12" radius neck on a Tele, some feedback and info please

[telechaser]

Does anybody here have a 12" radius neck on their Tele? I really like the 9.5 radius, C profile Mighty Mite on my Thinline partscaster but would probably like something a little wider for fingerstyle jazz.

I'm putting together a sort of 69 Thinline partscaster and planning on putting an Allparts 10" radius, C profile neck.

Then I saw a website selling Tele necks with this description:

"22 fret maple neck with slab rosewood fretboard. Same as the '62 vintage spec. neck, but with extended 22 fret fretboard, modern flatter 12"radius, and medium jumbo fretwire. Headstock drilled for vintage style 'Kluson' tuners."

I like medium jumbo. I'm just not sure about the modern, flatter bit.

I'm considering this because it's local (Australia) to me and I've dealt with them in the past.

I'd really appreciate some feedback from you guys about the feel of this neck.

[SEK_Hakuna]

After playing 9.5" radius necks for a few years I found going to the 12" radius took a bit of getting used to. Although my particular neck is the same width as a 9.5" radius neck, it feels much wider. I love it for doing single note playing though. I can keep the action lower without fretting out notes up the neck. Playing chords is what takes getting accustomed to. It seems I have to reach more and the neck fills up my hand. I had Tommy of USACG make my neck with 6150 frets, (I think they are the same size as Les Paul frets), low and wide.

[Telenator]

I had an 11" radius neck on one of my Teles recently and it was nice.

So much of playing a particular neck has to do with the shape of it, the width and edge treatment.

I have played 7.25 radius necks that were amazing and didn't fret out when I bent notes on them, and I have played others that were just lousy.

I definitely know I prefer a straight radius over the tapered radius/compound radius some manufacturers are not touting. But when it comes right down to it, making the determination on fretboard radius alone may not be the best approach. Unfortunately, you just have to try a few things and see which one works for you. If you keep an open mind, the ultimate choice you make, might actually surprise you!

[bottleneck]

Could I ask what web-site is offering these? That would, I guess, be local to me, too. I have been wanting to try something flatter for slide playing.

[stephent2]

I prefer a 12 inch radius and a wide nut. 12 still has some contour, doesn't feel totally flat like say a 16 inch radius, in my opinion 12 is the best all around neck radius. Great for bending and chording up the neck.

[telechaser]

I love all the necks on my Teles, Modern C, The 'U' shape on my 72 Thinline RI. The neck on the Squier Affinity is a bit too narrow (7.25 I think) but OK for practice.

I'm looking something specifically for fingerstyle, chord/melody jazz. I think I'm gonna give it a go but not 'till after a couple of months.

Originally Posted by bottleneck

Could I ask what web-site is offering these? That would, I guess, be local to me, too. I have been wanting to try something flatter for slide playing.

It's North Coast Guitars http://www.northcoastguitars.com.au/telenecks.html. It's really good value for money and they're MIJ necks too. Peter's a great bloke to deal with.

Check this thread http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaste...rtscaster.html. He got the parts from NC guitars.

[Brudr]

Originally Posted by stephent2

I prefer a 12 inch radius and a wide nut. 12 still has some contour, doesn't feel totally flat like say a 16 inch radius, in my opinion 12 is the best all around neck radius. Great for bending and chording up the neck.

Agreed. I've tried all variants of necks for a Tele (and I was weaned on Gibsons) and I can get along with just about any of them as long as the radius is constant. I really dislike the big compound types (i.e., 10-16"). On these compound types, you can't set the action any lower than the sharpest point of the radius, so when the board flattens out toward the higher frets, the action has to get higher or else you will be fretting out lower or in the middle of the board. I am currently using a Highway One Texas Tele neck on a partscaster and really like the feel of the 12" radius. It is not drastically different from the 9.5" but feels more comfortable in the higher registers.

[telefusion]

12" neck user here too..you'll love it once you play it..mine's a Richie Kotzen tele..12" rad, thick U contour and super jumbo frets..mine's strung 11-50 and plays with really low action but no buzz or choke anywhere..

[Newfie_J.]

Some comparison guitars with 12' radius necks are:
72 Telecaster deluxe reissue
Stevie Ray Vaughn signature strat
Highway 1 Tele
Showmaster Tele
Les Pauls?

I may be wrong on some of these, its just from memory.
It will feel a little odd at first but you will adapt quickly.
As others have said before, no fretting out on big bends.
I usualy play a more vintage Fender radius but im okay with the 12" radius also. It does feel like a bigger neck somehow even though its the exact same width as a 7.5 or a 9.5.

[Telejammer]

and just love the 12" radius...

[ganzua]

do you need a bigger pocket in the body for a 12" radius neck?

[TG]

Originally Posted by ganzua

do you need a bigger pocket in the body for a 12" radius neck?

No. It's just the fretboard that's different, not the neck heel.


I have a 12" radius neck I've used for years. It's a big chunky C neck with a rosewood board and vintage frets. I've had no problem using it, and I'm familiar with 9.5" and 7.25" necks as well.

The only thing I notice is the general look of the guitar as you play it. The curve of the fretboard is about the only 'contour' on a tele and a flat fretboard makes a tele seem even more plank-like than it normally is.
But as far as playability goes it's no problem.
(Gibsons have always had 12" radius necks and players seem to manage...)

