Radiused fretboard on OMs?

**steve V. johnson** · Jul-11-2005, 2:08pm

I was looking at the Weber mandolin website with a pal who is dreaming of designing a mandolin from their option list.

I noticed the radiused fretboard options (8" and 10.5") and I've read folks' conversations about fretboard radii in other parts of the Cafe Forums, but I don't recall any notions of the radius treatment for OMs.

I don't remember discussing it with Phil Crump, but it appears that my B-II has a radius to it! Wow... I do like the feel of this one a lot. (Big news, eh? LOL!)

What do you all say? Experiences? Pro's, con's...?

Thanks,

stv

**Ken Sager** · Jul-11-2005, 2:27pm

My Bussman OM has a 16" radius and is VERY comfortable. I can't imagine a radius of 8" on an octave, since I find a mandolin with 8" radius to require a big adjustment in the left hand. I doubt Weber would put that radical a radius on an octave, but what do I know. I had a Flatiron zouk with flat fingerboard and always felt it would have felt more natural with a slight radius, but I sold it rather than refret it. Having played the guitar for 20+ years before picking up a mandolin I'd have to say I'm just used to a radiused board.

That's just me,
Ken

**otterly2k** · Jul-11-2005, 2:30pm

My Trillium does have a radius (16" according to the website), and I strongly prefer having one to not. So much so that a flat board almost feels concave to me. When I was making Otter #1, I radiused the board. My mando preference is also for a radius. But I believe it is just that... an issue of preference and comfort not right/wrong. I think that if someone was really used to a flat board, they might feel as uncomfortable with a radius as I do without.

**jmkatcher** · Jul-11-2005, 3:26pm

Crump instruments are radiused by default or so Phil told me when I placed my order.

**Dolamon** · Jul-11-2005, 7:59pm

My Spira instruments (Mandola, O/M and Tenor Guitar (more later on that one)) all have nice, easy on the wrist, radiused fretboards and a half V cross section on the necks. For me, the flat perch for the thumb on the bass side of the neck makes as much practical sense as a radius on the board. When an instrument has both, playing time without pain or fatigue really expands.

As for the actual radius ... I left that to Jack and his level of wizardry.

**steve V. johnson** · Jul-11-2005, 9:03pm

Ken replied:
"My Bussman OM has a 16" radius and is VERY comfortable. I can't imagine a radius of 8" on an octave, since I find a mandolin with 8" radius to require a big adjustment in the left hand. I doubt Weber would put that radical a radius on an octave, but what do I know. I had a Flatiron zouk with flat fingerboard and always felt it would have felt more natural with a slight radius ... "

Oh, yeah... of course it would be a larger radius... duh... I hadn't thought about that. The only figures listed in the specs were the 8" and 10"... I should look again.

I have a friend with a Flatiron and it does feel odd, too.

Radius discussions have gone in my eyes but over my head and I'm real ignorant of them, so I'm glad I asked.

Thanks!

stv

**steve V. johnson** · Jul-11-2005, 9:05pm

Hey Karen,

"When I was making Otter #1, I radiused the board."

Do you recall the size of the radius?

thx,

stv

**steve V. johnson** · Jul-11-2005, 9:05pm

Jmkatcher wrote:
"Crump instruments are radiused by default or so Phil told me when I placed my order."

No wonder I never knew... LOL!!!

Thanks!

stv

**steve V. johnson** · Jul-11-2005, 9:07pm

Dolamon sez: "My Spira instruments (Mandola, O/M and Tenor Guitar (more later on that one)) all have nice, easy on the wrist, radiused fretboards and a half V cross section on the necks. For me, the flat perch for the thumb on the bass side of the neck makes as much practical sense as a radius on the board. When an instrument has both, playing time without pain or fatigue really expands."

Great notion, something else I hadn't thought of... Thanks, Dion! Wow... three from Jack Spira... tremendous!

Thanks!

stv

**PCypert** · Jul-22-2005, 3:00am

I've got a radius on my Crump. Plays so nicely. Doesn't feel like a 24 inch scale at all. I play so much quicker and easier on it than I did my Flatiron.
Paul

**otterly2k** · Jul-22-2005, 9:18am

Stv-- I can't answer your question b/c it was kind of freehanded. So not a specific radius so much as a shaping of the fretboard by sanding it at some angles. Not very scientific, and probably not perfectly consistent up the neck, but enough to keep it from feeling concave (as the flat ones kind of do to me). It works.

Re: neck profile, I made a kind of softened V up towards the headstock, which flattens gradually up the neck... by the time it gets to the heel, there's a nice flat place to rest the thumb for reaching to upper frets. Did completely by feel, which was a really cool process.

**steve V. johnson** · Jul-22-2005, 11:19am

Otterly2k sez: "Not very scientific..."

Let's not go there... <GGG> I've had enough of that ....

(A bit off the topic of radius...)
Do you think that, for your next one, that you'll make measurements of the neck profile and do the same shape again? Or continue to go by feel so it will be different?

Thanks!

stv

**otterly2k** · Jul-22-2005, 11:37am

LOL!! I hear you Stv.

re: the next one...
radius-- I'd probably invest in a radiused sanding block so that I could make the radius more consistent.

neck-- I'm very happy with the way this turned out, so yeah, I'd probably try to make it similar if I was making it for myself. See, I made it to suit MY hand. But chances are, if I make another instrument... I'll either make a different instrument (say a mando) to suit my hand or a similar instrument (OM) for someone else. In that case, I'd want to know their preferences.

I have to say, again, how satisfying it is to build an instrument for yourself, and how much I'd encourage any of yuz to try it.

**lucho** · Jul-22-2005, 7:11pm

I have heard recently on a 22" F style OM model with radiused fretboard made by Michael Kelly, I suppose in Korea. Now, I am wondering... has anybody had any experience with these new Michael Kelly F style Octave mandolins. It has a 22" scale length and it has solid construction, but I wonder about how it sounds and feel....
salu2