flat versus radius

[Brazer]

Which seems to be better? Flat or radius fingerboard. Can't decide which will play better. Thinking about a Kentucky 505 with a radius fingerboard. Your help would be appreciated.

[MikeEdgerton]

If you'd like to read a few earlier threads on the subject you can find them here (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/search.php?query=flat+radiused&exactname=0&starteronly=0&forumchoice%5B%5D=&prefixchoice%5B%5D=&childforums=1&titleonly=1&searchdate=0&beforeafter=after&do=process).

[Brazer]

Thanks I'll read up on it

[Mike Bunting]

There is no answer, it's totally subjective. Just because I prefer one over the other doesn't make my choice "better". Which do you like? Buy your mando and play it, you'll probably get used to whatever you buy. Over time you will develop your own preferences based on your own experience. Take a chance!

[Steve Ostrander]

I have one of each. I prefer radius, but only marginally. If my MT wasn't radius, it wouldn't be the end of the world.

[jim_n_virginia]

I played flat fretboards for so long that finally when I played a radiased fretboard I couldn't play it I kept missing the strings (the G and E) when I picked it fast because of the radias LOL!

There is no "which one is better" it's whatever you get used to or prefer.

[Dave Weiss]

I've got a Kentucky 505, the radius is very subtle. The 505 plays and sounds great. Unless you've played alot you probably won't even notice it.
Hope that helps,

>>>===> Dave

[steve V. johnson]

I'm with Steve O. I have one of each (not really cuz I planned it that way), one is a '30's Kalamazoo flat top (A-model, sort of) with a flat board and the other a modern Rigel A+.

It's really nice having them both, but in re: your Kentucky choice, I'd say go for it. Dave says it's subtle, and I'll infer from (reading between the lines in) your original post, that you'd like to get it,
so I wouldn't let the radius stop you.

stv

[cwtwang]

I think that a slight radius (16" or possibly 14") is a happy medium for a lot of people but not for everyone. I still know some players who prefer flat boards.

I get tendon strain from a flat board. A flat board also feels concave to me which I do not like. I need a slight radius which is about a 16" I can live with a 14" radius. I have a hard time playing bar chords or dipping down to the low G string when playing fast with a more radical radius of 10" or even 12". Trouble is, you have to play a variety of mandolins, and not just for 15 minutes, to know what you prefer in neck profile/nut width/fingerboard radius/type of frets (small, medium,or banjo).

Cheryl:mandosmiley:

[goose 2]

I have had flat board, slight radius, pronounced radius. I definitely prefer a flat board even to the point now that I would not buy a mandolin that did not have a flat board. I could never get the hang of chopping on a curved board. I would always make the G and D string buzz. Never had any hand trouble with either.

[mandozilla]

I prefer radius. I played flat board for a long time but then I got hold of a real nice F with a radius board. Struggled a little getting used to it but now I would never go back to flat. I found the same to be true many years ago with guitars. Played a radius neck for awhile then got a Martin with a pretty flat board...always preffered that old radius guitar for ease of playing. :grin:

[Jim Nollman]

I own mandolins with both a radius and flat. Quite honestly, at this point, i can't tell the difference, and i play both of them quite a bit.

[Michael Cameron]

I played flat fretboards for so long that finally when I played a radiased fretboard I couldn't play it I kept missing the strings (the G and E) when I picked it fast because of the radias LOL!

There is no "which one is better" it's whatever you get used to or prefer.

IMHO,a radiused fb should be of the compound persuasion,so that the bridge-saddle should end up being almost totally flat. Then the problem of missing the G and E strings with the pick is minimized.

I started out on radiused fb;but,if the set-up is right,it doesn't matter much to me,flat or radiused.
~:>

[Mike Snyder]

I have a 10" radius on my F5G now, and look foreward to less muscle cramping in my forearm. It'll always be there, due to a mangled left hand, but seems to be eased somewhat when playing a radius. She needed frets anyhow, so, we went the whole hog. Nicely done by a Wichita luthier. I tend to sing his praises a little too much on this forum. Play both styles as much as possible. Like my guy told me, you can radius a flat board, but you can't flatten it later. The feel of the board is really no different from before. The fat frets seem to make it easier to pick cleanly. We'll see.

[mandolirius]

I've noticed that if I play flat exclusively for a while, I can go to radius with no adjustment. But if it's the other way around, flat feels weird for a little while and there's a definite adjustment period.

[Rob Gerety]

I think this is the sort of thing that really has no answer - and honestly is not all that important. You will adjust to whatever you play unless it is something really off the wall.

[Big Joe]

I prefer a flat, but either will work. They each have some slight advantage but overall most pros prefer a flat. Any mandolin can be changed to a flat or to a radius so choosing a mandolin by just fretboard is not always necessary. If you love your mandolin and want the fingerboard changed, it may be a better solution than changing mandolins. Of course, that can ruin the fun of a new one :) .

[Ken Feil]

I have both and can tell very little difference. I think its very much what the player feels most comfortable with.

Ken

[Stephanie Reiser]

I prefer a 12 inch radius on F-5 styles, but went with a flat board on the F-4 I built to keep it historically accurate. Maybe 12 inch isn't very radical, but I can play both as terribly.
I think Chris Thile has like a 7.5 inch radiius on his Dude. That might take getting used to.

[jimbob]

flat....unless I'm playing a radius....seriously, you just need to try some out. I have both and don't notice a big difference after a few minutes of playing

[trevor]

I guess I get to play more different mandolins than most folks but I have never been able to tell the difference. I take the view that if I like the mandolin, flat/radiussed, narrow/wide neck, I will adapt my playing to play it. Otherwise I miss out on some great instruments.

[Greg H.]

I have one of each, and whether it be flat or radius would not be a particular concern on getting another mandolin. I generally prefer the radius (of my two), but then again it's hard to say what the real difference might be as the radius fingerboard is also 1 1/3" width as opposed to 1" width on the flat one so the difference might be much more a width difference than a radius difference.

Hey, I like both instruments, and have a good time with both, so that's all that I care about it.