Neck radius?
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AniML
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Re: Neck radius?
It represents the curve of the fretboard as it would fit as a segment on the arc of a circle. So a 7.5" fretboard follows the curve of a 7.5" circle. Likewise a 16" fretboard follws the curvature of a 16" circle. You can easily picture the curvature of a segment of a larger circle is flatter than that of a smaller circle.
It represents the curve of the fretboard as it would fit as a segment on the arc of a circle. So a 7.5" fretboard follows the curve of a 7.5" circle. Likewise a 16" fretboard follws the curvature of a 16" circle. You can easily picture the curvature of a segment of a larger circle is flatter than that of a smaller circle.
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CTN
The Drama Dude
Re: Neck radius?
as the name implies, radius of a fretboard is a measurement based on an arc segment of a circle, which has a radius of the aforementioned measurement.
7.5" radius circle yields a 7.5" radius fretboard.
Higher number = less curved board.
Vintage Fender's are usually 7.5", modern Fenders are 9.5", Gibson is usually 12", Ibanez shred sticks are usually 16", Jacksons are usually either 16" or 12-16" compound radius. I might be slightly off on those, but I think they're more or less correct.
My favourite is 12" radius. Not too curved that notes fret out on bends, and not so flat that it feels non-ergonomic. It's nice for chordwork, good for leads, riffing, whatever. It's the do-all radius imo.
as the name implies, radius of a fretboard is a measurement based on an arc segment of a circle, which has a radius of the aforementioned measurement.
7.5" radius circle yields a 7.5" radius fretboard.
Higher number = less curved board.
Vintage Fender's are usually 7.5", modern Fenders are 9.5", Gibson is usually 12", Ibanez shred sticks are usually 16", Jacksons are usually either 16" or 12-16" compound radius. I might be slightly off on those, but I think they're more or less correct.
My favourite is 12" radius. Not too curved that notes fret out on bends, and not so flat that it feels non-ergonomic. It's nice for chordwork, good for leads, riffing, whatever. It's the do-all radius imo.
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Re: Neck radius?
I think a lot of Ibanez's are also quite flat (around 14" or so). In general, flat means easy bends and good for soloing, but not so nice for chord playing in the lower fret areas. ON the other hand a round fretboard lends itself exactly to playing nice chords in the lower frets, but can choke bends.
That's the theory. You need to take the frets into consideration as well though, and they can compensate or emphasize things. A lot of it boils down to preferences. One player might want a Ibanez superthin neck, very flat, with jumbo frets, another a vintage Fender fatty neck, very round with spaghetti frets. For example, I dislike superflat necks - I feel a bit of curve is needed for my hand to feel comfy.
Most necks nowadays follow the middle path anyway, with a generally quite comfy neck that works for most playing styles.
I think a lot of Ibanez's are also quite flat (around 14" or so). In general, flat means easy bends and good for soloing, but not so nice for chord playing in the lower fret areas. ON the other hand a round fretboard lends itself exactly to playing nice chords in the lower frets, but can choke bends.
That's the theory. You need to take the frets into consideration as well though, and they can compensate or emphasize things. A lot of it boils down to preferences. One player might want a Ibanez superthin neck, very flat, with jumbo frets, another a vintage Fender fatty neck, very round with spaghetti frets. For example, I dislike superflat necks - I feel a bit of curve is needed for my hand to feel comfy.
Most necks nowadays follow the middle path anyway, with a generally quite comfy neck that works for most playing styles.
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: Neck radius?
The round fret board radius of the old Fenders lends itself well to playing 1st position chords and for lead players that like to wrap their thumbs around the neck and cradle the neck within their hands. On the other hand it doesn't lend itself as well to wide string bending-at least not with small frets. The modern Fender radius lends itself better to string bending, low action, fat frets, and light strings than the old 7.5 or less and players who anchor their thumbs on the back of the neck more. The early Charvels went to an 11" radius and wider fret board to meet the needs of then younger players who wanted a Fender type guitar and look, but couldn't live with the round Fender radius. That was a major reason why the super strat became such an success when it did. After awhile Charvel settled on a 12-16" compound radius. Ibanez took it flatter and thinner yet. Warmoth uses a 10-16 compound radius that seems to work for many. I like the 11"-12" radius.
