How i scalloped my Strat

[MrRhoads]

Hello folks,

Some weeks ago i asked for tips with scalloping and now i´ve done it and here´s how i did it.
Click the images for larger ones.

1.
Checking how high the neck screws go into the neck so that i won´t file to much and expose them.

2.
Checking the trussrod height in comparison to the pickguard.

3.
Checking the sidedots height in comparison to the pickguard and they were higher up than the trussrod.

4.
Measuring to se how deep i´m gonna file down the wood and i decided to stay aprox 1mm above the sidedots.
Put masking tape along the neck to show how deep i could file

5.
The tools i used.
Wrench, 2 roudfiles (metall files), masking tape, exacto knife, kitchen towels to protect the neck from wrench pressure dents.

6.
Using a steep angle is not the way to go IMO, it creates a big dent in the middle between the frets and a causes the file to bounce and stop while moving it back and forth between the frets.

7.
Keeping the file leveled with the fretboard was a better method and not aplying much pressure just taking it easy and tipping the file to get both bass and treble sides of the neck and trying to stay with the fretboard radius.

8.
The 3 first frets have been filed and looking good.
By this time i discovered that masking tape is not so good since the files had gone throu it and made small dents in the frets but mostly on the side of the fret.
You can also let file go to each fret while filing and you´ll still have some untouched area besides each fret which is necessary if you wan´t to de a re-fret in the future.

9
Ok the entire fretboard filed and sandpapered.
About the 12th fret the back and forth motion with the file between the frets became tough and i´ve should have used some electric tape instead.
So at this point i hade to start moving the files more along the frets which was a little more tricky since the files were eager to slide sideways at first of each fret.

The whole process took about eight hours and i used 320 sandpapper to give the wood a nice smooth surface and it worked great on the frets as well clearing out any dent.

Please ask if you have any questions.

/Gustav

[nicudeemus1]

Are you going to finish the board again? If you are you'd need to use the same kind of finish to match the parts next to the frets.
The scalloping seems clean and uniform though nice job

[MrRhoads]

Originally Posted by nicudeemus1

Are you going to finish the board again? If you are you'd need to use the same kind of finish to match the parts next to the frets.
The scalloping seems clean and uniform though nice job

Thanks
Yes i will refinish the fretboard.
A local store here has a amber tinted nitrocellulose laquer i used when i refretted the fretboard and it matched the 24year old aged finished perfectly
Well the depth of the scallops vary a little but in all i´m very happy

[deepblue]

Nice job! I played an Yngwie Strat for a while and once you get used to the scallop it feels good and gives you defined control.

I was thinking about doing a half scallop. The 12th fret and up.
Thanks for sharing.

[MrRhoads]

Originally Posted by deepblue

Nice job! I played an Yngwie Strat for a while and once you get used to the scallop it feels good and gives you defined control.

I was thinking about doing a half scallop. The 12th fret and up.
Thanks for sharing.

I had been thinking of getting a Yngwie Strat but i ended up bying the scallop tools for $50 instead and saved some money
I´ve been told by a local luthier here that if you scallop you should do the entire neck to not cause instability in the bowing in the neck.

[deepblue]

Originally Posted by MrRhoads

I had been thinking of getting a Yngwie Strat but i ended up bying the scallop tools for $50 instead and saved some money
I´ve been told by a local luthier here that if you scallop you should do the entire neck to not cause instability in the bowing in the neck.

I never thought of that. That would make half of the neck weaker.
I know some guitars come with the last 4 or 5 frets scalloped, but I guess those frets are bolted direct to the heel so that area of the neck would be stronger.

I'm glad you mentioned that.

Another question....
What size fret wire are you using? The Malmsteen came with 6000 super jumbo. Huge planks of metal.

[jonesy]

Very cool Gustav, looks like you did a great job on that neck!

[MrRhoads]

Originally Posted by deepblue

I never thought of that. That would make half of the neck weaker.
I know some guitars come with the last 4 or 5 frets scalloped, but I guess those frets are bolted direct to the heel so that area of the neck would be stronger.

I'm glad you mentioned that.

Another question....
What size fret wire are you using? The Malmsteen came with 6000 super jumbo. Huge planks of metal.

I use the the Dunlop 6100 but will see when it´s time for the next re-frett if i can fit some Dunlop 6000

[MrRhoads]

Originally Posted by jonesy

Very cool Gustav, looks like you did a great job on that neck!

Thanks Jonesy

[5F6-A]

great job and great pics!

