radiused fingerboard

[kendfo]

I play violin, and have started to learn mandolin. I found a used Gibson F9 for a great price. The store said that it would be easier to make the transition from violin to mandolin with a radiused fretboard, and offered to do it for me for $250. What are the pros and cons of having a radiused fretboard, and what does having it done do for the sound quality/value of the instrument?

[frankenstein]

you could just take the time to get used to the flat board, you can always do it later. i have a radiused and flat fretboard and honestly can't say i notice the difference a great deal. as for sound quality no difference unless it makes you play better, value?? depends.

[Fretbear]

The sound quality is not effected in any way. Mandolins are also not violins and rarely had radiused boards before the eighties. You could just try it as it is and have it done later if you feel the need, or save the money if you don't end up keeping it. It doesn't hurt the resale value of the F9 as they don't have a radius anyways. I like the radius, but feel that larger than standard frets are a much more important feature for tone and playability.

[Stephanie Reiser]

I have both an F-4 with a flat board and an F-5 with a radiiused fretboard.
I can play them both just as terribly, and do not see a real advantage to either. Radius seems to be the trend these days, along with slightly larger frets, but when I return to the flat board with small frets that seems comfortable, too. My suggestion to you would be to try a mandolin with a radiiused fretboard and compare it to your F-9. See for yourself if the $250 is justified, or just a fad. There is a huge difference between the radius of a violin fingerboard and the radius of even a radically radiiused fretboard, just as there is a huge difference between violin and mandolin.
BTW, welcome to mandolins, and the Mandolin Cafe.

[Steve L]

I really like a radiused board with large frets but not everyone does. If I got a good deal on a good instrument with a flat board I'd take it for what it is.

The F9 is a good mandolin that will hold it's value. If you decide you can't deal with the flat board you can flip it and get something you like better. Having the board re-shaped could diminish it's value on the used market and you really have to hope that the job will come out right as it sometimes doesn't.

If the deal is good on the F9, I'd buy it and play it as is for a while.

[Siminole]

I wouldn't consider changing the finger board. I have both radius and flat, and I can't really tell much difference if any. Like was suggested earlier.....go and play a mando with a radius and then make your decision.

Al

[mandroid]

D & A strings Do 'come up to meet you' a bit, but the neck is wider , and you are not doing Arco ,
There are other makes and models that come with arched fingerboards.

not Sure, But if You are buying new, maybe the Gibson folks would ship one already built new,
with arched fingerboard, just may not do so at the model 9 entry price-range.

Money tight? which is most valued the arched fingerboard or the Scroll?

[John McGann]

$250 is a good price (if they do a good job!) considering they have to remove the frets, apply the radius, and refret.

I really prefer a radiused fingerboard over a flat one- it feels more "natural" to me, the way the fingertips "shape" the notes. I've never liked the flat fingerboards/teensy frets beloved by the vintage crowd- that's just me.

The radius isn't going to be as extreme as on a violin fingerboard, however, it's usually relatively subtle.

Steve L:

Having the board re-shaped could diminish it's value on the used market and you really have to hope that the job will come out right as it sometimes doesn't.

I think it WILL diminish the value, at least among collectors...any alteration of this nature removes the 'vintage vibe' for collectors, even if it makes the instrument "better" to the player.

[Mike Bromley]

I don't know if the radius makes a difference all that much, but banjo-wire frets are a revolution for my meaty digits. I find that notes are just plain easier to make.

[kendfo]

Thanks for the advice and the warm welcome!
I decided to buy the F9 without getting it radiused. I'm going to try it out, and if I think it would be much easier, I can ship it back for ten bucks and have it radiused. I'm super excited about my new mandolin!

[Ken Feil]

Congrats on the new mandolin, I'm sure you will enjoy it. I play both fiddle and mandolin. I have never had a problem going from the violin to the mandolin (flat fretboard) I think you've made a wise decision.

Ken