Is it easier to play fast runs on a flat radius?
- Thread starter keano12
- Start date
fatigueofheart
New member
Re: Is it easier to play fast runs on a flat radius?
yes....
yes....
mnbaseball91
New member
Re: Is it easier to play fast runs on a flat radius?
Absolutely. I love the 16" radius on my Schecter.
Absolutely. I love the 16" radius on my Schecter.
kevlar3000
Bullet Proof Toneologist
Re: Is it easier to play fast runs on a flat radius?
For me know, I think it is because I have always played Fender type necks. A flat radius makes me a bit sloppier, not a feel I like, I am sure with some time I would be fine. I am a 7.5 C person.
For me know, I think it is because I have always played Fender type necks. A flat radius makes me a bit sloppier, not a feel I like, I am sure with some time I would be fine. I am a 7.5 C person.
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: Is it easier to play fast runs on a flat radius?
It's easier to do bluesy bends for me without notes fretting out on the 9.5 and 12" radius necks,but I don't think i'm any slower up and down the neck on the 7.25" radius..The vintage radius is very comfy and like an ole friend to me....Gibsons are another story and the whole feel and everything changes once I pick that guitar up..
It's easier to do bluesy bends for me without notes fretting out on the 9.5 and 12" radius necks,but I don't think i'm any slower up and down the neck on the 7.25" radius..The vintage radius is very comfy and like an ole friend to me....Gibsons are another story and the whole feel and everything changes once I pick that guitar up..
fatigueofheart
New member
Re: Is it easier to play fast runs on a flat radius?
depends on how fast, if you're do some moderate runs...blues licks, then it won't make as much as a diff as doing some shred licks....
depends on how fast, if you're do some moderate runs...blues licks, then it won't make as much as a diff as doing some shred licks....
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: Is it easier to play fast runs on a flat radius?
Dave....Alot of your older players prefer the vintage radius because they grew up playing on those necks...The flatter radius stuff is all 80's stuff....
Mincer said:
Dave....Alot of your older players prefer the vintage radius because they grew up playing on those necks...The flatter radius stuff is all 80's stuff....
Zerberus
Baron Von Shred
Re: Is it easier to play fast runs on a flat radius?
Actually, the reason that Fender did this (Flatten their "standard" radius to 9.5" ) was to reduce fretting out on bends, nost notably on minor thirds above the 12th fret, because this was the main complaint from many, particularly blues and country players. But then others started complaining that it wasn´t comfortable for chording anymore, so to this day Fender makes both :22:
I´d say it depends on style, and even more importantly on body mechanics: If you barely ever bend, then you´ll probably have a similar action on a vintage radius neck to what I have on my Jacksons, making it just as effortless to play....IF your hand´s mechanics of movement prefer the greater radius of a vintage board. For example: If you´re coming from a steel-string acoustic background....
If on the other hand your background is classical, you´ll almost certainly prefer a flatter fretboard.... If you´ve played electrics from day 1, it will mostly depend on what you´re used to.
Different strokes for different folks....The neck PROFILE however makes a huge difference in speed
Mincer said:
Actually, the reason that Fender did this (Flatten their "standard" radius to 9.5" ) was to reduce fretting out on bends, nost notably on minor thirds above the 12th fret, because this was the main complaint from many, particularly blues and country players. But then others started complaining that it wasn´t comfortable for chording anymore, so to this day Fender makes both :22:
I´d say it depends on style, and even more importantly on body mechanics: If you barely ever bend, then you´ll probably have a similar action on a vintage radius neck to what I have on my Jacksons, making it just as effortless to play....IF your hand´s mechanics of movement prefer the greater radius of a vintage board. For example: If you´re coming from a steel-string acoustic background....
If on the other hand your background is classical, you´ll almost certainly prefer a flatter fretboard.... If you´ve played electrics from day 1, it will mostly depend on what you´re used to.
Different strokes for different folks....The neck PROFILE however makes a huge difference in speed
JeffB
Let it B
Re: Is it easier to play fast runs on a flat radius?
In general, I think the answer is "yes". Certainly is for me. I prefer a flatter radius or a compound radius like on the Jackson necks.