[MrRhoads]

Originally Posted by 5F6-A

great job and great pics!

Thanks

[Electroman67]

Hey Gustav,i've heard/read of Yngwie having this done on his,and i've always been curious the reason or reasons why? Is it totally regarding speed? or any tonal benefits to boot?
Your work looks very professional btw....i would have serious problems taking a file across that first fret personally....when i make these expensive marine canvas curtains,all the materials are outrageous,i spend days making them,then the final step before installing them is poking holes in them and installing straps and such to them.I measure like 15 times to make sure i dont screw it up.
Is this your first scallop job?

[Knarbens]

Great job. Looks good!
Now it feels like the neck on my guitar with its tall frets I guess

How did you know the inlays are thick enough?

[MrRhoads]

Originally Posted by Electroman67

Hey Gustav,i've heard/read of Yngwie having this done on his,and i've always been curious the reason or reasons why? Is it totally regarding speed? or any tonal benefits to boot?
Your work looks very professional btw....i would have serious problems taking a file across that first fret personally....when i make these expensive marine canvas curtains,all the materials are outrageous,i spend days making them,then the final step before installing them is poking holes in them and installing straps and such to them.I measure like 15 times to make sure i dont screw it up.
Is this your first scallop job?

Thanks for the complimant and yes it´s my first time scalloping
Yes Yngwie Malmsteen took one of his necks back in the 1970s and scalloped it.
I learned about Yngwie and scalloping in the late 1990s.
Afterwards all i can say is that the wood that used to be on the guitar seemed to hindered me in a way and now i feel basically only the string which is a wonderfull feeling and gives me better string controll IMO.
Since i´m very happy with the result my playing has gotten a great "joy-boost" so slight improvement there
If you didn´t press the strings to hard before a scallop you´re most likely not to play any slower than before.
The guitar is a little more resonant(louder) now but i haven´t put on any finish yet on the fretboard so need to see if it´s what causing it.
The notes seems to be a little cleaner for me.
Well sliding up or down to a note on the fretboard was quite a bit different with scallop, it works but needs a litte adjustment time to adapt to it.
If you wanna try doing a scallop get yourself a cheap neck to learn on
Sounds like your customers is getting some high quality curtains from you

[MrRhoads]

Originally Posted by Knarbens

Great job. Looks good!
Now it feels like the neck on my guitar with its tall frets I guess

How did you know the inlays are thick enough?

Thanks,
I didn´t, i just hoped they would be thick enough to be honest.
A local dealer do have new ones so it could have been fixed

[Who]

Scalloping is not for speed. It's for control of your bends, and keeping in better tune.

OP, nice work! Just keep it away from any "helpful" guitar techs.

Watch this video, about a minute in, Blackmore describes the crime of the century. The greatest guitarist ever, robbed of his greatest guitar by a dipshit that didn't understand scalloping:

YouTube - Ritchie's guitar colection part 1

YouTube - Ritchie's guitar colection part 1

[MrRhoads]

Originally Posted by Who

Scalloping is not for speed. It's for control of your bends, and keeping in better tune.

OP, nice work! Just keep it away from any "helpful" guitar techs.

Watch this video, about a minute in, Blackmore describes the crime of the century. The greatest guitarist ever, robbed of his greatest guitar by a dipshit that didn't understand scalloping:
YouTube - Ritchie's guitar colection part 1

Thanks
When it comes to speed practising with a metronome is the way to go IMO.
The strings do dig in alot better in the fingers and allow more string controll.
About the tuning i haven´t noticed any difference yet but i use Gotoh locking tuners and a Callaham bridge.

Ah yes, the guitar tech who was nice to level his fretboard

[Who]

When I mentioned "keeping in better tune", I'm not referring to the inherent properties of the guitar, I'm referring to how it gets played.

Most people tune their guitars with open strings. Then, as they play, they fret the strings, making every note they play sharp. Depending on the action height, and the intensity of a passage, they might tend to go very sharp, as they bear down on the string, and hit the fretboard.

Now go to a scalloped neck. Action height and fretting a string are still a factor, but you learn to have a much lighter touch. You tend to fret only far enough to make the contact you need (string-to-fret). A scalloped neck will break anyone from the habit of fretting until the string contacts the fretboard.

This minimalistic fretting habit can lead to the notes being fretted sharp a bit less. Enough where most listeners will care, probably not, but I believe it makes a difference.

Does a scalloped neck = speed, no. But an accurate light touch can. I think the reputation for scallop=fast came from fast players who used scallops, and not from scallops-making-players-fast.

