Is a 14" fretboard radius a good "modern" compromise?
- Thread starter h3r3t1k
- Start date
eclecticsynergy
Well-known member
Re: Is a 14" fretboard radius a good "modern" compromise?
I'm pretty comfortable with various radii myself, can even play a classical with flat fretboard pretty comfortably. For me the only thing that really interferes is a very narrow neck. I have a couple of those but there are some chord structures I can't play on them.
However I recently exchanged messages with someone who's used to vintage radius and found the 14" radius on his Backlund 400 too uncomfortable to keep. Sad for him having to sell it- they're cool guitars. If I didn't have one already I'd buy his blue & white beauty myself.
Anyway, my advice would be to try and play a 14" radius for an hour or two before you order one. Everybody's hands are different and changes in spec that make little or no difference to one player can be prohibitive for another.
I'm pretty comfortable with various radii myself, can even play a classical with flat fretboard pretty comfortably. For me the only thing that really interferes is a very narrow neck. I have a couple of those but there are some chord structures I can't play on them.
However I recently exchanged messages with someone who's used to vintage radius and found the 14" radius on his Backlund 400 too uncomfortable to keep. Sad for him having to sell it- they're cool guitars. If I didn't have one already I'd buy his blue & white beauty myself.
Anyway, my advice would be to try and play a 14" radius for an hour or two before you order one. Everybody's hands are different and changes in spec that make little or no difference to one player can be prohibitive for another.
Re: Is a 14" fretboard radius a good "modern" compromise?
It's a lot about the relationship between the radius and the neck-depth/width.
I'm fine with 12"-18" wide-necks, and can tolerate drastically different depths. (anything under 21mm at the 1st-fret)
Right in the middle of my range is what I really prefer (14"-16"), with a 43mm width and an 18mm-19mm depth.
It's a lot about the relationship between the radius and the neck-depth/width.
I'm fine with 12"-18" wide-necks, and can tolerate drastically different depths. (anything under 21mm at the 1st-fret)
Right in the middle of my range is what I really prefer (14"-16"), with a 43mm width and an 18mm-19mm depth.
Re: Is a 14" fretboard radius a good "modern" compromise?
14" is already pretty flat to be honest. The difference in feel between, for example, 7" and 9" is much greater than 9' to 10 or 10 to 12 or even 14 to 16. The higher the number, the less you feel the difference compared to the radius coming after or before it.
to me, 12'' is the perfect middle ground between super classic and modern. Maybe even 10''.
14" is already pretty flat to be honest. The difference in feel between, for example, 7" and 9" is much greater than 9' to 10 or 10 to 12 or even 14 to 16. The higher the number, the less you feel the difference compared to the radius coming after or before it.
to me, 12'' is the perfect middle ground between super classic and modern. Maybe even 10''.
Re: Is a 14" fretboard radius a good "modern" compromise?
I am not that sensitive to a radius, although I notice it more when I go to the vintage Fender radius. I am not one who thinks 12 is a whole lot different than 16, though. I've played compound radius boards that were comfortable, and some that were not. I am much more sensitive to the width and depth of the neck than the radius.
I am not that sensitive to a radius, although I notice it more when I go to the vintage Fender radius. I am not one who thinks 12 is a whole lot different than 16, though. I've played compound radius boards that were comfortable, and some that were not. I am much more sensitive to the width and depth of the neck than the radius.
dystrust
Well-known member
Re: Is a 14" fretboard radius a good "modern" compromise?
Lots of good points already...
I can play a 14" radius, but it's flatter than I'd want if I were ordering a custom build. The only radius I can't stand to play is the vintage 7.25; I won't keep anything more round than the "modern" Fender 9.5.
Also agreed that nut width, depth, and back shape make a much bigger difference. I have pretty big hands, so I can't stand either 1 5/8 or 1 9/16 nut widths. My preference is 1 11/16 but I can deal with a bit wider if necessary. In terms of back shape, I like a soft-V to C shape; a D or U shape has more shoulder than I like. When it comes to thickness I like between about .850 and .900 at the first fret. I can play bigger than that (like my 335), but I really can't do smaller. The smallest necks I can get along with are on my 80s MIJ Charvels; Ibanez Wizard necks are just too small to be comfortable.
My ideal neck would be a 10" radius, 1 11/16 nut with a soft V shape around .900 at the first fret. It'd blend into a C shape around the 7th to 9th fret and be close to 1" thick at the 12th fret.
Lots of good points already...
I can play a 14" radius, but it's flatter than I'd want if I were ordering a custom build. The only radius I can't stand to play is the vintage 7.25; I won't keep anything more round than the "modern" Fender 9.5.
