Scalloped RG7

Chud · #1 04-06-2005, 07:09 PM

After watching a G3 DVD (Live in Denver) I started to get into Malmsteen a lot more(yeah, we all know he's a ****y nutter

).

I thought to myself 'How much scalloping an RG7 cost, and where the hell would i have something like that done)

Any ideas, and do you guys think it'd even be worth the trouble.

BillyVII · #2 04-07-2005, 02:12 PM

My teacher has a Carvin 747 scalloped from the 12th up and it is a gradual scallop meaning it is deeper on the High strings. But i do not even know where or who did it for him i will ask him. I know he can really sweep with it.

Chud · #3 04-07-2005, 03:14 PM

Yeah, but i'm thinking a fully scalloped neck

**jim777** · #4 04-07-2005, 03:35 PM

Jeremy at LGM can do it for you, check the banner at the top of the page.

jim

JTM45 · #5 04-07-2005, 06:48 PM

I don't think there would be much point in scalloping the whole fretboard on a 7-string.You'd probably regret it and there's no going back.

There was a post from somebody who'd had his 6-string fretboard fully scalloped and he reckoned it had made the guitar virtually unplayable. There's a good reason that people only usually scallop the top few frets.

If the lower frets are scalloped it can make it difficult to fret nice clean chords without the whole chord being 'off-pitch'.

Flobanez · #6 04-07-2005, 07:21 PM

Dont scallop the Whole fretboard. Maybe 12th up.......

krizz · #7 04-07-2005, 07:36 PM

Try it out first, don't act too fast...You could go to some guitarcenter and check out an Yngwie Fender if it is there, or somebody else with a scalloped neck (on the guitar

)...be sure not to make any concessions.

Flobanez · #8 04-07-2005, 07:37 PM

Are the Yngwie's whole fretboard scalloped? I 've never played one so I dont know...

JTM45 · #9 04-07-2005, 07:40 PM

Yeah they are. But then that's Yngwie for you,lol.

sepsis311 · #10 04-08-2005, 03:35 AM

Is there really a point to scalloping frets? If the argument is that it helps you play faster, then your fretboard must have been dry. Not to mention, the best of the best never needed to scallop frets. And if your so used to playing like that, what will you do if a so/so regular every day guitar falls into your hands and people wanna hear you play? Are you gunna be able to do it? Why not just learn to play like everyone else does? You need to be able to play fast anyway before the scalloped frets really makes a difference to you. And at that point you wont need them anyway.

Ancestor · #11 04-08-2005, 04:21 AM

It is harder to play fast on a scalloped neck, but there's a lot you can do on one that you can't on a regular neck. The gradual scallop is probably a good idea, that way you still have the power chord thing going.

The expression in the notes seems to be so much more with a scalloped board. If you use really light guage strings... wow. I wouldn't do it to my best guitar or my only guitar, though. And I still haven't done it to any of mine. But, someday, if I can find someone to do it quickly and well for a reasonable price, I will.

sepsis311 · #12 04-08-2005, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ancestor

The expression in the notes seems to be so much more with a scalloped board.

How is this possible if the string never comes in contact with the fretboard in either case anyway? And what things can you do with a scalloped board you cand on a regular?

zEr0 · #13 04-08-2005, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sepsis311

How is this possible if the string never comes in contact with the fretboard in either case anyway? And what things can you do with a scalloped board you cand on a regular?

String contact with the fretboard is irrelevant for expression or anything else you want to do with your guitar. While it may be hard to notice on an electric, my classical guitar strings almost never touch the wood on the fretboard but only the frets. That's what actually makes scalloped fretboards possible.

The only way I believe scalloped fretboards can improve phrasing is by allowing you to actually push the string into the fretboard in order to bend it.
Just a thought though, never tried one....

Chud · #14 04-08-2005, 01:38 PM

The argument of whether i really need to scallop the neck has been rolling around in my mind for a while aswell.

I just thought it would be interesting

jem7vwh93 · #15 04-08-2005, 01:44 PM

I scalloped the fretboard on an old beater guitar.
My observations were:
When you bend your finger does not drag on the fretboard thus bends are easier.
Notes go sharp if you don't have a light touch. I believe you play just as fast once you get used to a light touch. Jumbo (tall) frets give almost the same effect. I found this to be most useful on the low frets 1-12.

You must consider the impact to the guitar. Fender necks are thicker. They can handle scalloping with little risk of bowing (succepable to relief problems), and the truss rod can be tightened to make up for the wood removed.

However with a 17mm to 20 mm ibanez or slightly larger for the RG7 the amount of wood taken off is a larger percentage of the overall thickness. I worry that the neck can be kept straight. I would not try this. Jems being scalloped only on the last 4 frets don't have a problem since the neck is thicker there anyway.
Also if you only scallop the high stings I think the neck may twist.
I did lose some sustain when I did this.