[deepblue]

My 2 cents...
I found you need to develop a lighter touch using a scalloped neck. Too much pressure pushing down on the strings and you'll be playing sharp. Remember there is no wood down there to stop your fingers. Sliding up or down the neck is different too. It's like your fingers are driving over speed bumps.

Once you get used to it, it's a great neck to play on, and I had no trouble at all going back to a regular neck.

[jonesy]

Before you know it you will be playing just like Yngwie with that scalloped Strat neck

Yngwie Malmsteen - guitar hero - far beyond the sun - guitar lesson - YouTube

Yngwie Malmsteen - guitar hero - far beyond the sun - guitar lesson - YouTube

[GrouchyDog]

Looks great MrRhoads!

Both my Strats are scalloped - first-gen YJM and a Warmoth mongrel - and I love the feel. Be sure to post pics and impressions after you've refinished it and lived with it for a while!

[MrRhoads]

Originally Posted by GrouchyDog

Looks great MrRhoads!

Both my Strats are scalloped - first-gen YJM and a Warmoth mongrel - and I love the feel. Be sure to post pics and impressions after you've refinished it and lived with it for a while!

Thanks
I´ll be sure to post some impressions and pics
Refinish should be done some point at end of july begining of august.
Need some place alone with that nitrocellulose it´s strong stuff.

[MrRhoads]

Originally Posted by jonesy

Before you know it you will be playing just like Yngwie with that scalloped Strat neck

Yngwie Malmsteen - guitar hero - far beyond the sun - guitar lesson - YouTube

This ones a favourite, Yngwie just goes berserk in this one
So far i can only play the intro

[GrouchyDog]

Originally Posted by jonesy

Before you know it you will be playing just like Yngwie with that scalloped Strat neck

Yngwie Malmsteen - guitar hero - far beyond the sun - guitar lesson - YouTube

I like Yngwie, but in limited doses. His economy of motion with both hands is just incredible - no more movement than necessary to get the job done.

[deepblue]

Originally Posted by GrouchyDog

I like Yngwie, but in limited doses. His economy of motion with both hands is just incredible - no more movement than necessary to get the job done.

Neo classical is Yngwie's, and no one can touch him.
His blues playing however....sucks.
It just goes to show you that there is more to playing the blues then knowing the scales.

[79standard]

Originally Posted by Who

Scalloping is not for speed. It's for control of your bends, and keeping in better tune.

OP, nice work! Just keep it away from any "helpful" guitar techs.

Watch this video, about a minute in, Blackmore describes the crime of the century. The greatest guitarist ever, robbed of his greatest guitar by a dipshit that didn't understand scalloping:
YouTube - Ritchie's guitar colection part 1

First, congrats on your excellent DIY scallop job!
Second, thanks for this great Blackmore vid. His droll sense of humor is one of the things I love about him. I don't care how "difficult" people say he is, I'd give my '79 Lester to have a few ales with him by the fireside.

[79standard]

Originally Posted by deepblue

(snip) Neo classical is Yngwie's, and no one can touch him. (snip)

Sorry, Wing-Wee may be a titan, but Uli Jon Roth shows him how it's done.

[GrouchyDog]

Originally Posted by deepblue

Neo classical is Yngwie's, and no one can touch him.
His blues playing however....sucks.
It just goes to show you that there is more to playing the blues then knowing the scales.

+100! YJM playing blues is kind of like what watching Betty White fighting MMA would be like. Terrible cognitive dissonance.

Originally Posted by 79standard

Sorry, Wing-Wee may be a titan, but Uli Jon Roth shows him how it's done.

UJR is astonishing... I think Yngwie would cut that head for pure speed and technique, but Uli Jon's inventiveness, attitude and feeling are unparalleled in that style.

[MrRhoads]

Uli John Roth and Yngwie Malmsteen do know each other, how well i do not know but Uli gave Yngwie a "Sky" guitar, tried to find the video with Yngwie on youtube were he shows it.

[MrRhoads]

Originally Posted by 79standard

First, congrats on your excellent DIY scallop job!
Second, thanks for this great Blackmore vid. His droll sense of humor is one of the things I love about him. I don't care how "difficult" people say he is, I'd give my '79 Lester to have a few ales with him by the fireside.

Thanks,
IMO it´s not more difficult with scalloped if that´s what you ment..
Sliding up and down to a note took about a couple of hours to adjust to.
Just needed to pick up the guitar and lay it down to get feel that it´s scalloped and not like a standard.