Fretboard Radii

Post by **Mike** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:22 am

It's not just radius you have to take into account, but radius and profile.

I can play a 12" radius fine if it is a clubby-as-fuck neck like on the '72 Telecaster Deluxe RI or the Baja Telecaster. It just seems to work, fat neck, flatter board. Spanky.

However I prefer the more rounded 7.25" and 9.5" on my two Jaguars, as they don't have the helf behind the fretboard. For it to be comfortable in my hands (and feel like it's mine, even though I know it's not) then those are my two options: 12" and clubby, or less clubby and more rounded.

There is a massive difference in the playability of a 7.25" and 9.5" neck when it comes to fast lead playing up the neck, and even more so up the neck. The 9.5" gives you more space to breathe.

oolu · Post by **oolu** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:30 am

So many people say that they've never thought about it and yet, I always hear/read so many people going crazy over old Stang and Duo necks that come on sale and go on and on about how much they love them...?

Does anyone own a guitar with a compound radius neck? (A neck that has a smaller radius at the nut, and a larger radius at the body joint)
I'd like to try one out sometime, but I can't see myself buying one except for the novelty. Still, I hear it's pretty comfy.

For those that are interested, here are a couple of links:
Guitar Neck Radius
Compound Radius

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:57 am

It feels different in my hand, because itâ€™s bigger,
and my hand only knows one size,
so now when itâ€™s pumped up to a larger size,
it really feels different in my hand.

etc

Post by **Mike** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 10:01 am

I already made that reference, slick.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 10:06 am

gah, i wasn't sure if you'd meant it.

Thom · Post by **Thom** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 10:29 pm

Like Mike said, it depends on the profile of the neck.
Favourite generally has to be 7.25" - I used to be mainly a rhythm player and the curved fretboard just feels right to me.
All my Fenders have a 7.25" radius.
Most of the time I play my LP though, which has a 12" radius which is much easier to play lead on.

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:51 am

7.25 on Fenders and occasionally play Gibson/Epiphones which have 12"

I'm not sure I like 9.5", I'm plenty familiar with it though.

dezb1 · Post by **dezb1** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 1:06 am

serfx wrote:i honestly know absolutely nothing about fret radius

+1 (thought I was the only one)

oolu · Post by **oolu** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 1:18 am

Stan Kwervo wrote:i like the 9.5'' radius because its about as middle ground as i can get for chording and messing around past the 12th fret.

That's fair. Bending up high on the neck was a real pain on my old Musicmaster.