Scalloping a Neck

[PhilHill]

Whether it's efficient or not is entirely a matter of the reason your doing it. As I stated, McLaughlin did it to achieve a certain sound. Other folks use the scallops to ease their ability to achieve their purpose. McLaughlin is generally considered to have been the first major player to start reviving the practice of scalloping fretboards, and he did it for the reason I stated. But, yes that is not the only reason to do it. Can we just agree that everybody is right in their own way and leave it at that.  :icon_thumright:

Well I can agree with that scalloped necks can be used in different ways.

The video Logrinn posted illustrates what you were saying about McLaughlin creating a sitar like effect with some downward pressure.  I can see now what you were referring to. Of course doing a normal bend that way is not going to work but it is an effect.

Ritchie Blackmore was / is a user of scalloped boards also from the early seventies.  That is where my interest in them started.

And I quite understand what you say about ease of lateral bending and vibrato being the most common reason for scalloping. I fully agree there. It only makes sense that sliding along a metal rail would be easier and quicker than dragging the string over wood.
I believe Blackmore inspired a lot of guitarists interest in a variety of things, most of them even legal.

 

[Cagey]

I did something legal, once. Once!​

 

[PhilHill]

I did something legal, once. Once!​

  :laughing7: It was the very definition of camp, but I kinda liked that movie.

 

[Cagey]

No doubt. But, sometimes, I'm easy.