. Yngwie Malmsteen he dug out his entire fretboard to make it scalloped

[Jeff]

For the 21 - 24, it's easy. I can hardly tell a difference, but that's just me. A lot of people say it takes a lot of time to get used to a fully-scalloped board, but I don't think it is. The strings and frets are still right there, there's just less friction when you do bends and stuff.

[Akhenaten]

LOL... I sold the Malmsteen because I kept pushing everything sharp. I was able to do it on other guitars just fine, so I guess I need the fingerboard there to stop my fingers...

[nienturi]

in my opinion best scalloped one is just last 4 frets...full scalloped may cauese some problems..but it is all personel...some likes it...some never...best thing you may do is go to a local music shop and try any&play a while and get own ideas...

[JEM10th]

Fullscalloped an old Charvel once just for fun.
I kept giong back to thet guitar every now and then, although i bought different new guitars. Now the neck is brocken (yes it did warp after 10 years, so it was sacrified on a concert ).

Liked the ease to fret and doing some funny chordbends, hammer-ons and pull-offs where quite nice to do also and tapping with no gain at all

Now Iīll has to do it on my JEM, and it works just as well, so i guess itīs kinda hype to scallop anyway...

PIECE BRO

[sanitarium]

I think you mean PEACE but yeah cheers guys, I was a bit worried about this but I think it sounds as though it's going to be no problem to get used to.

[JohnnyRasgueado]

Personally, I really dig having the fretboard scalloped. Maybe it's 'cause I'm such a Malmsteen-head -- if it's good enough for Yngwie, it MUST be good enough for you and me! Ha ha.

On my 777DY, having the last four frets scalloped kicks major bootie, as I tend to use those fret positions for slides or "big ending hammer-ons" on arpeggio sweeps. Having a little extra meat to dig into with the scallop makes that kind of sliding and hammering tremendously easier for me. I also find that I play in the upper registers much more frequently with the JEM than any of my other guitars.

I've heard tell in an old thread that the scallops are much more relevant on a model WITHOUT the "all access neck joint" due to the bulkier heel on the non-AANJ oldies like mine.

If you can, try before you buy either one, or before you take that dremel to your board. See if it works for you.

Good luck,

--jr

[Courjan]

I personally think that getting used to the scalloped 21-24 won't be a problem at all. The real problem will be getting used to a guitar without the scalloped 21-24 after you've gotten used to them. Wish the UV's had them too.

[burt777]

I used to think that the harder you press the string to the wood with your fretting hand, the more sustain you have, but that would mean scallopping would screw up a lot of sustain, is that true?

[Jeff]

Pushing down too hard also screws up intonation

[Vai the god of Sound]

Actually, fretting a note too hard so that it touches the fretboard can create a lack of sustain due to the fact the wood is sucking it up. On scallops, it's metal on metal so sustain is better.