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Thread: Super elevated fretboard?

  1. #1
    Registered User fscotte's Avatar
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    Default Super elevated fretboard?

    Wondering if this has been tried? Seems like it may work better on smaller fretted instruments, if work at all.. I got the idea from my Gibson A5 which has some serious twisting going on within the first 4 frets, but some reason feels easier to play...

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    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Super elevated fretboard?

    Maybe it is late and I am tired, but I read your post at least three times and am not sure what you are referring to, esp when you say "serious twisting." Please explain. Maybe some photos?
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    Registered User fscotte's Avatar
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    Default Re: Super elevated fretboard?

    So the entire fretboard tilted toward the treble side. A slight tilt only.

    For instance, a radiused board has super elevations on the treble side and the bass side, which tilts the opposite direction than the treble. So what if we simply elevate or tilt the entire board towards the treble side say 2 or 3 degrees?

    They say nothing is new in luthiery so wondering if this has been tried.

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    Registered User Tavy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Super elevated fretboard?

    Roman mandolins: left DeSantis, right Embergher:

    Click image for larger version. 

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    More here.

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    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Super elevated fretboard?

    You beat me to it, John! The Roman luthiers were dealing with early ergonomics of playing and took many aspects from the violin family.
    Jim

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  7. #6
    Registered User fscotte's Avatar
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    Default Re: Super elevated fretboard?

    See? I knew it.. Nothing is ever unthoughtof.

    Wonder how this would feel on a modern mandolin design.

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    Registered User Tavy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Super elevated fretboard?

    Quote Originally Posted by fscotte View Post
    See? I knew it.. Nothing is ever unthoughtof.

    Wonder how this would feel on a modern mandolin design.
    To be honest, I'm not sure you would notice either which way?

  9. #8
    Registered User Wes Brandt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Super elevated fretboard?

    Quote Originally Posted by Tavy View Post
    Roman mandolins: left DeSantis, right Embergher:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	06a_01.jpg 
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    More here.
    Are those fingerboards surfaces actually twisted into a spiral, or is that a camera illusion?
    WesBrandtLuthier.com
    BrandtViols.com

  10. #9
    Registered User Tavy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Super elevated fretboard?

    Quote Originally Posted by Wes Brandt View Post
    Are those fingerboards surfaces actually twisted into a spiral, or is that a camera illusion?
    Illusion. They're just slanted downwards on the treble side. If you want the whole spiral thing, then you need a Torzal twist:

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Default Re: Super elevated fretboard?

    Now combine that with a fan fretted setup.

  12. #11
    Registered User Tavy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Super elevated fretboard?

    Quote Originally Posted by Dale Ludewig View Post
    Now combine that with a fan fretted setup.
    Apparently they have.... I really don't want to even think about that!

  13. #12
    Registered User fscotte's Avatar
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    Default Re: Super elevated fretboard?

    So, some folks like a radiused board. I wonder if they like it because the treble side is slanted down, moreso than the bass side being slanted in the opposite direction. The bass side on a radiused board is one of the reasons why I don't like them.

    Ok so if you hold your hand out in the air, like playing an air mandolin, the natural position for you wrist and hand is straight with your forearm, not curling your wrist forward, which is something you do to play mandolin. A slightly tilted or super elevated board from treble to bass may accomodate a more natural wrist position.

    The idea is intriguing but seems daunting, lots of design issues.

  14. #13
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Super elevated fretboard?

    I wonder if this is mathematical problem potentially solved with programming CNC to carve the fretboard. Is it much more complicated than so-called compound-radiused fretboards? Are there any contemporary mandolin makers doing this? I wonder if it is more effective and obvious on the larger guitar or bass fretboards.
    Jim

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  15. #14

    Default Re: Super elevated fretboard?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    I wonder if this is mathematical problem potentially solved with programming CNC to carve the fretboard. Is it much more complicated than so-called compound-radiused fretboards? Are there any contemporary mandolin makers doing this? I wonder if it is more effective and obvious on the larger guitar or bass fretboards.
    None of these are that complicated to make with a CNC. It's still just a compound radius fretboard, it's just that the profiles are rotated at each end.
    The Roman one is really just a compound radiused fretboard with the bass side elevated. It's a good idea, I think.

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