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Post by zpilot on Apr 29, 2022 12:03:16 GMT -7
30 years ago when I built my first totally partscaster guitar (aka ghost guitar) I bought a Warmoth neck and spec'd a compound radius. 9" to 15". That was the new "thing" so of course I had to have it. All of the replacement necks I have bought since then have been that compound from Warmoth. Recently, while I had the neck off that guitar for a re-fret I temporarily replaced it with a Mexican Strat neck I picked up cheap with a 9.5" radius which has been the standard for Fender for some time now. I have to say I love that neck. So much so that I am converting that original Warmoth neck to 9.5". I just don't see a need for the compound, at least the way I set my action. I play slide a lot so my action is a little higher than what most players like. I'm an old dog but I can change when I see a benefit.
I have changed several older Fenders from 7.25 to 9.5 during re-frets and I certainly see the need for that. I just don't see the need for anything much beyond it. Maybe for shredders.
I'm just curious if anyone else is wedded to the flatter fretboards.
Edit: On second thought my first total partscaster was a Tele I built in 1980 with a Boogie Bodies/Mighty Mite neck. Anyone remember those? I think it was closer to 7.25 radius. Too long ago to remember.
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Apr 29, 2022 12:09:19 GMT -7
I was earlier in life as well, now I like 9.5 on F-types and the standard 12 on Gibsons. They just seem to work for me. I do have a parts caster Strat build with a straight 12 that also works for certain things. Well, it’s either 10 or 12, now I can’t remember. I’ll have to get the radius gauges out and measure it.
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Post by helmi on Apr 29, 2022 13:48:00 GMT -7
I’m used to the PRS 10” radius.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Apr 29, 2022 14:29:57 GMT -7
I like the flatter boards too. I have a 2002 American Standard Strat (9 1/2) and a few years ago I bought a Mexican '57 special, and the radius on it must be 7 1/4". I have the action set pretty high so I can bend in the upper register, so it doesn't flat out very badly. But I much prefer the flatter fretboards.
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Post by Paul (TRANE) on Apr 29, 2022 16:23:46 GMT -7
All of my guitars are 12" radius except my Suhr. (10" to 14" compound radius ). But 10" to 14" averages to 12"
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Post by adam on Apr 29, 2022 17:13:22 GMT -7
I'm just curious if anyone else is wedded to the flatter fretboards. Not me because they hurt my hand. I think the way our fingers generally work is they have a radius to them. Flatter also makes it a lot harder to come straight down with a finger on a chord, whereas a fingerboard with a smaller radius has more tolerance for your finger not coming straight down. I have a friend that can only deal with a really flat fretboard, but he never plays chords, so there's that. To each his own, and neither is right or wrong. Would Hendrix have developed his style on a really flat fingerboard? I'm guessing no.
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Post by Norrin Radd on Apr 29, 2022 19:32:05 GMT -7
The older I get and the more I play radius matters less and less. My guitars range from 9.5 to 14 and anything in between is fine. When I looked at the actual physical difference between radiuses and understood really what they are, it all seemed pretty insignificant. After I had that mindset, it just really didn’t matter any more.
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Post by Ridgeback on Apr 29, 2022 20:02:25 GMT -7
Radius has always been less of a factor for me than the neck profile and shoulder combination plus fret size.
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Post by zpilot on Apr 29, 2022 21:03:48 GMT -7
Yes, radius doesn't matter all that much, until I bend a string. Which I do constantly. It is mainly what determines the height of the strings.
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Post by Norrin Radd on Apr 30, 2022 4:29:23 GMT -7
Yes, radius doesn't matter all that much, until I bend a string. Which I do constantly. It is mainly what determines the height of the strings. Yup. More curve, higher action. It’s all in the setup and where, if at all, you don’t mind having the choke point. An incredibly personal thing.
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Post by nick0 on Apr 30, 2022 6:26:04 GMT -7
Anything between 9 and 14 is comfortable for me. I have a few Warmoth necks with 9.5 all the way and one with a compound 9.5 to 14. The compound is nice, but not any better than the 9.5 straight imo. I set my action at 2mm 12th fret every string compound or not.
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Post by daddyelmis (Greg) on Apr 30, 2022 9:12:38 GMT -7
I’m in the crowd that doesn’t care all that much about radius. Profile matters more to me - I really do not like V or hard Vs (but I never come over the top of the fretboard with my thumb). Cs and U’s are fine.
I also tend to like my action a little higher - like 0.09” at the 12th.
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Post by Seńor Verde on Apr 30, 2022 10:34:43 GMT -7
I have a Warmoth Strat with Compound Radius neck. I've thought about swapping it out for a 10" radius with PRS size frets, but when I switch between my PRS guitars and the Warmoth, I feel the other differences between them are more obvious than the radius of the neck.
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Post by spencer096 on May 2, 2022 3:05:33 GMT -7
I’ve got a half dozen guitars and they all have 12” radiuses
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Post by gbowman on May 2, 2022 7:52:10 GMT -7
I guess I kinda grew up Gibson, so am used to flatter necks. My main guitar is a Heritage 535 with a 12" radius. It just seems to fit everything I do. I have really tried to bond with Fender necks and the 9.5" radius, but it always seems a struggle and for the life of me, I cannot dial in the action.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on May 2, 2022 9:55:36 GMT -7
I love my Heritage 535! It works for most everything.
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Post by zpilot on May 2, 2022 11:22:33 GMT -7
I first got into compound radius necks when I changed from playing a Les Paul to primarily playing Fenders. It made the transition easier when playing in the upper registers. Nowadays I rarely even play above the 15th fret and never above the 17th. I could just eliminate those higher frets and I would not even miss them. Hey, that's an idea.
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