Fishman Posted March 20, 2020 Share Posted March 20, 2020 What are the pros and cons of a flat board? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twincam Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 I think pro and cons if any would be player dependent. Though from a setup string height point of view flatter boards tend to be able to get a tiny bit lower than the more normal radius boards and especially compared to vintage radius 7.25 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishman Posted March 24, 2020 Author Share Posted March 24, 2020 Thanks @Twincam – I thought it might be a subjective thing – and no chance of using a bow either, not that I would do such a thing unless I came over all avant-garde like Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rexel Matador Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 I'm making one at the moment - I'll let you know! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBunny Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 No cons from my point of view. I've 2 basses with flat boards and love them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 The spec @eude gave me for his 6 string bass save was, IIRC, flat. Any input, @eude ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 6 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said: The spec @eude gave me for his 6 string bass save was, IIRC, flat. Any input, @eude ? Flat boards just make sense, to me at least. If you're used to an extremely radiused board, like on some older Fenders, or newer ones aping Fenders of old, it may feel odd, however you quickly get used to it. Radiused boards are a hangover from classical instruments like violas, when an arc made it easier to bow the strings separately. It was adopted on modern electric guitars, by Leo Fender I think, as it made it easier to play bar chords. If you look at classical guitars however, they're all flat. You can achieve a more consistent set up, especially on extended range basses, and also a more consistent attack to your playing. It's still one of those you say tomato, I say tomato things, but if given the choice I would always go flat now. Eude 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 I can't see how it makes sense from a fingering point of view. Your fretting thumb is anchored, your fingers move around in an arc as they go from string to string. The idea behind a radiussed fingerboard is to make the stretch for each note relatively consistent...isn't it? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 https://www.fender.com/articles/tech-talk/what-is-fingerboard-radius Smaller radius for chords, flatter board for single notes, according to Fender anyway. As far as I'm aware picking hand technique hasn't been a factor in the decision, not denying it could play a part in some folks' playing though. I find that floating thumb technique, which I rely on as someone with small hands playing 6 string basses, makes much more sense on a flat board. Like I pointed out though, it's all up to the individual. Eude 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishman Posted March 26, 2020 Author Share Posted March 26, 2020 Thanks everyone for your input – I think I will go for a flat board on my new build. I have a 70s Aria jazz with an almost flat board and I really like it compared to my Stingrays and Precisions. One thing that occurred to me is that a lot pickups have a raised D and A pole pieces – I have a Hausell Triplebucker going in which has level pole pieces so no problem there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 1 hour ago, eude said: https://www.fender.com/articles/tech-talk/what-is-fingerboard-radius Smaller radius for chords, flatter board for single notes, according to Fender anyway. As far as I'm aware picking hand technique hasn't been a factor in the decision, not denying it could play a part in some folks' playing though. I find that floating thumb technique, which I rely on as someone with small hands playing 6 string basses, makes much more sense on a flat board. Like I pointed out though, it's all up to the individual. Eude I think what impressed me when I finished the build off for @eude - it being the first 6 string bass I'd ever actually held in my hands in real life - was just how natural it felt and easy it was to play. I was genuinely surprised. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 1 hour ago, Andyjr1515 said: I think what impressed me when I finished the build off for @eude - it being the first 6 string bass I'd ever actually held in my hands in real life - was just how natural it felt and easy it was to play. I was genuinely surprised. The shorter than usual scale and the narrow spacing will have helped too, but the flat board definitely plays an important part. It's a hell of a bass! Eude 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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