Scalloped Neck Technique?

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crankyrayhanky

crankyrayhanky

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I have an Yngwie Strat- all scalloped
I found that I enjoy the guitar best when I ignore the Ynqwie name and just play slower blusier stuff- the tone is outrageously good! I can shred pretty good on my LPs, but anytime I go for speed on this thing it really sounds like garbage- very exposing to my slop technique.

I guess the real question is the approach people take to vibrato on these scallopped necks- lots of reading online suggests that it is hard, but once you get the feel, it really is awesome. Perhaps I am playing too hard, like a gorilla? Circular hybrid violin technique? IDK, any advice is appreciated
 
With scalloped frets you have to hone your technique. Due to the fact there's no fret board there to "stop" against as a reference point it's extremely easy to pull ( push?) notes sharp. Just keep practicing!!!
 
Yngwie has said many times in interviews that you have to play with a very light touch with your fretting hand on a scalloped neck.
 
the higher you go up the neck the harder it becomes to push a particular note sharp (or flat, wont get into theory here)

the hard part on those guitars are full on bar chords and not bending them, read bending not pushing, them sharp by accident since it is so easy to vibrato anywhere on the neck.

the thing with scalloped boards is technique, vibrato was very easy and very controlling but like others have already said you really have to have a light touch, feather touch to the fretboard. otherwise you limit yourself to your own ability - the harder you press the slower your maximum speed and the worse your note control will be - whole different ballgame compared to a normal fretboard or even large frets.

i enjoyed the ones that i have played, but to play light is not light enough - you really have to almost be scared to fret any notes on the damn thing in order to get any real speed from them, but the added benefit is that you do not lose any note clarity because of the scallops themselves not stopping any remedial forces from fretting the note properly. if you can play a scalloped neck cleanly and efficiently your technique and phrasing on a normal fretboard will improve ten-fold.

aldrich has the perfect type of technique that you need to play a scalloped board - look and watch his videos to get an idea.
 
"Play with your ears".

Ritchie Blackmore and John Mcglaughlin were playing scallop necks before Yngwie. They are all totally different players.The technique shouldn't distract you as much as listening to your pitch. I started on scalloped boards in 87', but play normal fretboards as well. I think they are great for anything that requires effortless bending with total control. I also find you can express your vibrato more evenly on controllable. If im playing more chordal stuff, i prefer normal necks. Arpeggios come easier to me on a scalloped board because of the less friction you apply. I also think the scalloped neck forces you to be more accurate in single note execution, but lighter touch. There is a good valid reason Yngwie uses super light top strings, it compliments is economical approach to picking. he figured it out when he was a teen...endless playing for hours. good luck and welcome to the dark side. ; )
 
all excellent replies here, thanks

if you can play a scalloped neck cleanly and efficiently your technique and phrasing on a normal fretboard will improve ten-fold
No doubt, it's like in baseball warming up with a doughnut on the bat, take it off and feel increase power :rock:

I do have a He-Man Caveman approach to playing (I played for the last 10 years on 10-60 on an LP before recently moving to 10-52), perhaps I need to really approach this differently. I also fattened up the gauge a bit from stock to 10s, maybe I should go back down...I think it cam with 9/10 splits
 
My main guitar for over 15 years had a fully scalloped fingerboard. It does really help you to play very lightly, which I still do. I use 8-38's. Using a very light touch will help your faster playing, and the scalloped fingerboard helps improve your bending and vibrato.
 
I have a scalloped neck i got off ebay on a MIM Fender strat body...I like it a lot...but i didn't have to really adjust my technique much if any...it does aid in vibrato...you can really grab that string and just have your way with it...i guess i'm not as heavy handed as some as I don't press notes sharp anywhere on the neck...It's not really much different than playing superjumbo frets to me.
As I already said..i do like the scalloped neck...but I am going to part out the strat and sell it....it was a fun project but not really what i wanted in the end.
 
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