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Permalink Reply by Shawn on February 24, 2017 at 2:28pm

3 or 4 strings do not require a radius fretboard as the neck is smaller than a 6 string guitar. For your first one keep it simple as you build more and you will then add more custom designs into each build. Also welcome to your new addition.

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on February 24, 2017 at 2:42pm

Hi Dave, well it depends on the style of playing and type of guitar 3-4-6 string fretting note or slide playing.

These are my preferences and that of most other players and guitar builders.

The radiused f/b is used on instruments to aid in better/easier fingering, as the curve of the fingerboard follows the curve of the natural lay of the fingers as they come down onto the fingerboard.

There are many different radii that builders use on their guitars.

Classical/Spanish nylon guitar's traditionally have a flat fingerboard, but in more recent times radiused F/b are becoming more popular, I worked of quite a few.

On my 3 string slide guitars I use a flat board and have no troubles playing cords. Flat strings for slide, flat board. On my six string slide guitars I would use a flat board as it is better when using a capo, and I use a capo a lot. However if I build a six string slide guitar using a found neck that it radiused, then with flat/level strings [to give the slide even contact across them], when a capo is used the outside strings being higher off the fret will need tweaking to be in tune. 

Narrow fingerboard instruments like violins and some mandolins have a radiused f/b, as do all orchestral instruments.

Bottom line I think is that radiused f/b are easier to play. 

Hope this helps. Taff

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