The round fret board radius of the old Fenders lends itself well to playing 1st position chords and for lead players that like to wrap their thumbs around the neck and cradle the neck within their hands. On the other hand it doesn't lend itself as well to wide string bending-at least not with small frets. The modern Fender radius lends itself better to string bending, low action, fat frets, and light strings than the old 7.5 or less and players who anchor their thumbs on the back of the neck more. The early Charvels went to an 11" radius and wider fret board to meet the needs of then younger players who wanted a Fender type guitar and look, but couldn't live with the round Fender radius. That was a major reason why the super strat became such an success when it did. After awhile Charvel settled on a 12-16" compound radius. Ibanez took it flatter and thinner yet. Warmoth uses a 10-16 compound radius that seems to work for many. I like the 11"-12" radius.
ItsaBass
New member
Ascension
Well-known member
Re: Neck radius?
Radius is the curve of the fretboard. A 10 Radius is the same curve as that section of a circle 20 inches in diameter as radius is 1/2 the total diameter of a circle.
Higher the radius the flatter the board. Most of what you have is going to have a flatter radius. Your old Carvins (they went to a 12 around 2000 but used 16 from 86 till then) and the Ibanez stuff you have is going to be a 16 radius. According to my radius gauge my MG USA's are 20's and the A-30 a 16. Gibson uses a 12 PRS 10 most older Fenders 9.5 or 7.5.
Makes a difference in the way a guitar plays and I had real fits with the PRS at first because it was a 10 radius and felt "off" when playing melodic stuff up high.
Radius is the curve of the fretboard. A 10 Radius is the same curve as that section of a circle 20 inches in diameter as radius is 1/2 the total diameter of a circle.
Higher the radius the flatter the board. Most of what you have is going to have a flatter radius. Your old Carvins (they went to a 12 around 2000 but used 16 from 86 till then) and the Ibanez stuff you have is going to be a 16 radius. According to my radius gauge my MG USA's are 20's and the A-30 a 16. Gibson uses a 12 PRS 10 most older Fenders 9.5 or 7.5.
Makes a difference in the way a guitar plays and I had real fits with the PRS at first because it was a 10 radius and felt "off" when playing melodic stuff up high.
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AniML
New member
Re: Neck radius?
I was responding to this thread while 99% of my brain was deeply engrossed in work (writing sofware), but trying to take a breather. I later came back and read what I wrote and could not believe I could have such a flair to miss the obvious.
Lesson learned: Do not think about mathematical stuff while trying to take a break from real work :scratchch
I was responding to this thread while 99% of my brain was deeply engrossed in work (writing sofware), but trying to take a breather. I later came back and read what I wrote and could not believe I could have such a flair to miss the obvious.
Lesson learned: Do not think about mathematical stuff while trying to take a break from real work :scratchch
Ascension
Well-known member
Re: Neck radius?
Radius is normally 1/2 the diameter of a circle so 10 radius is the curvature of a section of a 20 diameter circle.
From Wikipedia
In classical geometry, a radius of a circle or sphere is any line segment from its center to its perimeter. By extension, the radius of a circle or sphere is the length of any such segment, which is half the diameter
Radius is normally 1/2 the diameter of a circle so 10 radius is the curvature of a section of a 20 diameter circle.
From Wikipedia
In classical geometry, a radius of a circle or sphere is any line segment from its center to its perimeter. By extension, the radius of a circle or sphere is the length of any such segment, which is half the diameter
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tubecrunch
New member
Re: Neck radius?
Chords are supposed to be easier on the smaller radius, as previously stated... Fwiw, I can't even play chords on those damn things. I'm not happy unless its at least 10", preferably 12".
Chords are supposed to be easier on the smaller radius, as previously stated... Fwiw, I can't even play chords on those damn things. I'm not happy unless its at least 10", preferably 12".
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Neck radius?
Dude; I wasn't seriously busting your balls. I just thought it was hilarious.
Dude; I wasn't seriously busting your balls. I just thought it was hilarious.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Neck radius?
A neck swap will do that for you. But I have to ask, why did you end up getting a '54 reissue? One of the main defining characteristics of old Fenders is the short radius fretboards. It is usually the main functional thing that differentiates a "reissue" from most other Fender models.
A neck swap will do that for you. But I have to ask, why did you end up getting a '54 reissue? One of the main defining characteristics of old Fenders is the short radius fretboards. It is usually the main functional thing that differentiates a "reissue" from most other Fender models.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Neck radius?
If you want 7-1/2, you can get it in a custom-ordered G&L. Fenders are 7-1/4. Nobody could tell the difference between the two, but I'm just sayin'...
If you want 7-1/2, you can get it in a custom-ordered G&L. Fenders are 7-1/4. Nobody could tell the difference between the two, but I'm just sayin'...
AniML
New member
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