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Thread: Is there a reason for the fretboard extension without frets ?

  1. #1
    Likes quaint instruments poul hansen's Avatar
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    Default Is there a reason for the fretboard extension without frets ?

    The extension doesn't even have any frets, so I wonder why it is there.

    It's a bit annoying, as I can feel that the pick sometimes touches it


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    Last edited by poul hansen; Jan-21-2021 at 9:09am.
    Kentucky KM-805..........2 Hora M1086 Portuguese II(1 in car)
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    Richmond RMA-110..... .Noname Bearclaw
    Pochette Franz Janisch...5 Pocket............Alfredo Privitera pocket
    Puglisi Pocket 1908........Puglisi 1912.......Puglisi 1917
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  2. #2

    Default Re: Is there a reason for the fretboard extension into the soundh

    It looks kinda cool? I think that is about it. Totally possible there are players that make use of them somehow, though.

    I have heard stories of folks cutting them off of their mandolins!*

    *I do not recommend cutting anything off of your mandolin unless you really know what you're doing.

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    Mandolin user MontanaMatt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is there a reason for the fretboard extension without frets ?

    I think it might impart some overtone properties. When I thump my mando with the “Florida “ I hear a tone. Mine is scooped, where material has been removed to give more pick clearance.
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    Default Re: Is there a reason for the fretboard extension into the soundh

    Quote Originally Posted by fishing_with_john View Post
    It looks kinda cool? I think that is about it. Totally possible there are players that make use of them somehow, though.

    I have heard stories of folks cutting them off of their mandolins!*

    *I do not recommend cutting anything off of your mandolin unless you really know what you're doing.
    Hehe, I thought of that but it is difficult to make it look nice, you have to move the binding as well, maybe scalloping could be done.
    Kentucky KM-805..........2 Hora M1086 Portuguese II(1 in car)
    Hora M1088 Mandola.....
    Richmond RMA-110..... .Noname Bearclaw
    Pochette Franz Janisch...5 Pocket............Alfredo Privitera pocket
    Puglisi Pocket 1908........Puglisi 1912.......Puglisi 1917
    3 Mandolinetto ..............C.Garozzo
    1 Mandriola...................Cannelo G. Mandriola...Böhm Waldzither 1921
    Johs Møller 1945............Luigi Embergher Studio 1933
    Marma Seashell back......Luigi Embergher 5bis 1909

  5. #5
    Registered User Frankdolin's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is there a reason for the fretboard extension without frets ?

    Poul that's a really pretty mandolin. If you do find out why that florida, without frets, is there. I'd love to know also.

  6. #6
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    Default Re: Is there a reason for the fretboard extension without frets ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Frankdolin View Post
    Poul that's a really pretty mandolin. If you do find out why that florida, without frets, is there. I'd love to know also.
    You should see the back ;-)
    Kentucky KM-805..........2 Hora M1086 Portuguese II(1 in car)
    Hora M1088 Mandola.....
    Richmond RMA-110..... .Noname Bearclaw
    Pochette Franz Janisch...5 Pocket............Alfredo Privitera pocket
    Puglisi Pocket 1908........Puglisi 1912.......Puglisi 1917
    3 Mandolinetto ..............C.Garozzo
    1 Mandriola...................Cannelo G. Mandriola...Böhm Waldzither 1921
    Johs Møller 1945............Luigi Embergher Studio 1933
    Marma Seashell back......Luigi Embergher 5bis 1909

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  8. #7

    Default Re: Is there a reason for the fretboard extension without frets ?

    Personally speaking I dont think it looks cool at all but that's just me. Eastman have it extending too far in my view. Best to keep it short as it is a just something that can be in the way and cause pick click.

    I can understand someone taking an older mandolin and scooping it or even tastefully cutting it back (but still with binding otherwise it looks awful) but building with these long 'Loar style' extensions is mad to me. I reckon only the classical world may play up there apart from some of the geniuses on mandolin.

    Northfield has a simple short one with three faux frets. Looks and works brilliant. Same as lots of other builders. No need for long extensions. With all respect to Orville Gibson and Lloyd Loar, I just don't know why Gibson should persist in it having this extension on their mandolins. I'm sure more people dislike them than like them.

    I have an old F4 but as the bridge is further back I find that, very conveniently, my 'plectrum place' seems to be just past the extension. I wouldn't really want to scoop that although I know a few people have done it. I can't stand pick click.

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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is there a reason for the fretboard extension without frets ?

    It's simply a nod to tradition, nothing more nothing less.

    I scooped my Gibson years ago because of the pick click. It may be that the scoop isn't deep enough. Lots of people over the years have done Floridaectomies on their mandolins.
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    Default Re: Is there a reason for the fretboard extension without frets ?

    Maybe it's there for a pedagogical reason, to teach players not to dip the pick to deep.
    Kentucky KM-805..........2 Hora M1086 Portuguese II(1 in car)
    Hora M1088 Mandola.....
    Richmond RMA-110..... .Noname Bearclaw
    Pochette Franz Janisch...5 Pocket............Alfredo Privitera pocket
    Puglisi Pocket 1908........Puglisi 1912.......Puglisi 1917
    3 Mandolinetto ..............C.Garozzo
    1 Mandriola...................Cannelo G. Mandriola...Böhm Waldzither 1921
    Johs Møller 1945............Luigi Embergher Studio 1933
    Marma Seashell back......Luigi Embergher 5bis 1909

  13. #10
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    Default Re: Is there a reason for the fretboard extension without frets ?

