Shakti - Scalloped Fretboard demonstration. Part 2

In the other video with this gtr , it had 0:50-011 strings . On this video it is strung with Thomastik O:42 to 0:10 strings with wound 0:16 G string . Guitar was plugged into Mic'd Acoustic simulation patch of Roland-Boss unit into stereo speakers. Tone sounds ok , this is example that even cheaper brand acoustics can sound good when plugged in . Video begins with some chords to illustrate that you can play chords on scalloped board . The backing track is actual live recording of Shakti in San Diego in 1976 . You can listen to this on bootleg concert site -Jazzfusiontv.

General Info about Scalloped Guitars copied and pasted from the other video. ------------------------------------------------
THE HISTORY.
One of earliest players players to scallop guitar was Ritchie Blackmore who in the early to mid 70's had a lightly scalloped Strat . About that time American inventor Allen Gittler produced the Gittler guitar , a metal skeleton of a guitar with just a rod with attached frets and no fretboard. ( more info about Gitttler guitar can be found with Google or Wikipedia) Also in mid 1970's John McLaughin played a Abraham Wechter drone string acoustic with deep scallops . Late he played a scalloped Gibson ES 345 electric guitar iin the One Truth Band . In the 1980's Ygniwe Malmsteen played a Strat he scalloped himself.
REASONS FOR SCALLOPING.
There are 2 reasons why some players like scalloped boards . Some like the feel of not having any friction with a fretboard , they don't play or sound any different , they just like for want of a better word the slinky way it feels without fretboard.
Other players prefer it because it allows them to play deeper more micro tonal bends than would be possible with conventional guitar.
SHALLOW OR DEEP SCALLOPS.
Players who just like the feel don't need deep scallops . Rock players will usually have shallow scallops , and some people prefer the look of this aesthetically .However for big Indian sounding bends , your fingers need more space Even though you don't press inward that much , the wood will get in the way of your fingers . Deep scallops do not affect strength or stability of neck nor do they affect tone.
INWARD BENDING.
Guitars have have much thicker strings than a sitar , so with scalloped gtr you don't bend inwards much as the string tension prevents you . However it would be possible if you used extremely light strings , but then it wouldn't sound like a guitar anymore. The bending is still done by bending up or down , with a limited amount of inward pressure to shape the sound .
PLAYING CHORDS.
It is more difficult to play chords and is inevitable that there will be the odd time where notes in chords will sound out of pitch. With string guage 009 strings , it can be a bit tricky , altho you get used to it with practise . With 010 or 011 strings then its not so difficult , but again there will be times when some chords sound slightly out of tune. Its a trade off between not being able to play chords as well in order to have the unique feel of scalloped board.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Shakti
• John
• McLaughlin
• La
• Danse
• Du
• Bonheur
• scalloped
• guitar
• neck
• jazz
• fusion
• Handful
• Of
• Beauty
• Abraham
• Wechter

[able2biteme]

What doea scalloped frets do?

[stringrip]

@able2biteme It doesn't do anything , its just that some players like the feel of not having fretboard , see the video explanation for more detail.

[psyoptica]

I didn't know they made .16 gauge wound strings. That thing's gotta be so fragile.

[stringrip]

@psyoptica  Yes but only Thomastick makes them . They are not so fragile but they don't give that much sound output because they are so thin.

[Pan3405]

Not impressed...

[stringrip]

@Pan3405  Its your turn to play it now.

[TheLivingDeadOne]

Wow, after watching that awesome display of guitar playing,. I dont fell so bad,..

[GREGLUHOWY]

Congratulations, I've been using Dr. Thomastiks since 1982. Sometimes not so easy for me to get them but they're the only thing I'll buy. The scallopning makes perfect sense to me. I had a 1928 National. Bell Brass Nickel Plated. It had been played by so many people that by the time I got it in 1974 that the neck had become scalloped naturally by the wear of the playing. The thing was uber fast, slick almost. I loved it.

[Pan3405]

@Nevigo ok.. i understand

[Nevigo]

@Pan3405

You dont have to be.Its that great feeling the player get when he play on a scalloped fretboard that counts.

[Nevigo]

Just start playing with a scalloped fretboard.You fingers/hands will get used to the feather touch you need to use a scalloped neck,same with chords.I wouldnt go back to a "normal" neck at any cost.