Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Some basses already come with the edge rolled or shaped from the factory (USA Precisions?), so this procedure won't improve them at all. I can't remember where I first heard about this way of doing it. If the lower edge of the fingerboard makes a sharp corner rather than having a nice soft rounded edge, I run the shaft of a screwdriver side to side between each pair of frets applying enough pressure to compress the wood and rocking it to vary the angle in relation to the surface of the fingerboard. This results in a round ed edge which in my opinion gives a comfy 'broken-in' feel and makes even cheap basses feel a bit more classy than they were when stock. It sounds a bit cack-handed, and it certainly isn't a necessary modification, I doubt it makes me play faster or better in any way. However my mustang & the other basses I've rolled do feel better to play without that sharp edge digging into my fingers. * For obvious reasons it probably would be daft to attempt this on a bass with a maple fingerboard or any other where the fingerboard is lacquered, so my '81 Precison only has 30 years of natural wear & tear on the edge. Anyone else do this or something similar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Yep, but I do it with a small file and then several runs of fine grade sandpaper until it's smooth as silk. The only downside is when you pick up a standard instrument, you really notice the harsh edge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Early Warwicks had rolled edges and I've no idea why they stopped doing it... Oh actually I do; probably cost! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Rich Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Hmmm, tried it on my graphite necked Status and bent the screwdriver. I never really notice the edges of the fingerboard, I thought this was because my left hand technique is actually pretty good. Although looking at my older basses there's definitely a lot of wear on the bottom edges of the boards so maybe I'm just so cack-handed I don't notice the subtleties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Yes, I do this on all my Foderas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wotnwhy Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Never heard of this before, and not sure I understand 100% what your doing. But wouldn't this leave the fret ends more exposed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris2112 Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Ibanez have done this for years on their more expensive guitars, the board edges are rounded to give it a 'played in' feel when it's new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Happy to say that although I requested it as part of my neck profile *carve* on my Shukers - I'm pretty sure it's something Jon does as standard anyway for no additional cost. I mean - it's actually part of his neck profiling, as opposed to an 'aftermarket tooling' if you see what I mean. Yeah, it does make a difference having that extra comfy 'radius' on the edges of the neck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoombung Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 [quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' post='1121448' date='Feb 9 2011, 03:05 PM']If the lower edge of the fingerboard makes a sharp corner rather than having a nice soft rounded edge, I run the shaft of a screwdriver side to side between each pair of frets applying enough pressure to compress the wood and rocking it to vary the angle in relation to the surface of the fingerboard. This results in a round ed edge which in my opinion gives a comfy 'broken-in' feel and makes even cheap basses feel a bit more classy than they were when stock.[/quote] This is an interesting subject as I agree that a rounded edge makes for a comfier neck. I'd be interested to see some [b]pics[/b] of the method as I can't quite picture what you mean from your description "rocking to vary the angle" etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoombung Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 [quote name='wotnwhy' post='1121639' date='Feb 9 2011, 05:53 PM']Never heard of this before, and not sure I understand 100% what your doing. But wouldn't this leave the fret ends more exposed?[/quote] this is also what I was wondering... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 The fingerboard edge radius on the Warwick basses was done 'prior' to fretting so no issue with further exposing the fret ends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mart Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 (edited) And new Warwicks seem to have rolled edges again. My '08 thumb has viciously sharp edges, but my '10 has absolutely gorgeous rounded edges. Of course I have no idea (and no interest) in how the rolling interacts with frets - I try and avoid basses that look like someone has attacked them with a staple gun Edited February 9, 2011 by mart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 I was thinking of doing this to my P a part of a very gentle relicing. I was also intrigued when Andy Till noticed the rolled edges immediatley on an US 2011 jazz bass I sold him. I hadnt known they were there, just that it was comfy to play. Any advice on sorting out the frets? (Hope youre still loving it, Andy, by the way) the OP says " [i]it probably would be daft to attempt this on a bass with a maple fingerboard or any other where the fingerboard is lacquered[/i]" - I'm assuming that the laquer would crack. Would it still do so if the work was done gently with some wirewool ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 (edited) [quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1389784997' post='2337784'] I was thinking of doing this to my P a part of a very gentle relicing. I was also intrigued when Andy Till noticed the rolled edges immediatley on an US 2011 jazz bass I sold him. I hadnt known they were there, just that it was comfy to play. Any advice on sorting out the frets? (Hope youre still loving it, Andy, by the way) the OP says " [i]it probably would be daft to attempt this on a bass with a maple fingerboard or any other where the fingerboard is lacquered[/i]" - I'm assuming that the laquer would crack. Would it still do so if the work was done gently with some wirewool ? [/quote] I'd have thought that if you used any abrasive to do this, by the time the edges were rounded over enough, you'll have removed the lacquer. This happens naturally over time anyway, just look for the dirty grey edges on an old maple-boarded bass. Edited January 15, 2014 by Roland Rock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Yes thought so too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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