[ganzua]

Originally Posted by TG

No. It's just the fretboard that's different, not the neck heel.

Thanks for the input TG .

Originally Posted by TG

The only thing I notice is the general look of the guitar as you play it. The curve of the fretboard is about the only 'contour' on a tele and a flat fretboard makes a tele seem even more plank-like than it normally is.
But as far as playability goes it's no problem.
(Gibsons have always had 12" radius necks and players seem to manage...)

My favourite neck is the neck of 59 lp copy. I know the feeling but I'm not sure about how the measure is taken; more radius means less curvature?

Originally Posted by TG

I have a 12" radius neck I've used for years. It's a big chunky C neck with a rosewood board and vintage frets. I've had no problem using it, and I'm familiar with 9.5" and 7.25" necks as well.

In the case of the 59 les paul, the necks are usually described as chunky but I don't agree. The feeling is not of a baseball bat, at least for me, profile is rounded like an U and it fills your hand but in a very comfortable way.

[boris bubbanov]

I've bought, finished and have been using 8 of these 1 + 11/16ths Warmoth Vintage Modified necks with the compound or conical 10-16 inch neck on various guitars, Teles, Strats, Squiers and Partscasters. Some Boatneck, some Fatback, some 6150 and some 6105.
Through main part of the board it is functionally about 12 inch and sets up real well with compensated saddles. The separation of the strings makes clean individual notes easier, and yet I've had no difficulty with multiple rapid chord changes either.
The function of the conical radius is not an issue; what will be an issue is keeping the frets properly dressed with the tools available to some one like me.
I'd recommend them, but, together with two 1 + 5/8ths from them as well on the way, I'm fearful Warmoth won't be offering many on the webspecials page under $ 200 for a good while. Depleted, I'd say.

[Nick JD]

The difference between a 9.5" and a 12" radius is about 1/32" at the edge. Often, there's as much variation in the "rounding" of the edge - ie. the radius is not constant parallel to the frets. A heavily beveled 12 can feel "rounder" than a sharp-edged 9.5. Between 7.5 and 16 - now there's a difference. YMMV.

For me, it's whatever I'm used to.

[mrbdxmpl]

Love it! As I just noted in another post about Strats, my CP 60s has a 12" radius neck, with medium jumbo frets, and it is the most comfortable and easiest-playing electric I've ever owned, and I just ordered one for my new Tele...make the plunge...you won't regret it!

[stephent2]

Originally Posted by TG

(Gibsons have always had 12" radius necks and players seem to manage...)

I believe they have a 14 inch radius.

[SMPTE]

The 12" radius on my TX HW1 is very nice and smooth. The edges are rolled though, and that's probably part of it. I switch back and forth between my Casino (12"), my Jazzmaster (9.5"), and my EJ Strat (9-16").

To be honest it's not that big of a change to my fingers, but then again my playing is a bit like sculpting clay with a chainsaw anyway.

[crossroader]

I've got a 22-fret Warmoth "Pro" neck on my homebrew Tele that's got their 10-16" compound radius and I like it a lot. Yes, the setup might get a little tricky and I suppose string height may not be perfectly even as you move up the fretboard, but I've gotten to really like the overall feel of this neck.

Of course, I also like playing my Classic 50s Esquire with it's 7.25" radius and the 9.5" radius on my Jimmie Vaughan Strat. I even like playing the 9.5" radius on my Tele-Sonic - and that one has a 25" scale length.

Some folks don't like jumping from one radius to another, but I've never had a problem with it. I adjust pretty quickly - and then proceed to fumble over my fingers on fretboards of ANY dimension.

[ganzua]

I've found this; http://www.ratcliffe.co.za/articles/radius.shtml

the smaller radius (which is more curved) is more comfortable for playing (particularly barre) chords, while a larger, flatter radius is better for low action, single-note playing and bending. The other important characteristic of radius is that the flatter the radius, the lower the action can be.

I don't know if this is right but I can set lower action in my 59 lp copy than in my Telecaster. Not sure if the frets are medium jumbo or jumbo, is there anyway I can find out this?

[TG]

Originally Posted by ganzua

... but I'm not sure about how the measure is taken; more radius means less curvature?

Yes. A radius is halfway across a circle...from the center to the edge. A bigger radius means a bigger circle, and if you look at about 2 inches of a big circle it will be 'flatter' than a 2 inch piece of a smaller circle.

So a 12" radius fretboard is like a 2 1/4 inch piece of a circle 24 inches across. A 7.25" radius is like a 2 1/4 inch bit of a circle 15 inches across.

[ganzua]

Originally Posted by TG

Yes. A radius is halfway across a circle...from the center to the edge. A bigger radius means a bigger circle, and if you look at about 2 inches of a big circle it will be 'flatter' than a 2 inch piece of a smaller circle.

So a 12" radius fretboard is like a 2 1/4 inch piece of a circle 24 inches across. A 7.25" radius is like a 2 1/4 inch bit of a circle 15 inches across.

Thanks for the explanation TG

[Nick JD]

A quick way to see it is to take a ruler, place it on the kitchen bench and hold the end with a finger. Place a pencil at 12 inches and turn it making an arc. Move the ruler up so 9 1/2 inches is in the center of your arc and do another arc. The difference is almost nothing - about as wide as the width of a pencil mark.