Profile is very important as is fret size and (duh) action.
I tend to set my guitars up with as little relief as possible...flatter the better. and I like Jumbo frets.
As much as I loved the tone and mojo of my strat, it def was not much fun to play on a day to day basis for me. Medium type frets, and 9.5" radius didn't work for me.
That said, my Gibson and Jackson play much easier for me than the super flat radius that is on the Wolfgang I just sold. Frets are not jumbo, so that could be the culprit. (?) But most likely my issue there is with the Floyd. I love trrems, but I just cannot get comfy on a trem of any type (or a flat hardtail) and my playing suffers...I NEED a tune-o-matic.
:end rambling:
In general, I think the answer is "yes". Certainly is for me. I prefer a flatter radius or a compound radius like on the Jackson necks.
Profile is very important as is fret size and (duh) action.
I tend to set my guitars up with as little relief as possible...flatter the better. and I like Jumbo frets.
As much as I loved the tone and mojo of my strat, it def was not much fun to play on a day to day basis for me. Medium type frets, and 9.5" radius didn't work for me.
That said, my Gibson and Jackson play much easier for me than the super flat radius that is on the Wolfgang I just sold. Frets are not jumbo, so that could be the culprit. (?) But most likely my issue there is with the Floyd. I love trrems, but I just cannot get comfy on a trem of any type (or a flat hardtail) and my playing suffers...I NEED a tune-o-matic.
:end rambling:
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: Is it easier to play fast runs on a flat radius?
I've solved these problems by having many guitars....I have 6 strats....Some are 9.5, 2 are 12" radius early 80's necks and the rest are 7.25"......Then there's the Teles and the Gibson and Tokai guitars which are both 12" radius....Chording is great on the 7.25" radius,but the whole step bends or above at the 12th to 15th fret areas are easier on 9.5" and above for me...
When I refret my 7.25" radius guitars,I'm going with medium jumbo frets and I'll have the radius tapered from 7.25" to around 10" in the higher registers....I Like the vintage "nail" frets,but I like bending and shaking on bigger frets...
I've solved these problems by having many guitars....I have 6 strats....Some are 9.5, 2 are 12" radius early 80's necks and the rest are 7.25"......Then there's the Teles and the Gibson and Tokai guitars which are both 12" radius....Chording is great on the 7.25" radius,but the whole step bends or above at the 12th to 15th fret areas are easier on 9.5" and above for me...
When I refret my 7.25" radius guitars,I'm going with medium jumbo frets and I'll have the radius tapered from 7.25" to around 10" in the higher registers....I Like the vintage "nail" frets,but I like bending and shaking on bigger frets...
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STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: Is it easier to play fast runs on a flat radius?
"Fenders are 9.5" radius, G&L Legacy is 12", Gibson Les Paul 10", Wolfgang 15"."
Most Les Pauls are 12" radius....
"Fenders are 9.5" radius, G&L Legacy is 12", Gibson Les Paul 10", Wolfgang 15"."
Most Les Pauls are 12" radius....
Xeromus
Tone Ninja
Re: Is it easier to play fast runs on a flat radius?
Almost all Schecters are 14"
Almost all Gibsons/Les Pauls are 12"
Fender strats/teles are generally usually 7.25" or 9.5"
Many misconceptions here.
My two favorite radii are 14" and 12". Anything shorter is too rounder, anything longer is too flat. I think 12" is the best compromise out there.
Almost all Schecters are 14"
Almost all Gibsons/Les Pauls are 12"
Fender strats/teles are generally usually 7.25" or 9.5"
Many misconceptions here.
My two favorite radii are 14" and 12". Anything shorter is too rounder, anything longer is too flat. I think 12" is the best compromise out there.
O
Old Ghost
Guest
Re: Is it easier to play fast runs on a flat radius?
Yes.keano12 said:
Quencho092
New member
Re: Is it easier to play fast runs on a flat radius?
im more comfortable with 9.25 and i used to play a wizard neck. the roundness is nice.
im more comfortable with 9.25 and i used to play a wizard neck. the roundness is nice.
mnbaseball91
New member
Re: Is it easier to play fast runs on a flat radius?
Xeromus said:
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