9.5 and 12 radius

[mozzarate54]

What exactly are the major differences between these two?

[hemingway]

One's slightly less curved. Some people find that more comfortable to play.

[Nick Fanis]

Originally Posted by hemingway

One's slightly less curved. Some people find that more comfortable to play.

Or harder to play ,especially if they play CHORDS (something that most guitar players do during 90% of their playing time)

[fenson]

2.5 inchs lol ,but really not any big difference which would account for any playing issues.

[MadJack]

I have both 12" and 13.7" radius on my guitars and I have played 9.5" radius. No (extra) problem for me to switch back and forth. (The only problem is my sucky playing!) I can switch back and forth on the neck radius okay, chords or picking.

[AJBaker]

I like 9.5, but I don't notice too much difference either when switching to 12.

[Cliff Rogers]

A shallower radius is supposed to be better for bending.

[Vladimir]

I have yet to play a guitar with a 12" radius that's not a short/gibson scale.
To me, the biggest difference is the space between the frets.

[Toriginal]

Nice printable radius guages here (a picture is worth a thousand words):

http://www.pickguardian.com/pickguar...s%20Gauges.pdf

Radius has nothing to do with scale length or fret spacing. My Gretsch 5122DC had a 12" radius (24.5 scale). It was a very fine guitar to play.
I recut the radius on an epiphone special model neck (24.5 scale I think) from 12" I believe to 9.5. I sanded the bare board down while refretting it and ooooh the shorter scale 9.5 is very cool for my hands anyway. Plays like butter.
I make everything to 9.5 which is kind of in between I guess (and I have the radius sanding blocks to make them like that) I have yet to even try a 7.5 but would love to.
I just took a peek at a Martin limited edition which is 16" radius.
Then there are compound radii which start small and go bigger (larger number means flatter top curve to the fretboard).
That's all the light I can shed on the subject.
The actual effect of the different radius I guess has it's pros and cons depending on application. It'd be cool to have a breakdown of the pros and cons of each radius eh...

Gotta try me a 7.25

[Revv23]

Ive been switching between 12-7.25 for a while and ive never really noticed too much. The difference is so minor i wouldnt fret over if. (pun intended)

Ive played one of those ibanez flat necks before wasnt a fan. Maybe for shredders that works but i hated it.

Sent from my iPhone using TDPRI

[Scantron08]

Originally Posted by Nick Fanis

Or harder to play ,especially if they play CHORDS (something that most guitar players do during 90% of their playing time)

Tell that to any Spanish-style, classical, flamenco, or gypsy jazz-guitarist. I think they all play a few chords, most of which are a bit more complicated than a standard open chord.

[Vladimir]

Originally Posted by Toriginal

Radius has nothing to do with scale length or fret spacing.

I never implied it did. Just sayin' that it's rare to find a fender scale guitar with a 12" radius.
Most of my guitars are 9.5", but when I've played the Mike Stern Tele which has a 7.25", it didn't feel awkward at all. Didn't even notice until I read the specs.
On the other hand, different scale lengths are very noticeable to me, especially when playing complex chords.

[CrisHendrix]

My MIM std neck is at least 12", flattest neck I've ever owned.. dunno what's happened to it along the way though (was about 6 years old when I got it)

I also had a thinline w/7.5, chords were fine but I had a hard time soloing on it.. the flatter board is the easiest for me to play standing up

[Nick Fanis]

Originally Posted by Scantron08

Tell that to any Spanish-style, classical, flamenco, or gypsy jazz-guitarist. I think they all play a few chords, most of which are a bit more complicated than a standard open chord.

οn low tension NYLON strings.

[GriffinBF]

I've become used to 7.25" and can no longer easily switch to my humbucker guitar which is 14" and a PRS scale length. I can handle the shorter scale but the 14" radius now bothers me.
I think I'll replace it with a Music Man Axis.. 25.5 scale length and 10" radius.

[fenson]

Originally Posted by Vladimir

I never implied it did. Just sayin' that it's rare to find a fender scale guitar with a 12" radius.
Most of my guitars are 9.5", but when I've played the Mike Stern Tele which has a 7.25", it didn't feel awkward at all. Didn't even notice until I read the specs.
On the other hand, different scale lengths are very noticeable to me, especially when playing complex chords.

not so rare these days the MIM CP60 has 12 the EJ and SRV do as well.
The new deluxe has a compound rad some like alot.

[fenson]

Originally Posted by Nick Fanis

οn low tension NYLON strings.

and I suspose standard steel 09 are high tension


There are quite a few steel string finger style players using 13 and higher gauge on Martins etc.

Nick IMO learn to think before ya speak

[Jack FFR1846]

MIM Deluxe Player's Strats are 12". The "rage" in the Carvin world seems to be 14" radius. I don't know why....my Carvin is 12", I think.

[JoeNeri]

Originally Posted by Revv23

Ive been switching between 12-7.25 for a while and ive never really noticed too much.

Me, too.

Any differences are more apparent on internet forums than when actually playing a guitar.

[Matthias]

You can get your action a little lower with a 12" radius, and it's easier to play high frets. It's very noticeable over a 7.25" radius. However, it's a bit tougher to play barre chords on a 12" neck. 9.5" is a great compromise between the two, as long as you don't need your action ridiculously low.