Anybody prefer a flat fretboard compared to radiused????

[bbaker2050]

Right now I own a J. Bovier F5-T, Loar 400, and Eastman 305. Sound-wise, I prefer the J.Bovier, but as far as playability, I prefer the Loar 400 w/ CA bridge. Maybe it's just overall setup, neck profile, string spacing etc., but the Loar 400 is the only one with a flat fretboard. This got wondering if that's why I can play faster on it even though it appears that more people prefer a radiused fretboard. So is there anybody out there that prefers the feel of a flat fretboard compared to a radiused??? I know some people can't even tell the difference.

[Tom C]

I prefer flat. It does not make sense to me in that the G and D strings are on the downslope on the far side from where your hand reaches from. Chopping chords, all the strings are on the same plane even though it may be a minute difference.

[AlanN]

Fully a personal pref thing, in my mind. I'm used to flat, what I prefer. I once picked with a guy who had a Stiver F with a fingerboard that looked like it belonged on a fiddle (he also played fiddle).

Was the darndest thing to see.

[k0k0peli]

All my guitars (except the Aloha lap steel) have radiused fretboards. All my other string instruments (except my KE Coleman Celtic mandolin) have flat fretboards. The Coleman is nicely radiused and a dream to play -- but that may be because my flat-fretboard mandolins are about 28mm / 1.12" at the nut and the Coleman is about 32mm / 1.25" wide. [/me whips out the calipers and double-checks.] That extra 4mm makes a difference. I feel my fingering on the Coleman is more precise and I hardly notice a difference in long chord stretches. Flat or radiused? Makes no difference to me. But a little extra width is significant.

[Mandomax]

my first real mandolin was a Gibson F-9 with a flat board. I played the snot out of it until I could upgrade, never had any issues. I got a mando with a radius and didn't notice the difference. When I went back to the Gibson, I found my hand now cramps on flat boards. Recently, I played a Randy Wood F5 during a jam with a flat board, and had hand issues by the third song. Flat board is now a deal breaker for me. YMMV

[Treblemaker]

I play a radiused A. Lawrence Smart F5 and a flat-board New Millenium (Mad-Mix) Carbon Fiber F5.
I like them both but my fretting hand seems to prefer the radiused board. It just seems to play effortlessly whereas the flat board on the Mix seems more cumbersome. They are both great for different reasons. The Smart is terrific for controlled indoor contexts and the Mix is fantastic for festivals, outdoor gigs with damp, cold or too much sunshine or heat.

A radiused board seems to really work better for me.

[bigskygirl]

No

[fscotte]

Loars were flat right? Nuff said.

[Mandoplumb]

No

Yes

[sgarrity]

I prefer flat boards but all of my mandolins are radiused.

[darrylicshon]

I have both flat and radius, i like both about the same, what i seem to prefer is bigger frets , but i have been playing my oval hole alot and it is flat with small frets. So you never know , cause you preferences can always change, it looks like we both have a loar and a bovier , I like the F5-T best

[mandobassman]

I prefer flat. It does not make sense to me in that the G and D strings are on the downslope on the far side from where your hand reaches from. Chopping chords, all the strings are on the same plane even though it may be a minute difference.

Thank you Tom. I've been saying that for a long time. Most everyone seems to feel that the radius makes it more comfortable, but I have always felt that, even though it is a minor difference, the radius actually makes a farther stretch for your fingers to form 4-finger chords. I don't really feel that strongly one way or the other though. Like the OP, I also have a J Bovier that plays beautifully. However, I have also played flat fingerboards that played beautifully as well.
a good setup is far more important than whether the fingerboard is radiuses or flat.

[fatt-dad]

I have both and can adapt to either. If I went to a custom job again, I'd likely just specify flat and I'd likely use narrower fret wire. Again, I have both narrow and ban)o wire on my instruments and can adapt to either. Setup is key!

f-d

[JeffD]

I have both and can adapt to either.

That is my view as well. Radiused is a little bit more natural to the curve of my hand, but it makes it a little harder to do a single fret double stop with one finger.

[Joey Anchors]

On mandolin I prefer flat boards. It's just what I am use to.

[zedmando]

Unless it's curved like a violin--or getting there--I don't really notice.
I started guitar on a classical with a flat board--and have a variety of radii with my guitars, 2 basses & a mandolin.
I can't say I really notice much--except when I play slide.
The guitar with the smallest radius is a bit awkward with a slide.

[Astro]

I would have said the exact same thing as fatt-dad said above. But he already did so I dont have too.

[Ivan Kelsall]

I'll go with what fatt -dad says either suit me - the same with neck widths & thicknesses. As long as i can fret the strings & make the right sounds at the right time,that's good enough,
Ivan

[bbaker2050]

I think I figured out why I can play slightly faster on my Loar 400 compared to the J.Bovier. The string spacing above the bridge is narrower on the Loar 400. The Loar is 3.7mm between outer G and E strings and the J. Bovier is 4mm. I guess I'm able to pick just a little faster since my right hand doesn't have to move as far. I still like my J.Bovier better though.

[mandroid]

Since I did not get a say in 1922 (my mother's birth year), I got used to the flat fingerboard on my A4.

The arched ones on other mandolins is fine too. not that Fussy..