I Think My Neck Radius Preference Is in the Minority Here

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Last night I was playing a lot of stones stuff on my ASAT -- you know those Keef barre chords like you hear on "Brown Sugar" and "Start Me Up." Didn't take long before my fingers started to hurt -- not a tired, aching hurt, but a hurt like the edges of the fingerboard were digging into my index finger. I think the deal is I prefer a vintage radius (around 7-1/4"), and this neck has a 12" radius. My fingers are on the bony side, and I don't think they play well with flat neck radii.

Seems to me there are lots of folks on this board who prefer a flatter neck radius, which puts me in the minority. Am I right?

- Keith

 

[theodie]

Re: I Think My Neck Radius Preference Is in the Minority Here

Last night I was playing a lot of stones stuff on my ASAT -- you know those Keef barre chords like you hear on "Brown Sugar" and "Start Me Up." Didn't take long before my fingers started to hurt -- not a tired, aching hurt, but a hurt like the edges of the fingerboard were digging into my index finger. I think the deal is I prefer a vintage radius (around 7-1/2"), and this neck has a 12" radius. My fingers are on the bony side, and I don't think they play well with flat neck radii.

Seems to me there are lots of folks on this board who prefer a flatter neck radius, which puts me in the minority. Am I right?

- Keith

No, you are not in the minority, you are just an oddball. LOL!

I know a few that really like 7.25, I cant handle it myself.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: I Think My Neck Radius Preference Is in the Minority Here

Maybe. It is known that rounder neck radii are more comfortable for chording.

The rounder necks seem to be only more comfortable for barr chords. I find that the flatter necks make chording funny Jazz shapes a little easier.

 

[ErikH]

Re: I Think My Neck Radius Preference Is in the Minority Here

Nah, you're just a freak. LOL (j/k)

I don't mind the 7 1/4" for chords, but for playing higher up on the neck, I much prefer 9 1/2" or flatter. My favorite is compound radius 10"-16". That is super comfortable. My Frankenstrat has that radius and I can play it all day without fatiguing my hand.

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: I Think My Neck Radius Preference Is in the Minority Here

I don't really care about neck radius it's just the thin vintage frets that usually come with 7.25 radius necks that bug me.

 

[scottish]

Re: I Think My Neck Radius Preference Is in the Minority Here

i cant stand 7.25" radius. i sold my clapton strat because i just couldnt get used to the vintage radius. i can live with 9.5" comfortably but my fave by far is 12"

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: I Think My Neck Radius Preference Is in the Minority Here

I don't know radius, I don't know the radius on any of my guitars, and it doesn't seem to affect me.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: I Think My Neck Radius Preference Is in the Minority Here

They are going inwards...but do not let that stop you
I love old radius...sometimes I wish that they where more curved than they are now....
7.25 feel like digging in to me....preferly with slighty bigger frets and it is a wonderful feel!

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: I Think My Neck Radius Preference Is in the Minority Here

They are going inwards...but do not let that stop you
I love old radius...sometimes I wish that they where more curved than they are now....
7.25 feel like digging in to me....preferly with slighty bigger frets and it is a wonderful feel!

Yeah, I know I prefer medium jumbo frets to vintage ones, but I like a 7.25" radius better, I think. The 12" is like a flat plank to me -- it almost feels like it's cupped up at the edges!

- Keith

 

[Johtosotku]

Re: I Think My Neck Radius Preference Is in the Minority Here

There is a difference too if the fingerboard edges are rolled. Could be that too. I sometimes get the aching pain if it's been a while since playing long with barre chords and I do it with a flatter fingerboard.

 

[danglybanger]

Re: I Think My Neck Radius Preference Is in the Minority Here

no one ever seems to be able to give a good reason WHY it's harder to play leads on a small radius neck.

Honestly I can't tell the difference between varying radiuses , except that it's much easier to makes chords on a smaller one, which I prefer.

Do people have to make 2 octave bends around the heel THAT often? Cause that's the only problem I can see arising... And on a well set up axe with good frets, that problem is minimized. Honestly between axes I probably couldn't tell, mostly, too many other factors.

 

[pinto79]

Re: I Think My Neck Radius Preference Is in the Minority Here

no one ever seems to be able to give a good reason WHY it's harder to play leads on a small radius neck.

