Neck Radius benefits?

blackdog · April 12th, 2005, 10:27 PM

Hey,

I was wondering if a smaller neck radius has any benefits compared to a larger radius. Right now i have a Tele with a 15.75" radius, and the fretboard is pretty damn flat. Would moving to a 9" radius make a difference in comfort, or playability.
Does the increased curvature make bends easier, or grip on the neck more comfortable?

I'm not sure if this is a dumb question, so let me know if it is

kp8 · April 12th, 2005, 11:00 PM

A flatter radius is better for bending (and for metal shredders i guess), and more curved radius is more comfortable for chording... for my money Fender's modern 9/12 is a very nice compromise. 10 and 12 are okay too, but 7 1/4 frets out and more that 12 is too flat for me (personally). YMMV, etc.

-kp8--

maestrovert · April 12th, 2005, 11:54 PM

myself, i prefer the smaller 7 1/4" radius, and have no problems bending anywhere on the neck.....but then it's what i came up with, and i'm weird admittedly

BB · April 13th, 2005, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maestrovert

myself, i prefer the smaller 7 1/4" radius, and have no problems bending anywhere on the neck.....but then it's what i came up with, and i'm weird admittedly

Not weird at all! As you said, it's what you came up with...what you're used to. I played 7 1/4 radius strats and teles for years and had no problem with Top 40, Blues, Oldies, Country, choridng, bends, etc. When I had a neck built for me with a 12" radius, it became my #1 overnight. To go back to my 7 1/4 radiused guitars, I have to play them for about a week before they feel comfortable again.

maestrovert · April 13th, 2005, 02:56 PM

i've got LOTS of guitars, Jazz boxes, shredsleds, ...my FAVES are the Teles....
i've got an Ibanez "S" series from the 1st year that has the absolute thinnest flattest neck i've ever seen.....and i STILL prefer my 7 1/4" Teles....even over my newer Teles and Strats with 9 1/2" and even 10" - 16" compound Warmoths....am i just weird or what ?

blackdog · April 13th, 2005, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maestrovert

myself, i prefer the smaller 7 1/4" radius, and have no problems bending anywhere on the neck.....but then it's what i came up with, and i'm weird admittedly

I would think that it would be more comfortable to use a smaller radius. My fret hand gets fatigued while chording on the 15" radius, but i haven't had a 7 or 9 long enough to compare.

tellypicker · April 13th, 2005, 06:48 PM

i'm thinking one of the reasons for the flatter radius is to be able to get the action lower. it certainly makes that easier if that is what ones style of playing calls for. for myself, i prefer a high action, for the style of playing i enjoy, i like the strings up off the fingerboard a good ways. once the strings are raised up, the tighter radius isn't an issue. i bend a telly or strat as many steps as i want, till the string explodes, and there isn't any blotting out. but that's just me, the kind of guitar i've been playing for 30 years and the style of playing for that long. the whole idea is find what you like and make it work for you. players play my guitar and i can tell sometimes it isn't their cup of tea. that's cool. i'm not putting it up for a vote, i dig what i have and the way i have it. in fact, i like having a guitar that will bite anyone else's hand...

kp8 · April 14th, 2005, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BB

Not weird at all! As you said, it's what you came up with...what you're used to.

i came up with it too... i hated it when i was in junior high school, i hate it now.... I have several geetars with the 7 1/4 radius. All but one fret out... grr...

But to each his/her own...

-kp8--

PSWoods · April 15th, 2005, 10:52 AM

I think your overarching technique category has everything to do with neck pref. E.g. if you keep your thumb opposite the middle of your hand on the back of the neck most of the time, ready to pounce on the upper 4 extensions of chords as they fly by in a big band chart, a flat, wide neck will facilitate the job. That's b/c I need a grid with a predictable feel to come down on my fingertips.

For blues, funk, bendin', chicken picken, etc, I like rounder neck b/c I'm closing my hand flat, and my 1st and 3rd fingers are usu pawing at the strings along the bottom of the finger instead of the tip. The radius makes a good fit to the finger curvature.

But all my fave gittars have flat necks and medium to medium-jumbo frets. I guess I just can't stand the thought of being caught off-guard. Or maybe it's b/c I went to school for "classical" and I can't shake my upbringing... -?

April 12th, 2005, 10:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
blackdog Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2004 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 209	Neck Radius benefits? Hey, I was wondering if a smaller neck radius has any benefits compared to a larger radius. Right now i have a Tele with a 15.75" radius, and the fretboard is pretty damn flat. Would moving to a 9" radius make a difference in comfort, or playability. Does the increased curvature make bends easier, or grip on the neck more comfortable? I'm not sure if this is a dumb question, so let me know if it is

April 12th, 2005, 11:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
kp8 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 2,814	Re: Neck Radius benefits? A flatter radius is better for bending (and for metal shredders i guess), and more curved radius is more comfortable for chording... for my money Fender's modern 9/12 is a very nice compromise. 10 and 12 are okay too, but 7 1/4 frets out and more that 12 is too flat for me (personally). YMMV, etc. -kp8--

April 12th, 2005, 11:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
maestrovert Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: West Branch Mi. Posts: 6,553	neck feel myself, i prefer the smaller 7 1/4" radius, and have no problems bending anywhere on the neck.....but then it's what i came up with, and i'm weird admittedly __________________ Sing the Song Bro' Play on Drummer www.godonthe.net

April 13th, 2005, 02:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
maestrovert Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: West Branch Mi. Posts: 6,553	feel i've got LOTS of guitars, Jazz boxes, shredsleds, ...my FAVES are the Teles.... i've got an Ibanez "S" series from the 1st year that has the absolute thinnest flattest neck i've ever seen.....and i STILL prefer my 7 1/4" Teles....even over my newer Teles and Strats with 9 1/2" and even 10" - 16" compound Warmoths....am i just weird or what ? __________________ Sing the Song Bro' Play on Drummer www.godonthe.net

April 13th, 2005, 06:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
tellypicker Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 340	i'm thinking one of the reasons for the flatter radius is to be able to get the action lower. it certainly makes that easier if that is what ones style of playing calls for. for myself, i prefer a high action, for the style of playing i enjoy, i like the strings up off the fingerboard a good ways. once the strings are raised up, the tighter radius isn't an issue. i bend a telly or strat as many steps as i want, till the string explodes, and there isn't any blotting out. but that's just me, the kind of guitar i've been playing for 30 years and the style of playing for that long. the whole idea is find what you like and make it work for you. players play my guitar and i can tell sometimes it isn't their cup of tea. that's cool. i'm not putting it up for a vote, i dig what i have and the way i have it. in fact, i like having a guitar that will bite anyone else's hand... __________________ What would Scooby Do?

April 15th, 2005, 10:52 AM	#9 (permalink)
PSWoods Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kansas City Posts: 205	I think your overarching technique category has everything to do with neck pref. E.g. if you keep your thumb opposite the middle of your hand on the back of the neck most of the time, ready to pounce on the upper 4 extensions of chords as they fly by in a big band chart, a flat, wide neck will facilitate the job. That's b/c I need a grid with a predictable feel to come down on my fingertips. For blues, funk, bendin', chicken picken, etc, I like rounder neck b/c I'm closing my hand flat, and my 1st and 3rd fingers are usu pawing at the strings along the bottom of the finger instead of the tip. The radius makes a good fit to the finger curvature. But all my fave gittars have flat necks and medium to medium-jumbo frets. I guess I just can't stand the thought of being caught off-guard. Or maybe it's b/c I went to school for "classical" and I can't shake my upbringing... -?