vintage radius on strat--- finally my strat feels right!

[appar111]

Well, I've had 3 different necks now on this guitar, and like they say-- 3rd time's the charm.

Originally had a Warmoth compound radius maple neck on it and honkin' 6100 frets. Nice but the frets were just too dang big. Next up was an Allparts SMO-C maple neck (9.5" radius, tall/skinny frets). I liked this one alot, but with the pickups in the strat at the time, I just wasn't feelin' it and I disassembled the strat altogether. So that neck migrated over to my Jazzmaster and it rocks there.

So "Hiroshoma Mon Amour" went neckless and pickupless for a while. Until today. Just put an Allparts LRO strat neck on it. Rosewood fretboard, vintage 7.25" radius, big ol' CBS headstock. After polishing the fret ends, treating the rosewood and putting some tuners and a graphtech nut on it, it went on the strat and plays GREAT. And this was just with a set of Ernie Ball 8's which are way lighter than I usually play anymore. Top it off with a single JB pickup in the bridge and we have a winner!

The vintage radius is just so easy to play, and I love that I can feel alot of the fretboard. Just feels low and comfy. Bends are no problem either, contrary to what many say about the vintage radius.

All I need now is a new pickguard and Hiroshima is back!

Anyhoo, back to watching season 2 of Walking Dead on blu-ray....

 

[James Rock]

Re: vintage radius on strat--- finally my strat feels right!

Vintage radius can work and I prefer smaller radiuses to play open chords I think there are other factors that are as important such as neck shape/width, fret size and quality of craftmanship. I am starting to find (after playing my tele with 10 - 16"compound radius that I dont mind smaller radiuses. Its always good when you find a guitar that you like playing despite what you may think when it comes to specs. How is the quality of the Allparts necks, thinking of getting one on my tele 10"radius either that or USACG.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: vintage radius on strat--- finally my strat feels right!

Being of a certain age, the 7.25" fretboard radius is what I grew up with. To me, it feels normal. The relatively steep radius obliges the action to be set medium high. This, in turn, pushes the guitar into a set up that gives great tone. It is almost as if somebody had intentionally designed that way.

 

[AlexR]

Re: vintage radius on strat--- finally my strat feels right!

Its funny, but strats don't feel right to me unless they've got the vintage radius.....even 9 1/2 feels flat.
I have also been checking out the setup on mine and it seems high just looking at it, but playing is a different story.......granted I only do blues/RHCP/Hendrix anyhow so no super quick playing.

 

[uOpt]

Re: vintage radius on strat--- finally my strat feels right!

Using thinner strings and higher action (which also solves the problem of bending with a small fretboard radius) is frequently used by guitarists that want a lot of control. Malmsteen comes to mind.

The only problem is that the low strings in a thin set can sound odd (off key) when striking them too hard with the pick.

Frets that are both tall and wide are the devil. IMHO they ruin sound, too.

 

[LReese]

Re: vintage radius on strat--- finally my strat feels right!

Radius has not been that big of a deal to me - Grew up on 7.25". Now have 7.25", 9.5". 10"to 14", 12", 16". The flatter you go, barre chords are a little more difficult, but that's about it. I can adjust.

The thing I don't like is action too low - If I can't grab the string securely for bends, its too low.

 

[appar111]

Re: vintage radius on strat--- finally my strat feels right!

Using thinner strings and higher action (which also solves the problem of bending with a small fretboard radius) is frequently used by guitarists that want a lot of control. Malmsteen comes to mind.

The only problem is that the low strings in a thin set can sound odd (off key) when striking them too hard with the pick.

Frets that are both tall and wide are the devil. IMHO they ruin sound, too.

I think for the first time I'm agreeing w/ everything you said, uOpt

I'm curious since I've never asked, how do you have your guitars set up? Fret size, radius, action, pick type, etc?

I'm really thinking that if I do another strat, it'll definitely be with vintage radius and vintage frets. It's actually making me think of converting my #1 tele to this type of neck.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: vintage radius on strat--- finally my strat feels right!

Vintage radius is the best way to go if you ask me. I just love them and want to replace my 9.5" telecaster neck with a 7.25" radius neck.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: vintage radius on strat--- finally my strat feels right!

Vintage radii are like Bia ply tires... completely out of date technology and far surpassed by at least medium jumbos IMO only.
That said, a finely master crafted instrument with a perfect vintage radius and expertly leveled frets can play amazingly well and also accomodate pretty deep string bends, but not many vintage radius guitars are set up like this-thats a fact.

 

[appar111]

Re: vintage radius on strat--- finally my strat feels right!

This is where it's all down to what works best for the individual. Medium jumbos ar eok, but right now, I'm greatly preferring small frets and vintage radius. I can get a full step bend no problem and that's all I ever do, so I'm good. I think it's the fact that I'm getting alot of fingerboard contact w/ my fingers that i'm really digging. It's not slowing me down or anything, at least not the way I play. The 8-38 strings help force me to keep a light touch too.

It doesn't take much to level and crown frets and to do a good job at it. There's a big diff between a master craftsman and doing your own level/crown, but I've had no problems with doing stuff on my own in the last couple years.

Funny thing is, I haven't even leveled/crowned these frets yet-- it plays great with them stock. I'll probably do it when it comes time for the next string change though.