I ve never owned a mandolin with a radius fingerboard
I ve never owned a mandolin with a radius fingerboard
I've owned both but prefer flat which is what I have played for past 10 years. Compound radius is my next favorite. You'll get lots of opinions on this. Totally a preference thing
It doesn't matter . . . I'm going to WINFIELD!!!!!
I prefer radiused, but have no problem playing with a flat board. My first mandolin, a cheaper used Kentucky, had a flat finger board and when I picked up a Weber a few years later it took me a bit of time to get used to the radiused board. It wasn't difficult, just different. But now after playing that for a couple of years I seem to prefer it. But I don't have much trouble switching between the two if I need to.
I like a radius one best but i have both and can play both without any problems. But your best bet is to go to a mandolin store that has both and play as many as you can that is the only way to find out which you like best
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morgan monroe mms-5wc,ovation
Michael Kelly Octave Mandolin
Emandos Northfield octave tele 4, Northfield custom jem octave mandolin 5 octave strat 8
2 Flying v 8, octave 5, Exploryer octave 8 20"
Fender mandostrat 4,3 Epip mandobird 2,4/8, Kentucky. KM300E Eastwood mandocaster
Gold Tone F6,Badaax doubleneck 8/6
The difference is not that great in my experience, and I switch back and forth without much trouble. The radius board feels perhaps a little more comfortable, but single fret double stops and barre chords are a little harder because you have to bed around that curve.
In my opinion, (only mine) there are more important things that I would use to decide between two mandolins.
The radius gives you an "effectively" wider finger board, in that a fretting fingertip can overhang neighboring strings without muting them, as might happen on a flat board. That might be good for some hands, maybe less good or no difference for others.
While I appreciate the feel of some radiused boards, I haven't felt strongly enough to actually own one.
- Ed
"Then one day we weren't as young as before
Our mistakes weren't quite so easy to undo
But by all those roads, my friend, we've travelled down
I'm a better man for just the knowin' of you."
- Ian Tyson
I have both kinds... switch back and forth all the time. I probably slightly prefer the feel of a radius, but it is not a major issue at all and I'm happy with either. It would not be a deciding factor in instrument choice.
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I'm the exact opposite of posters so far. Always had flat but when I finally tried a radius it felt like I had come home. It is much more comfortable for me and I play more accurately on a radiused fingerboard.
I made the switch to the radius primarily because of my arthritis. I was having great difficulty with the D and A courses trying to bar them. I Also use lighter strings than I would really like to for this same reason. The radius also makes regular picking more tolerable for my sometimes painful fingers and knuckles.
Pickin therapy is great for the soul...and other various things.
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Neither is better, it's a matter of preference. I have both, but I would say that I prefer radiused. But I can go back and forth between with no problem.
Living’ in the Mitten
Used to flat here, so that's my preference. Often have wondered on re-frets if one is easier than the other, for the technicians. Especially with the harder wires these days. Any re-fretters care to share their thoughts?
No one has mentioned fret size. Heavier frets make a big difference in feel for many people. Since most radius'd fingerboards also have modern heavier frets, I wonder if the frets have more of an effect than the radius'd fingerboard.
Jammin' south of the river
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There is not a right answer. Its like answering if you like Snicker's or a Reese's Cups better.
Gee thanks for to all the folks who commented on my post about the radius fret board vs the flat. I haven't really played a radiused finger board much. So its nice to get some input.
Reese's Cups
Ibanez 70's 524, 521, 3 511's,2 512's,513,1 514,3 80s 513's, 522
J Bovier F5-T custom shop
Kiso Suzuki V900,
The Loar lm600 Cherryburst
morgan monroe mms-5wc,ovation
Michael Kelly Octave Mandolin
Emandos Northfield octave tele 4, Northfield custom jem octave mandolin 5 octave strat 8
2 Flying v 8, octave 5, Exploryer octave 8 20"
Fender mandostrat 4,3 Epip mandobird 2,4/8, Kentucky. KM300E Eastwood mandocaster
Gold Tone F6,Badaax doubleneck 8/6
Definately Reese's for me also...but I can switch to snickers fairly easy when I have too
This is a great question. I would say that neck profile has more impact on how an instrument feels to me than radius v flat. If pushed, I would say that I prefer a radius, but that's really only because my current mando ( 6 yrs so far) has a radius.No one has mentioned fret size. Heavier frets make a big difference in feel for many people. Since most radius'd fingerboards also have modern heavier frets, I wonder if the frets have more of an effect than the radius'd fingerboard.
Mitch Russell
I actually prefer preserves! Not on a sweet course much anymore but, Heath bars still do it for me!
Never tried a radiused fingerboard, compound makes perfect sense if you are going to do it. Well, it does to me at least. I don't adapt terribly quickly so, I would need one for a while to really get the full learning experience. Open for extended loans
Timothy F. Lewis
"If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett
I've had mandolins with both and I prefer radiused. Overall it feels better and I'm convinced my fingers move more efficiently on a radiused fret board. I prefer not to speculate on what degree of that might be imagined. The larger frets do make a big difference, too. On the other hand, I apparently have no problem with a flat finger board on a tenor banjo. Maybe that's because of it's greater dimensions. But then all my guitars have radiused finger boards.
On the other hand again, I think radiused or not, the thinner--or lower the profile--a neck is, the more problematic it is for me.
Youse guys is in da wrong forum.
Allen Hopkins
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I like the miniature dark Reese cups!
+1 radius
+1 snickers
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