Compound radius - thoughts?

[darkshadow54321]

I've always wondered about this... is there any noticeable difference when moving up the neck?

For instance, would I think "hey, this feels flatter"?

In theory, it sounds like an excellent idea, but does it have any practical flaws? It's pretty difficult to find a guitar to try out as very few factory models come stock with a compound radius. (Is it true that the Jackson SL1 soloist has one?)

I was thinking about a 10-16 radius by the way.

 

[JimiHWannaBe]

Re: Compound radius - thoughts?

i have fender with a compound radius warmoth neck. im not sure on the specs but i cant notice any difference when moving up and down the neck

 

[darkshadow54321]

Re: Compound radius - thoughts?

i have fender with a compound radius warmoth neck. im not sure on the specs but i cant notice any difference when moving up and down the neck

Does it facilitate bending and playing in general?

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: Compound radius - thoughts?

the idea of a compound radius is to have the radius increase in the upper registers, with little or no difference in feel... at least it's not supposed to be noticeable when you're actually playing.

Does it facilitate bending and playing in general?

As described on Warmoth's site, smaller radii (Fender) are best for chording, while larger radii (Jackson) are best for lead playing and bends. In a compound radius neck/fretboard, the lower frets are made with a lower radius to allow for chording and such, while the higher frets are made for lead and bends. That doesn't mean you can't do these things on a lower radius, obviously, it's just a little more difficult.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Compound radius - thoughts?

Not only is bending on a tighter radius (anything less that about 9 inch is considered small) harder but the guitar will fretout more often unless you have a pretty high action, but a tight radius is pretty comfy for playing chords, a compound is great in a besty of both worlds kind of thing. The only realy problem I know of is I know some shops that will not re-fret or even dress a coumpound radius neck, and some of the ones that do sometimes charge more for it.

 

[Stratman]

Re: Compound radius - thoughts?

It's not really noticable, unless you go from Fender with a 7-1/2 radius and them to a Warmoth....

The compound just plays easier and nicer...

 

[54stratlover]

Re: Compound radius - thoughts?

I think the main advantage is no "fretting out" on the higher register. I have a warmoth neck with their compound radius, and it is a "fast" feelling neck. I like it.

 

[MattPete]

Re: Compound radius - thoughts?

They're so much more comfortable than flatter radius necks. When I built my first Warmoth, I had been playing a 1985 Kramer for years. The Warmoth neck instantly felt more comfortable than the Kramer when fretting chords near the nut.

 

[dani]

Re: Compound radius - thoughts?

using a compound radius neck will affect the setting up from the nut to the bridge and in turn the playability. in theory, if you use a 12" radius neck, you can file the nut slots as well as set the bridge to 12" radius. however, for a 10" to 16" compound radius, you will need to file the nut slots to 10", but bridge will not be 16". if you use the formula for calculating the radius of a cone, you will realize that the increase of 6" of radii from the nut to the 22nd fret will also cause an increase in radii from the 22nd fret to the bridge. therefore, the bridge will somewhat be very flat in radius (probably in the 20+ to 30" radii). not very suitable for fr/t.o.m style bridges. only bridge type suitable will be radius adjustable type.

just a thought.
dani

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Compound radius - thoughts?

it's a nightmare. Stay far away, it also feels super awkward and counterproductive. I just dont' like them.

 

[skh515]

Re: Compound radius - thoughts?

I did another little experiment. If the Warmoth compound radius is 10" at the nut and 16" at the 22 fret (as some one said), on a 25.5" scale the corresponding radius at the bridge would be 20.9."

I have seen an archtop bridge with a 20" radius, but must TOMs are more like 16" I believe. However, deepening the notches of the center saddles would allow you to flatten your radius. The difference in height between the E strings and the D and G strings is 0.024" on a 20.9" radius.

And of course, a fender style bridge can easily be adjusted to flat or even a concave radius.

I haven't tried one yet, but I probably will. Despite what Xeromus says. I was just waiting for you to chime in X!

