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I gravitate towords large radious flater necks and wonder if there is any reason you cant have a perfectly flat fingerboard? I played classical for years and those fingerboards have to be pretty neat flat..

Anyone ever tried this or have any input?

I don't see why you couldn't have perfectly flat.

yeah the nut would be custom and the bridge would have to be flat- but wonder if anyone had tried it and what it is like as i guess this would be a pretty custom neck-

You could use a strat-style bridge, and just set all the saddles flat. The nut wouldn't be too tough, either, and I bet one of our kick ass forum luthiers could do that flat fretboard for you.

I bet you it wouldn't be that comfortable .

actually i think it wouldnt be that bad. i play my acoustic which is basically flat, and a classical guitar which is really flat. but i do think you should stick with almost flat.

Classical guitars have flat fingerboards, or close to it.

classical guitars either have a really flat fingerboard or overly flat so that it kinda curves in the middle.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe that Parker Fly's have flat fingerboards. I remember reading that in a guitar magazine a few years back. Could be wrong... I played a few and thought that they were pretty cool... Very unique guitars.


Originally Posted by fatigueofheart.....or overly flat so that it kinda curves in the middle.
These aren´t guitars, these are firewood with strings... I don´t know of a single person who would purposely put a concave fretboard on a guitar.... except maybe in a chinese or indonesian sweatshop where I´ll get whipped if I don´t..... these guitars generally cost well under 50 USD
It can be done, I´ve done it before, and I do NOT reccomend it for anyone.

Parker Flys have a 16-20quot; radius, depending on year... acoustics generally between 12 and 14quot;

On a classical it doesn´t bother anyone because:

1. You´re not usually bending strings
2. the Neck is NOTABLY wider, forcing you to hold your hand differently than on a typical elecric.
3. string tension is significantly lower (2 electric strings generally have approximately the same tension as a full classical set)

I had one customer that came in and ordered a custom neck a few years back, despite my advice to the comntrary.... 1 3/4 nut width (widest common width), strat scale, maple w/ ebony board, Dunlop 6100s, 22 frets and a perfectly flat fretboard....

After a week he returned, complaining for the most part about cramps. I put a 16quot; radius on the same neck (for more cash, of course), and lo and behold everything was perfect...

I'd have to say that somewhere between 16quot; and 20quot; would be the flattest you'd want to go. But, a flat fingerboard is definately possible...

Well, I was actually thinking of near classical width, but maybe 20 would be far enough-

Thanks for the input!

aren't mandolins flat or close to it?

Carvin Holdsworths have a 20quot; fretboard radius.

Shawn Lane's Vigier signature has a flat fretboard.


Originally Posted by ZerberusOn a classical it doesn´t bother anyone because:

1. You´re not usually bending strings
2. the Neck is NOTABLY wider, forcing you to hold your hand differently than on a typical elecric.
3. string tension is significantly lower (2 electric strings generally have approximately the same tension as a full classical set)

You do bend strings when playing classical guitars but not as often as electrics and the technique is different.
We hold our hands different not because of the neck width but because of the different techniques, the neck width is probably also the end result of the different techniques, but I have to agree that having a flat fingerboard on an electric is not a good idea.
A classical guitar's strings have about 83 pounds of pull while the steel strings of an electric guitar have about 150 pounds of pulling force.

I think as flat a radius i would like is a 16 like my Jacksons.... Even at 16 if the neck was not so thin i think it would feel too flat... but because my Jacksons have thin necks they feel great

If your going to go flat make sure u have a chunky enough neck so that you dont cramp your hand. The steve vai jem is a prime example of having to small of a neck for its fretboard radius

I have a cheese guitar that i got for something like 45 bucks. the fretboard was flat on that. I painted it and all it's worth for is hanging around for looks. I'm thinking about setting it on fire at a show sometime. I'm not sure what kind of guitar it actually is cuz it didn't say on the head stock.

I've got a cheapo old acoustic with a flat fretboard (flat, ruller flat). I can actually play faster leads on it than shred guitar I've tried. I have trouble with chords on it, though, guess the rounded ones are better for rhythm work.