Stealth Fret Slot and Compound Radius Fretboard: Redefining Modern Guitar Playability

Nov 2, 2025
2 min read

Blending Precision, Playability, and Aesthetics in Modern Guitar Design

Modern guitar building is a balance of engineering and aesthetics. Innovations like stealth fret cut, meticulously dressed frets, and compound radius fretboard define the feel of high-end instruments, making them essential in boutique, custom, and professional guitars.

Defining the Stealth Fret Slot

A stealth or blind fret slot fretboard is a fingerboard in which the fret tangs are seated in fully concealed slots that do not break through the edges of the board. Unlike traditional fretboards—where both the tangs and the slot cuts are visible—this design hides them completely, creating a clean and uninterrupted visual surface.

Key construction steps include:

Accurate slot layout: Careful measurement and marking of slot depth and width to ensure the fret tangs seat properly without becoming visible.

Precision cutting: CNC milling or laser cutting is typically used to achieve consistent slot placement, clean walls, and uniform depth.

Edge and end finishing: Skilled edge dressing—such as tapering, rounding, or rolling—is performed to create smooth, continuous fretboard edges that visually conceal the slots.

Result: Completely hidden fret slots along the sides of the fretboard, often accented only by subtle side dots or markers—minimal, clean, and elegant.

The completed fretboard presents a flawless, uninterrupted visual surface, often accented with subtle side dots or markers. This design showcases technical precision, structural integrity, and craftsmanship, prioritizing functional refinement over decorative flourish.

Understanding Compound Radius Fretboards

A compound radius fretboard has a gradually flattening curvature along the neck:

Nut area: Smaller radius (more rounded) for comfortable chord playing.
Higher frets: Larger radius (flatter) to facilitate string bending and soloing.

This progressive curvature reduces string “choking” on bends while maintaining ergonomic comfort for open chords.

Integration with Stealth Fret Slot

Combining hidden fret tangs along the sides of the fretboard with a compound radius makes fret leveling and crowning considerably more demanding. Each fret must be dressed with precision along a surface whose radius continuously changes, often requiring progressive-radius files or CNC-assisted leveling before final hand finishing.

When paired with polished fret ends, this approach delivers smooth, frictionless playability across the entire neck.

Why Modern Players and Builders Care?

Smooth playability across all registers: Stealth fretboards, often paired with compound radius fretboard, allow effortless hand movement and consistent feel from low to high frets.
Aesthetic minimalism: Concealed fret tangs create a “floating fret” effect, giving the fingerboard a clean, uninterrupted appearance.
Precision craftsmanship: Any imperfection is immediately noticeable, both visually and tactilely, making meticulous execution essential.
Compatibility with advanced materials: Ebony, Richlite, maple, and other selected tonewoods can be used without exposing fret tangs, ensuring both tonal integrity and visual consistency.

Conclusion

Modern guitars blend aesthetic intent with mechanical precision. Stealth fret slots hide the fret tangs for a seamless look, meticulously dressed frets provide flawless playability, and compound-radius fingerboards enhance comfort while enabling smoother string bending. Together, these elements define the boutique-guitar experience—where tactile performance is crafted with the same level of refinement as the instrument’s visual design.