Honestly I can't tell the difference between varying radiuses , except that it's much easier to makes chords on a smaller one, which I prefer.

Do people have to make 2 octave bends around the heel THAT often? Cause that's the only problem I can see arising... And on a well set up axe with good frets, that problem is minimized. Honestly between axes I probably couldn't tell, mostly, too many other factors.

It's not necessarily harder to play leads, what is harder is getting the action really low and still being able to bend without fretting out.

 

[uOpt]

Re: I Think My Neck Radius Preference Is in the Minority Here

I'm annoyed that my 12" Explorer radius is too round. I could have the action lower if it wasn't for bending out. I learned classical guitar first, so I have no problems with a barre on whatever radius.

What I don't like is the string too close tongether at the nut because then the barre with the ring finger messes with strings it shouldn't. And too thin necks.

 

[Fender_Punk]

Re: I Think My Neck Radius Preference Is in the Minority Here

I don't mind 7.25" and can deal with 12" but my favourite is 9.5. I would take a 7.25 over a 12 though.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: I Think My Neck Radius Preference Is in the Minority Here

I like the 9.5" radius on my MIM Tele necks. Anything flatter starts to feel too "classical" to me.

The wierd thing is, I don't get the frets thing - people get all worked up about the vintage frets (and I suspect they are the reason Xssive sold me the MIM neck in the first place). One of my necks has the vintage frets, and one has the more-recent medium frets and I don't notice a difference.

 

[danglybanger]

Re: I Think My Neck Radius Preference Is in the Minority Here

nor do I, except that they get in the way less.

I guess I've just never had trouble bending on a neck with a 7.25 and tiny frets, and barely notice if they're bigger/flatter except that **** gets in the way more?

 

[ErikH]

Re: I Think My Neck Radius Preference Is in the Minority Here

Try and play a lead up in the higher registers with a 7.25" radius and low action. You'll fret out when ya bend, and not two steps either, I'm talking one step. The only way to get the action lower in the upper fret area AND not fret out while bending is to have a flatter radius.

I like medium jumbo frets or even 6105's (taller but narrower than mj's) because I can get under the strings more for bending. It's a feel thing. To me, the medium jumbos don't take as much effort to hold a chord than the smaller frets do.

 

[Pierre]

Re: I Think My Neck Radius Preference Is in the Minority Here

12'' is slightly too flat for me. 9.5 is fine, but my ideal would be 10 or 10.5 I believe.


I'm a pretty small dude and I feel exactly what you need bro. I play with a not so low action so I can get away with a curvier radius which will make it all more comfortable. About the edges though, round them up You can do it yourself and there are a bunch of threads on the forum about this. You'll feel the difference.

As always though, if a guitar feels good, it feels good, no matter what the radius.

I like getting under the strings for bending too. All latest Fender Strats I played had the action too low, on a 9.5 radius, for me. Though I gotta say, kudos to Fender for some good setups lately, well dressed frets, no more messy nuts and a really comfortable, homeless feel. Not totally generic like some guitars can be.

 

[danglybanger]

Re: I Think My Neck Radius Preference Is in the Minority Here

Try and play a lead up in the higher registers with a 7.25" radius and low action. You'll fret out when ya bend, and not two steps either, I'm talking one step. The only way to get the action lower in the upper fret area AND not fret out while bending is to have a flatter radius.

I like medium jumbo frets or even 6105's (taller but narrower than mj's) because I can get under the strings more for bending. It's a feel thing. To me, the medium jumbos don't take as much effort to hold a chord than the smaller frets do.

I can go one step and that's all I'd want to do. I ONLY own axes with 7.25 so :laugh2:

I still really don't get taller frets. What, do people's fingers slide off the string with smaller ones? Big ones feel clunky.

 

[ErikH]

Re: I Think My Neck Radius Preference Is in the Minority Here

I can go one step and that's all I'd want to do. I ONLY own axes with 7.25 so :laugh2:

I still really don't get taller frets. What, do people's fingers slide off the string with smaller ones? Big ones feel clunky.

Then your action is higher than mine and you don't play like I do. There is no way I could play leads the way I do with high action on a 7.25" radius. The way you play, it may work for you. For me, not at all. It has to be flatter to be playable. Same with the frets. With the way I play, the smaller frets just don't cut it.