9.5" radius = Flat or Staggered?
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Lewguitar
Guest
Re: 9.5" radius = Flat or Staggered?
I base my decision of whether to use flat or staggered on what I want the guitar to sound like and not on the fingerboard radius. If I want the brighter, glassier, bubblier tone of a vintage Strat I go for staggered. If I'm after a thicker, chunkier tone with less glass to the highs I go for flat.
The original Fender stagger was for a wound G string and what most would consider medium or heavy strings these days. When I first started buying and trading vintage guitars in the 60's it was most usual to find an old Tele or Strat strung with medium to heavy strings with a wound G string...often flatwounds.
Even George Harrison used a wound G string!
Lew
I base my decision of whether to use flat or staggered on what I want the guitar to sound like and not on the fingerboard radius. If I want the brighter, glassier, bubblier tone of a vintage Strat I go for staggered. If I'm after a thicker, chunkier tone with less glass to the highs I go for flat.
The original Fender stagger was for a wound G string and what most would consider medium or heavy strings these days. When I first started buying and trading vintage guitars in the 60's it was most usual to find an old Tele or Strat strung with medium to heavy strings with a wound G string...often flatwounds.
Even George Harrison used a wound G string!
Lew
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: 9.5" radius = Flat or Staggered?
My favorite singles to go with a humbucker in an HSS guitar is Fender Fat 50's, but since many HSS guitars have flat radius necks like 12", flat poles would make more sense. I just looked at the new Fender Showmasters, which feature a Duncan JB or 59 along with Fat 50's. The 2005 ones have flat poles, while the older Showmasters had Fat 50's with staggered poles. I guess Fender addressed that issue.
Me? I could care less. They all look and sound fine, as long as you've got the height adjusted OK. That's one thing I'm not that anal about.
My favorite singles to go with a humbucker in an HSS guitar is Fender Fat 50's, but since many HSS guitars have flat radius necks like 12", flat poles would make more sense. I just looked at the new Fender Showmasters, which feature a Duncan JB or 59 along with Fat 50's. The 2005 ones have flat poles, while the older Showmasters had Fat 50's with staggered poles. I guess Fender addressed that issue.
Me? I could care less. They all look and sound fine, as long as you've got the height adjusted OK. That's one thing I'm not that anal about.
Guitar Toad
Toadily Stratologist
Re: 9.5" radius = Flat or Staggered?
Are flat pole appropriate for the bridge whereas staggered are appropriate for the neck an d middle?
The Neck radius doesn't really apply at the bridge does it since the strings are flatter?
Or is the issue that each string requires a unique pole height?
Are flat pole appropriate for the bridge whereas staggered are appropriate for the neck an d middle?
The Neck radius doesn't really apply at the bridge does it since the strings are flatter?
Or is the issue that each string requires a unique pole height?
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: 9.5" radius = Flat or Staggered?
I prefer the LOOK of the stagger, myself ...
Sonically, it's up to you, man.
I prefer the LOOK of the stagger, myself ...
Sonically, it's up to you, man.
Guitar Toad
Toadily Stratologist
Re: 9.5" radius = Flat or Staggered?
yes, I love the look of '70 Camaro Rally sport, big tires on the back...I see what your saying!TwilightOdyssey said:
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