Also agreed that nut width, depth, and back shape make a much bigger difference. I have pretty big hands, so I can't stand either 1 5/8 or 1 9/16 nut widths. My preference is 1 11/16 but I can deal with a bit wider if necessary. In terms of back shape, I like a soft-V to C shape; a D or U shape has more shoulder than I like. When it comes to thickness I like between about .850 and .900 at the first fret. I can play bigger than that (like my 335), but I really can't do smaller. The smallest necks I can get along with are on my 80s MIJ Charvels; Ibanez Wizard necks are just too small to be comfortable.
My ideal neck would be a 10" radius, 1 11/16 nut with a soft V shape around .900 at the first fret. It'd blend into a C shape around the 7th to 9th fret and be close to 1" thick at the 12th fret.
dystrust
Well-known member
Re: Is a 14" fretboard radius a good "modern" compromise?
The Charvels I mentioned in my post are 12-16" compound and honestly I don't feel it as I play. It's just a really comfortable neck to play on, especially higher up the neck. It's a little flatter than I really like near the nut, but not an issue unless I'm playing a lot of barre chords for an extended session.
The Charvels I mentioned in my post are 12-16" compound and honestly I don't feel it as I play. It's just a really comfortable neck to play on, especially higher up the neck. It's a little flatter than I really like near the nut, but not an issue unless I'm playing a lot of barre chords for an extended session.
Jackson Distortion
New member
Re: Is a 14" fretboard radius a good "modern" compromise?
14" is what I like to refer as a 'shredder's radius' - for those who like to shred while placing their thumb firmly behind the neck. 14" is too flat for me as I routinely switch between cowboy chords and blinding shred in an instant. 12" is preferable.
14" is what I like to refer as a 'shredder's radius' - for those who like to shred while placing their thumb firmly behind the neck. 14" is too flat for me as I routinely switch between cowboy chords and blinding shred in an instant. 12" is preferable.
Re: Is a 14" fretboard radius a good "modern" compromise?
Wow! How could you possibly play an 18" wide neck? That's even wider than the body of every guitar I'm familiar with.
Wow! How could you possibly play an 18" wide neck? That's even wider than the body of every guitar I'm familiar with.
Re: Is a 14" fretboard radius a good "modern" compromise?
18" wide-neck, not 18"-wide neck lol
I'm getting just about too old to even carry one of those crazy 8-string calamities.
18" wide-neck, not 18"-wide neck lol
I'm getting just about too old to even carry one of those crazy 8-string calamities.
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: Is a 14" fretboard radius a good "modern" compromise?
I now use mostly G&L, Gibson and Ibanez electrics with 12" radius boards, after years or using vintage Fenders. I can't comfortably go back to the small radius now.
I've never played a 14", but I do play Martin acoustics which 16" and I like that for acoustic. I do have a Les Paul with a compound 12--16" radius. I like it, it is comfortable, but I don't think a compound radius neck is the end-all, be-all.
For me 12" is about as flat as I want to go.
Bill
I now use mostly G&L, Gibson and Ibanez electrics with 12" radius boards, after years or using vintage Fenders. I can't comfortably go back to the small radius now.
I've never played a 14", but I do play Martin acoustics which 16" and I like that for acoustic. I do have a Les Paul with a compound 12--16" radius. I like it, it is comfortable, but I don't think a compound radius neck is the end-all, be-all.
For me 12" is about as flat as I want to go.
Bill
Re: Is a 14" fretboard radius a good "modern" compromise?
Sorry.
So I assume you meant 18" radius fretboard wide-neck, then.
Sorry.
So I assume you meant 18" radius fretboard wide-neck, then.
Re: Is a 14" fretboard radius a good "modern" compromise?
I have one guitar with 14" radius. Everything else is 12" at the moment. Not a fan of that guitar but it's playable and it's probably more the slim neck than the radius that I dislike. But I would assume that it's more likely to see flatter radii with slimmer necks. Point being, radius alone may not tell the entire story.
I have one guitar with 14" radius. Everything else is 12" at the moment. Not a fan of that guitar but it's playable and it's probably more the slim neck than the radius that I dislike. But I would assume that it's more likely to see flatter radii with slimmer necks. Point being, radius alone may not tell the entire story.
Re: Is a 14" fretboard radius a good "modern" compromise?
Yes, although my flattest are the prestige's metric-17", but I think I'd still be OK up to about 18".
The 17" are almost as flat as I'd ever want though, and I just can't stand less than 12" radius.
Yes, although my flattest are the prestige's metric-17", but I think I'd still be OK up to about 18".
The 17" are almost as flat as I'd ever want though, and I just can't stand less than 12" radius.