    Aesthetics. Just as the inlay in the fingerboard doesn’t have to be there, or the figuring on the back, or the binding - in layman’s terms, it makes it look better.

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    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is there a reason for the fretboard extension without frets ?

    Quote Originally Posted by poul hansen View Post
    The extension doesn't even have any frets, so I wonder why it is there.
    So you don't have to scoop it nor do a "Floridaectomy"

    Quote Originally Posted by fishing_with_john View Post
    Totally possible there are players that make use of them somehow, though.
    Indeed, some of us do use those extreme registers.

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    It's simply a nod to tradition, nothing more nothing less.

    I scooped my Gibson years ago because of the pick click. It may be that the scoop isn't deep enough. Lots of people over the years have done Floridaectomies on their mandolins.
    Many folks do what you did, since for many the "sweet spot" is found by picking over the fingerboard extension.

    The tradition it is a nod to is that mandolins with extended fingerboards were designed to play the full range of notes used in classical mandolin (and violin) literature.

    Only one of my mandolins has that full range.

    Most common/popular music does not need nor particularly want to use those pitches.

  15. #12

    Default Re: Is there a reason for the fretboard extension without frets ?

    Wow, beautiful mando! I have a mando with an unscooped Florida, pick click means I am inserting the pick too deep when playing so I use it as a reminder to have my pick glide over the strings.
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    Default Re: Is there a reason for the fretboard extension without frets ?

    Quote Originally Posted by bigskygirl View Post
    I use it as a reminder to have my pick glide over the strings.
    My first two mandolins had unscooped Floridas & I tried to use them as a pick depth gauge but found the pick click too frustrating. Now it's all Weber, no extension

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    Default Re: Is there a reason for the fretboard extension without frets ?

    I had the florida scooped on a mandolin, a Paris Swing. And faux frets put in to keep the visuals. But that mandolin was all about visuals.
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    Default Re: Is there a reason for the fretboard extension without frets ?

    I didn't realize how much pick click annoyed me until I got my Silverangel Econo. After about a week, maybe 2, I don’t think I played my Kentucky, which had a full unscooped extension, for more than a lick or two. It doesn’t bother me so much when listening to folks like Dawg or Skaggs play, but I’m no where close to their abilities. If I want a metronome clicking, I’ll turn on the metronome
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  21. #16

    Default Re: Is there a reason for the fretboard extension without frets ?

    My Keith Coleman mando had a very long extension without frets and I decided to cut it off. I like it much better without the extension. I carefully used a very fine back saw to perform the "surgery." There was no noticeable change in sound.

  22. #17

    Default Re: Is there a reason for the fretboard extension without frets ?

    Here is result after removal.
    Last edited by PH-Mando; Jan-23-2021 at 8:58am.

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    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is there a reason for the fretboard extension without frets ?

    Perhaps it's to enable installation of frets there? Even if seldom used. But without frets it just looks unfinished, however slightly.
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

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    Default Re: Is there a reason for the fretboard extension without frets ?

    The Sam Bush Gibson replicates his having that extra 'florida' sawn off then binding added for decoration..

    then there's the scoopers the extension thinned for a bit more picking clearance..

    It can be modified, now, since you were not there before it was built to offer your preferences..
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    Registered User Denis Kearns's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is there a reason for the fretboard extension without frets ?

    Just the other day, I was wondering about the rational for the extension on my Weber traditional. I am deeply disturbed that no one in the Cafe has the definitive answer; my faith in humanity has been shaken! I considered paying for a floridectomy, but then decided that if Bruce Weber thought that it should be there, that was good enough for me. I haven’t had any issue with picking clearance. It’s a sweet mandolin.
    Attachment 191476

  26. #21

    Default Re: Is there a reason for the fretboard extension without frets ?

    Quote Originally Posted by PH-Mando View Post
    My Keith Coleman mando had a very long extension without frets and I decided to cut it off. I like it much better without the extension.
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  27. #22

    Default Re: Is there a reason for the fretboard extension without frets ?

    that's why I like the Collings mandolins: no Floridas to be found, not even on the MF5V

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    Registered User sunburst's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is there a reason for the fretboard extension without frets ?

    No

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    Default Re: Is there a reason for the fretboard extension without frets ?

    Asked and answered!
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

    Furthering Mandolin Consciousness

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    Mandolin user MontanaMatt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is there a reason for the fretboard extension without frets ?

    Quote Originally Posted by MontanaMatt View Post
    I think it might impart some overtone properties. When I thump my mando with the “Florida “ I hear a tone. Mine is scooped, where material has been removed to give more pick clearance.
    Just checking, do none others think there might be some acoustic attributes to the Florida?
    2007 Weber Custom Elite "old wood"
    2017 Ratliff R5 Custom #1148
    Several nice old Fiddles
    2007 Martin 000-15S 12 fret Auditorium-slot head
    Deering Classic Open Back
    Too many microphones

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