compound radius necks have to be the worst idea ever.

Xeromus

Tone Ninja
They just feel so awkward and retarded, counterproductive. They seem more like a marketing gimmick than a useful feature. Anyone actually like these?
 
Re: compound radius necks have to be the worst idea ever.

the guy who invented fire said:
are you for real?!?

I've never played one I liked, the warmoth one is worse than most. The 10"-13" compound radius on my parker is enough for me to consider selling it. It could just be me, but I don't see how anyone could like these.
 
Re: compound radius necks have to be the worst idea ever.

Xeromus said:
I've never played one I liked, the warmoth one is worse than most. The 10"-13" compound radius on my parker is enough for me to consider selling it. It could just be me, but I don't see how anyone could like these.


Thats wild...I do not own a guitar with a compound radius now, but I have always thought it was a cool feature.
 
Re: compound radius necks have to be the worst idea ever.

the guy who invented fire said:
Thats wild...I do not own a guitar with a compound radius now, but I have always thought it was a cool feature.

They make it sound like the next step in neck evolution but it's also a nightmare for the guys who refret and/or finish the frets on your guitar. I know my tech hates the hell out of them too.

Flat radius is just the way to go, especially for me
 
Re: compound radius necks have to be the worst idea ever.

my left hand can only agree with usacg's 7.25" to 9.5" compound radius.
 
Re: compound radius necks have to be the worst idea ever.

dani said:
my left hand can only agree with usacg's 7.25" to 9.5" compound radius.

wow I couldn't imagine using something with that steep of an angle. I usually have to go 12-14"
 
Re: compound radius necks have to be the worst idea ever.

I have a Warmoth with a compound radius neck. I personally think it's a great idea and a big improvement over a standard straight radius. I really don't notice the change in radius while I'm playing, I just notice that I can play comfortably all over the neck. I agree that fret work is more difficult on these necks, which is one of the reasons I opted for stainless steel frets. I'm used to playing on flatter radius necks, which is probably why it doesn't bother me. If I were used to playing on vintage Fender necks, I'm sure I'd have a hard time adjusting to playing on a compound radius neck.

Ryan
 
Re: compound radius necks have to be the worst idea ever.

7.25" (aka fender vintage neck radius) is really nice for chording. it goes all the way to 9.5" (aka fender american standard neck radius) to facilitate bends without fretting out. its really comfortable imo since i am more of a fender guy. but ymmv.

contrary to popular belief, bridge radius is really important to compound radius necks. take warmoth's 10" to 16". nut radius would be 10" but the bridge radius is definitely not 16" but close to 20". (you can derive the bridge radius from the formula for calculating cones.) this is vital for a guitar's setup. maybe that's the reason why it feels wierd.

that said, only bridges with individual saddles that can be radial adjusted may apply for compound radius. fyi, the bridge radius for usagc's compound radius falls near 12". which includes most fr-type trems and t-o-ms.
 
Re: compound radius necks have to be the worst idea ever.

I loved compound radius necks ever since I first tried one. The best way to describe it, for me, is that it just feels much more comfortable. I don't seem to notice the radius at all.

However, when I go back to my SG or my 1980's Kramer, I immediately notice their flatter radii in the lower frets. Chording up there isn't nearly as comfortable.

Is fret dressing your only gribe with compoud radius necks, or do you honestly find them less comfortable?
 
Re: compound radius necks have to be the worst idea ever.

MattPete said:
I loved compound radius necks ever since I first tried one. The best way to describe it, for me, is that it just feels much more comfortable. I don't seem to notice the radius at all.

However, when I go back to my SG or my 1980's Kramer, I immediately notice their flatter radii in the lower frets. Chording up there isn't nearly as comfortable.

Is fret dressing your only gribe with compoud radius necks, or do you honestly find them less comfortable?

I really find them VERY uncomfortable. I can't say for sure why. When I play lower on the fretboard things get all weird for me.
 
Re: compound radius necks have to be the worst idea ever.

Xeromus said:
Flat radius is just the way to go, especially for me
if you like a flat radius, use a flat radius
 
Re: compound radius necks have to be the worst idea ever.

I LOVE the compound radius of my Soloists, it´s part of what makes them perfect :headbang:

As far as being harder to refret or dress: :bsflag: .I do all of my own work (duh, as a luthier) and if you´re not one of those "new school" techs that needs radius blocks and a fret-bender to get the radius right then it is not one bit different from any other guitar ;)
 
Re: compound radius necks have to be the worst idea ever.

I didn't know the soloists have a compound radius, thought it was like a flat 16" or similar
 
Re: compound radius necks have to be the worst idea ever.

Zerberus said:
and if you´re not one of those "new school" techs that needs radius blocks and a fret-bender to get the radius right then it is not one bit different from any other guitar ;)

Hahaha, I own and use both a radius block and a fret bender. :laugh2:

Actually though, you're right, it's not necessarily harder, but it would take longer if you had to measure the radius at each point on the neck and then bend the wire to match. I don't think I would want to do a fret level on one though, I'm probably not experienced enough with fretwork to pull that off on a compound radius neck.

Ryan
 
Re: compound radius necks have to be the worst idea ever.

I like my compound radius neck from Warmoth, but everyone has different tastes.
 
Re: compound radius necks have to be the worst idea ever.

If you mean the Fender MiM Tele Deluxe in the Classic Series, then it should be 7.25" radius, but if you mean any of the Deluxe Series Strats or Teles, then they should be 9.5". The 9.5" radius works well for me, so that gets my vote in the guitarist's version of Goldilocks.
 
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