 

[dani]

Re: Compound radius - thoughts?

i have both usacg's 7 1/4" to 9 1/2" and warmoth 10" to 16" compound radii necks, and i very much prefer usacg's. somehow, something doesn't feel right with the action when i was using my warmoth with on my strat with a ofr bridge. i have since sold the warmoth after getting usacg's with the said compound radius. somehow, they kind of fit the 12" radius of most fr and t-o-m type bridges. funny thing is, 9 1/2" does not fret out imo and mine has got unbelievable action. so i guess i won't need a 16". that said, the only compound radius i will go for is 7 1/4 to 9 1/2 after having tried both. either that or a straight 12".

my .02
dani

 

[Fresh_Start]

Re: Compound radius - thoughts?

i have both usacg's 7 1/4" to 9 1/2" and warmoth 10" to 16" compound radii necks, and i very much prefer usacg's. somehow, something doesn't feel right with the action when i was using my warmoth with on my strat with a ofr bridge. i have since sold the warmoth after getting usacg's with the said compound radius. somehow, they kind of fit the 12" radius of most fr and t-o-m type bridges. funny thing is, 9 1/2" does not fret out imo and mine has got unbelievable action. so i guess i won't need a 16". that said, the only compound radius i will go for is 7 1/4 to 9 1/2 after having tried both. either that or a straight 12".

my .02
dani

Worth more than 2 cents, IMHO. Knowing Tommy Rosamond, I doubt that USACG's compound radius fitting a standard 12" radius TOM is an accident

I really think you need individually adjustable saddles to work with a 10-16" compound radius. Filing deeper slots on the middle saddles just sounds like asking for trouble (read: buzzing, binding, etc.). That said, I like the feel of my Warmoth 10-16" neck with a Gotoh-Wilkinson tremelo bridge a lot. Does just what Warmoth says in terms of playability.

Chip

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Compound radius - thoughts?

If it works for you guys, great. It just feels really weird and uncomfortable to me for a reason, but by all means give it a shot and let me know what you think. Obviously a lot of people must like it if warmoth does it standard.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Compound radius - thoughts?

My experience is...

my Fender has a slim neck and a normal Fender radius, and makes my hand hurt after too long.

my Warmoth has their "boatneck" and a compound radius, and every time i play it, it melts to my hand like friggin butter.

-X

 

[dani]

Re: Compound radius - thoughts?

I really think you need individually adjustable saddles to work with a 10-16" compound radius. Filing deeper slots on the middle saddles just sounds like asking for trouble (read: buzzing, binding, etc.). That said, I like the feel of my Warmoth 10-16" neck with a Gotoh-Wilkinson tremelo bridge a lot. Does just what Warmoth says in terms of playability.

+1. go for individually adjustable saddles if going for warmoth 10" to 16" compound radius.

 

[darkshadow54321]

Re: Compound radius - thoughts?

Fantastic info guys!

Lots of food for thought there...

 

[MattPete]

Re: Compound radius - thoughts?

... the bridge will somewhat be very flat in radius (probably in the 20+ to 30" radii). not very suitable for fr/t.o.m style bridges. only bridge type suitable will be radius adjustable type.

just a thought.
dani

Yeah, my Warmoth in my avatar came with an OFR. The stock OFR settings had too much of a radius. There were some shims that came with my "The Key" intonation tool, and I spent the good part of an afternoon playing with various combinations of shims.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Compound radius - thoughts?

i have fender with a compound radius warmoth neck. im not sure on the specs but i cant notice any difference when moving up and down the neck

I have the same thing. I bought the Compound radius because it was recommended to me by a friend. If I had to do it again I would have gone another way. The CR neck is not a bad neck, but it doesn't feel like a Fender neck at all. It feels more like a Gibson. In the open position it feels OK, but the higher up you go the more it feels like a Gibson. The one I have I think is from 10" to 16". I also did not like the shape of the neck, so I spent a lot of time sanding and reshaping to get it comfortable. Now it plays a lot better, but it still fells more like a Gibson than a Fender.

 

[sonnyblu]

Re: Compound radius - thoughts?

Post Resurrection! I use 9 1/2" radius necks... But I set my actual string radius to 12".
Does anyone else do this?