the radious on the neck
- Thread starter 123richie
- Start date
Re: the radious on the neck
bit hard to explain realy mate i like a good curved neck not to much and not to little. sorry for not explaing correctly
Robert Delahunt
Showmasterologist
Re: the radious on the neck
I have a 9.5" radius Lite Ash Stratocaster and a 16" radius Schecter C-1 Classic. I like both, for different reasons. No radius is perfect. To me, chords feel more natural on the strat, but leads more natural on the schecter. This is why they designed the compound radius fretboard: to try to give people the best of both worlds.
For the heck of it, the higher the number inch radius, the flatter it gets. A classical guitar neck is flat, so if you're wanting something close to that, get a 16" fretboard radius.
Also, I've found that my fingers don't like a thin neck with a high radius (i.e. more flat radius): I used to own a Fender Showmaster HH. Not any more. Still, if you practice with the guitar, regardless of what its neck is like (assuming it's in good condition), eventually you will adapt to it if you pay attention to what you are doing. I found this to be true in my own life. I used to prefer flat necks with flat radius like the Showmaster. After getting used to my Lite Ash, I found that more wood in the neck is actually better for ergonomics. Rather than adapt to the Showmaster, however, I went with the Schecter because I wanted a Jazz/JB pickup set again. I could've adapted to the Showmaster, and had basically adapted to it by then, but I wanted the Schecter.
This is the same philosophy as told by John Fogerty, previously of Credance Clearwater Revival. Once you practice on something, you get used to it. My advice would be to own one of each (a stratocaster-ish profile of 7.5 to 9.5 radius and a 16" radius guitar), based on the woods, pickups, and everything else, then adapt to it by practicing. I can't emphasize practice enough.
I have a 9.5" radius Lite Ash Stratocaster and a 16" radius Schecter C-1 Classic. I like both, for different reasons. No radius is perfect. To me, chords feel more natural on the strat, but leads more natural on the schecter. This is why they designed the compound radius fretboard: to try to give people the best of both worlds.
For the heck of it, the higher the number inch radius, the flatter it gets. A classical guitar neck is flat, so if you're wanting something close to that, get a 16" fretboard radius.
Also, I've found that my fingers don't like a thin neck with a high radius (i.e. more flat radius): I used to own a Fender Showmaster HH. Not any more. Still, if you practice with the guitar, regardless of what its neck is like (assuming it's in good condition), eventually you will adapt to it if you pay attention to what you are doing. I found this to be true in my own life. I used to prefer flat necks with flat radius like the Showmaster. After getting used to my Lite Ash, I found that more wood in the neck is actually better for ergonomics. Rather than adapt to the Showmaster, however, I went with the Schecter because I wanted a Jazz/JB pickup set again. I could've adapted to the Showmaster, and had basically adapted to it by then, but I wanted the Schecter.
This is the same philosophy as told by John Fogerty, previously of Credance Clearwater Revival. Once you practice on something, you get used to it. My advice would be to own one of each (a stratocaster-ish profile of 7.5 to 9.5 radius and a 16" radius guitar), based on the woods, pickups, and everything else, then adapt to it by practicing. I can't emphasize practice enough.
Pink Unicorn Horsey
Megä Pöny Rÿdr
Re: the radious on the neck
Does anyone put out a compound radius besides Warmoth?
Does anyone put out a compound radius besides Warmoth?
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: the radious on the neck
Several! Tommy at USACG does a MUCH better compound than Warmoth FWIW. I had a Warmoth compound radius once, hated it...never got it set up w/o buzzing and it felt "wrong".
Several! Tommy at USACG does a MUCH better compound than Warmoth FWIW. I had a Warmoth compound radius once, hated it...never got it set up w/o buzzing and it felt "wrong".
Ascension
Well-known member
Re: the radious on the neck
I'm uncomfortable with anything lower that a 12. I prefer 14-20 as I play a lot of single note stuff and bend a good bit. At one time I was looking at building a Custom Carvin V220 and it would have had a 20.
Right now all my Chicago Custom Washburn USA's are ether 14 or compound and both my Carvins are 15's. I don't own a single guitar (right now my count is 12 ) with anything under a 14.
