Fretboard Radii

oolu · Post by **oolu** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:58 pm

The new GFS offset guitars have got me thinking about fretboard radii, as they're apparently 7.5"... If given a choice between 7.5" and 9.5", I'll take the rounder. 11" is inconceivable to me. What do you guys prefer and why?

chisa · Post by **chisa** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:02 am

7.25 or something like that

Noirie. · Post by **Noirie.** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:12 am

chisa wrote:7.25 or something like that

Reece · Post by **Reece** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:26 am

no fucking clue.

not flat.

never thought about radius really.

Noirie. · Post by **Noirie.** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:31 am

I liek rounded fretboards on fender style guitars, and flat fretboards on gibson style guitars.

Reece · Post by **Reece** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:33 am

i can't do bar chords on a flat radius.
i can't even do e shape minor bar chords on a round radius, my fingers are broked.

Gavin · Post by **Gavin** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:34 am

I've always preferred 7.25", but trying out Mike's 9.5" Jag and playing my 12" tele alot lately has made me less concerned with radius. I still prefer 7.5" because I find it more comfortable, but I'm not hugely bothered these days by any radius.

Will · Post by **Will** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:34 am

12", like a Dano

Jazz chords are way easier on a flat radius.

finboy · Post by **finboy** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:02 am

don't notice a difference really, i just mash out chords

BoringPostcards · Post by **BoringPostcards** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:04 am

Will wrote:12", like a Dano

Jazz chords are way easier on a flat radius.

I actually find them more difficult with a flat radius. Probably just because I'm not used to flat radius.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:27 am

It's something that I definitely notice when I play, but I don't really have a preference, except that if a neck hasn't got what I want it'll annoy me no end.

For instance, I really don't like strats with anything flatter than 9.5". It just doesn't seem right for what that guitar should be.

Justin J · Post by **Justin J** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:29 am

i've never been bothered by the radius. i jump around from fender to gibson to classical (completely flat) without even noticing.

Noirie. · Post by **Noirie.** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:35 am

BacchusPaul wrote:For instance, I really don't like strats with anything flatter than 9.5". It just doesn't seem right for what that guitar should be.

This exactly.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:43 am

But at the same time I've plenty of guitars with flatter boards, and I play them loads.

serfx · Post by **serfx** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:44 am

i honestly know absolutely nothing about fret radius

jcyphe · Post by **jcyphe** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:37 am

If anything I would say I dislike the 7.25" with a skinny 60's style Fender neck and also i dislike dead flat Ibanez super strat type necks but it's not something I consider much. Whatever radius the 1956 Gibson Custom Shop Goldtop is, that's the best radius, neck shape, fret size ever. That's just the perfect neck for me.

wilrecar77 · Post by **wilrecar77** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 3:36 am

After owning my Ibanez with a 14" radius, playing anything much rounder just feels find of goofy.

sp3k · Post by **sp3k** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 3:41 am

does anyone know the fretboard radius on the super sonic? i really love the neck, and fender says my tele custom has a 7.5 radius neck, but the super sonic feels much smaller!

tomin8r · Post by **tomin8r** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 4:04 am

I got no clue about radius and stuff, but I love a good clubby feeling Fender neck with rosewood, it just feels natural to me, and a lot more sturdy. When I play a guitar with a smaller neck, it feels like if I go to bend a note too far, the thing will snap. Clubby and vintage or medium jumbo frets for me

Stan Kwervo · Post by **Stan Kwervo** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 6:13 am

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.