Tools for measuring your fretboard radius (pic heavy)

uOpt

Something Cool
To whoever might find it useful.

I wanted to measure some fretboard radii on my guitars and here is what I used:

Download either the postscript or pdf version of this paper and print it.
PDF:
http://www.cons.org/music/fretboard-radius/fretboard-radius.pdf
Postscript:
http://www.cons.org/music/fretboard-radius/fretboard-radius.ps

img_5495_fr.jpg


Make sure that the reference inch is actually an inch. You have to do
that so that if you computer or printer scale the image you don't have
a "zoomed" reference. Use a ruler or something similar:

img_5496_fr.jpg


Cut out along the lines. I recommend that you don't try to cut
directly on the line. Leave some constant space between
scissors and line, so that you can later "fine-tune" it:

img_5499_fr.jpg


So much for "all Ibanez have 12 inch fretboard radius":
img_5501_fr.jpg


That's more fitting:
img_5502_fr.jpg


If you are too lazy to take the strings off, then you can make little
cuts into the paper. Mark them on the fretboard, then cut and
measure:
img_5504_fr.jpg

img_5506_fr.jpg


%%

Just plain paper is difficult to deal with. You probably want to
consider putting it onto some thin piece of cardboard or plastic
first, then cut.
 
Re: Tools for measuring your fretboard radius (pic heavy)

That is so **** simple and good! Thanks for the tip! :)

Vault material?
 
Re: Tools for measuring your fretboard radius (pic heavy)

That looks like it'd work rather well.

What I did was tape 3 wooden matchsticks down to a piece of corrugated cardboard. Sort of a cheap feeler gauge.

Then I drew a 7-1/4" R. and a 9-1/2" R. with a beam compass. I knew it was going to be one or the other.

Not all that precise, but it told me what I needed to know.
 
Re: Tools for measuring your fretboard radius (pic heavy)

Great! Vault-worthy indeed.
 
Re: Tools for measuring your fretboard radius (pic heavy)

You ought to consider buying a 4 sided radius guage from Stewmac. I can't live without that and their small "setup" ruler. Well worth the money in the long run. One of Dan Erlewine's Guitar repair books comes with really nice plastic radius guages as well.
 
Re: Tools for measuring your fretboard radius (pic heavy)

I got mine from that earlewine's bood, (plastic ones though)... they work very nicely...

Great idea though.
 
Re: Tools for measuring your fretboard radius (pic heavy)

The Stewmac tools are good (I have the radius tool too), but if you think more of this, there are several forum bros from outside the America, and not willingly to purchase this from Stewmac just to find the radius. In the light of this, I guess several Europeans will find it valuable. I say Vault.
 
Re: Tools for measuring your fretboard radius (pic heavy)

The Stewmac tools are good (I have the radius tool too), but if you think more of this, there are several forum bros from outside the America, and not willingly to purchase this from Stewmac just to find the radius. In the light of this, I guess several Europeans will find it valuable. I say Vault.


hello....can some body helpme........???? my Ibanez is an S270 Korean....i want to change the bridge....and try with a Schaller but a Luthier tall me about the radius cant be posible....so....please can some body tell me the S270 korean Radius and posibles bridge to use in it????....SLT101 'Single Locking' tremolo is what i have.....
 
Re: Tools for measuring your fretboard radius (pic heavy)

That looks like waaaay too much work for a pair of 4 sided gauges that cost maybe $10 lol

Nice job though
 
Re: Tools for measuring your fretboard radius (pic heavy)

hello....can some body helpme........???? my Ibanez is an S270 Korean....i want to change the bridge....and try with a Schaller but a Luthier tall me about the radius cant be posible....so....please can some body tell me the S270 korean Radius and posibles bridge to use in it????....SLT101 'Single Locking' tremolo is what i have.....

The radius is likely going to be 400mm, or 16". I'm assuming you're wanting to upgrade the bridge to a better quality double-locking unit? It sounds like your Luthier isn't much of a luthier. You can shim the saddles to achieve the desired radius quite easily. People have used cut up soft drink cans, or things like emery paper, or you can buy shims specifically for Floyd Rose type bridges.
 
Re: Tools for measuring your fretboard radius (pic heavy)

My RGs are 17 inch radius
430mm

I would imagine that one to be the same wizard 2 neck

I had a chart once for all the neck shapes of all the Ibanez models

The only one I recall being different was the Satriani model with a 9.5
 
Re: Tools for measuring your fretboard radius (pic heavy)

The radius is likely going to be 400mm, or 16". I'm assuming you're wanting to upgrade the bridge to a better quality double-locking unit? It sounds like your Luthier isn't much of a luthier. You can shim the saddles to achieve the desired radius quite easily. People have used cut up soft drink cans, or things like emery paper, or you can buy shims specifically for Floyd Rose type bridges.


good i was thinking on this bridge..........SchallerSB-0290-003-web.jpg Locking Tremolo, with Locking nut, Black. String spacing 2-1/8". Mounting stud spacing 2-15/16". Radius 12". Nut width 1*5/8". Comes with Nickel-plated Brass block.

but i acept sugestions....thanks.... https://www.allparts.com/SB-0290-003-Schaller-Floyd-Rose-Locking-Tremolo_p_3254.html
 
Re: Tools for measuring your fretboard radius (pic heavy)

Ibanez S270 Korean Bk.....

Neck type
Wizard II


Years Scale length Width at nut Width at last fret Thickness at 1st fret Thickness at 12th fret Radius
1997–2002 648mm/ 25.5" 43mm 56mm 19mm 21mm 400mmR/ 15.75"
2004 648mm/ 25.5" 43mm 56mm 19mm 21mm 430mmR 16,92"
2005–2009 648mm/ 25.5" 43mm 56mm 19mm 21mm 400mmR/ 15.75"
2010 648mm/ 25.5" 43mm 58mm 19mm 21mm 400mmR/ 15.75"
 
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Re: Tools for measuring your fretboard radius (pic heavy)

LonePhantom .....
I'm assuming you're wanting to upgrade the bridge to a better quality double-locking unit?

yes men....thats the point.......
 
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