I'm uncomfortable with anything lower that a 12. I prefer 14-20 as I play a lot of single note stuff and bend a good bit. At one time I was looking at building a Custom Carvin V220 and it would have had a 20.
Right now all my Chicago Custom Washburn USA's are ether 14 or compound and both my Carvins are 15's. I don't own a single guitar (right now my count is 12 ) with anything under a 14.
loudriver23
New member
Re: the radious on the neck
I prefer the 9.5 fender necks. A lifetime of playing them makes them feel like home. Of course I play other radius, on my acoustic, 335 copy, etc.....and it doesn't really bother me, but it never quite feels perfect like my strats do.
I prefer the 9.5 fender necks. A lifetime of playing them makes them feel like home. Of course I play other radius, on my acoustic, 335 copy, etc.....and it doesn't really bother me, but it never quite feels perfect like my strats do.
Dru Edwards
New member
Re: the radious on the neck
Like others here, I prefer a different radius for different reasons. Most of the music I play is metal and I like the 12" or higher ... or a compound radius ... with low action.
I like the 9.5" on my Strat so I can play more of the blues / SRV stuff and keep the action higher. Overall though, I prefer 12" - 16" with low action.
Like others here, I prefer a different radius for different reasons. Most of the music I play is metal and I like the 12" or higher ... or a compound radius ... with low action.
I like the 9.5" on my Strat so I can play more of the blues / SRV stuff and keep the action higher. Overall though, I prefer 12" - 16" with low action.
Shane28462
New member
Re: the radious on the neck
+ 1 on 12" Im not sure why unless its just what my first LP had and my current one's have
+ 1 on 12" Im not sure why unless its just what my first LP had and my current one's have
Fikealox
New member
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: the radious on the neck
The Les Paul Elegant has a compound radius, 12" to 14" I think. I used to have one and you could really monster bend with low action and not fret out. I wish all guitars were compound.
The Les Paul Elegant has a compound radius, 12" to 14" I think. I used to have one and you could really monster bend with low action and not fret out. I wish all guitars were compound.
Captain Crunch
New member
Re: the radious on the neck
my favorite neck radius is a 14 to 16 compound on my Jackson. I can bend with my action set LOW and never fret out. Also, i like the straight 16 radius on my JEM. It just feels great to play fast on
my favorite neck radius is a 14 to 16 compound on my Jackson. I can bend with my action set LOW and never fret out. Also, i like the straight 16 radius on my JEM. It just feels great to play fast on
theboatcandream
dreamonologist
Re: the radious on the neck
12" is good. Flat is good as well. Anything less than 12" (7.5", 9.5") is very painful for me.
12" is good. Flat is good as well. Anything less than 12" (7.5", 9.5") is very painful for me.
Petrovsk Mizinski
New member
Re: the radious on the neck
Jackson use compound on everything except the two lowest end JS series.
The low end JS series with compound have a 12-14inch.
USA models generally have 12-16, while the MIJs usually have 14-16.
As for my own personal preference, I like anything with 14inches and above.
Jackson use compound on everything except the two lowest end JS series.
The low end JS series with compound have a 12-14inch.
USA models generally have 12-16, while the MIJs usually have 14-16.
As for my own personal preference, I like anything with 14inches and above.
Petrovsk Mizinski
New member
Re: the radious on the neck
16.93 inches on a JEM
which is 430mm.
And yep, my experience with the Jackson 14-16inchers, is that they NEVER fret out and play incredibly fast.
16.93 inches on a JEM
which is 430mm.And yep, my experience with the Jackson 14-16inchers, is that they NEVER fret out and play incredibly fast.
jhale667
New member
Re: the radious on the neck
Personally, I'm in love with the Warmoth 10-16" compound radius. I have 3 soon to be 4 of their necks. Though I love the flat, non-compound radius on my two old Charvel necks, the Warmoths play more comfortably overall, and wider, much easier bends are possible...
Personally, I'm in love with the Warmoth 10-16" compound radius. I have 3 soon to be 4 of their necks. Though I love the flat, non-compound radius on my two old Charvel necks, the Warmoths play more comfortably overall, and wider, much easier bends are possible...