Another radiused fretboard question

[JiminRussia]

Is the radius applied to a fretbopard constant over the length of the fretboard or does it vary as the taper of the fretboard increases or decreases?

[John Flynn]

There are both kinds. There is a cylindrical radius that is constant over the length of the fretboard. I believe most mandos with radiused fretboards have just one radius over the length. A graduated or compound radius starts off with one radius at the nut and then flattens farther up the neck. Some flatten to the point that the bridge is flat, but for most there is still some radius at the bridge. Rigel and Red Diamond use a compound radius and I think I heard Collings does also.

[ShaneJ]

The idea behind the compound radius is that the left (fretting) hand gets the benefit of the radius while the right hand has the strings in a more flat arrangement for picking/strumming ease.

Anyone played both cylindrical and compound? I've played only cylindrical and like it better than flat. I don't notice any problems with my right hand - that would come from the radiused bridge anyway http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif , but I might like the compound better if I played one ??

[John Flynn]

Just FYI, another idea behind the compound radius is a hold-over from the guitar world. If you have a low action and you do string bends, which is not as common on mando, but some people do them, the compound radius provides more clearance for the bent string over the next higher fret, decreasing the possibility of a buzz. Personally, I also think it feels more natural to have there be less radius as the fretboard gets wider, although I admit the difference is subtle. I have played other radiused boards and there are none that I like as well as the compound radiused board on my Rigel.

[Gavin Baird]

I suppose the final answer to one over the other is the personal opinion for the player. From the point of view of the builder the cylindrical radius shows up as a tapering section of the edge binding which appears as if the finger board is tapered in thickness. The compound radius is a radius that varies as the taper of the finger board varies. that is, it is conical in shape and the edge binding remains constant in thickness....G