Fylde longscale archtop bouzouki question

[Mike Anderson]

Hi all, I searched hither and yon to see if I could learn this before I posted, but no luck:

does the Fylde longscale archtop have a radiused or flat fretboard? I'm looking at one for when I'm ready to upgrade.

Thanks in advance -
Mike.

[Jacob]

Asked the builder, Roger Bucknall?

[Eddie Sheehy]

I used to have one but I can't remember if it was flat or radiused, sorry.

[Mike Anderson]

Good thought Jacob, I will, and thanks Eddie, no worries.

[Eddie Sheehy]

Here's what it sounded like....



Beastly long, though...

[Mike Anderson]

Here's what it sounded like....



Beastly long, though...

Nice, thanks Eddie! I do love the tone of the thing, and there are a few other good videos out there that I think do a decent job of capturing it. Just learned today it has a zero fret too, which seems like a bonus. It really checks all the boxes for me as far as features, sound, and esthetics. Not written in stone yet as I don't have the cash to hand, but am trying to learn as much as I can - it's a big decision for a guy who has never mandated the budget for a luthier-built instrument before.

[Mike Anderson]

For future reference, here's what Roger had to say:

"All our instruments have a slight curve on the fingerboard. I don't measure it, simply done by eye, but its a slight curve, not very noticeable."

[allenhopkins]

..."All our instruments have a slight curve on the fingerboard. I don't measure it, simply done by eye, but its a slight curve, not very noticeable."

Now that's kind of response I love!

Others worry about the precise metric value of the radius built into the fingerboard, and a super-respected luthier says, "Hey, I just more or less wing it -- but I wouldn't worry, it's just a 'slight curve.'"

Get one of those guitar capos, like Picker's Pal, that have adjustable bars for flat vs. radiused fingerboards, and see which works.

[Mike Anderson]

Now that's kind of response I love!

Others worry about the precise metric value of the radius built into the fingerboard, and a super-respected luthier says, "Hey, I just more or less wing it -- but I wouldn't worry, it's just a 'slight curve.'"

Get one of those guitar capos, like Picker's Pal, that have adjustable bars for flat vs. radiused fingerboards, and see which works.

Yeah, it was a bit of a surprise I have to admit, but in a good way.

Thanks for the heads-up on the Picker's Pal, looks like a good one!

[PseudoCelt]

I've used flat and radiused Shubb guitar capos on my Fylde LS AT bouzouki and they both work fine. As Roger Bucknall says, the fretboard obviously isn't flat, but not curved enough that I'd call it radiused.

Patrick

[Mike Anderson]

I've used flat and radiused Shubb guitar capos on my Fylde LS AT bouzouki and they both work fine. As Roger Bucknall says, the fretboard obviously isn't flat, but not curved enough that I'd call it radiused.

Patrick

Thanks very much Patrick, good info!