Fretboard Radius

[Meanjoegreene]

Is there any particular reason most teles won’t go to 12 ? Seems like that would be perfect.

 

[Geo]

I was hooked on the first chord.
I think GC had it marked wrong at $1499 used.
I jumped on it right there lol

View attachment 456627

That's a beauty.

 

[Geo]

I like the Deep C on my Tele, but wish it was a compound shape where it got thinner the higher up it went.

Probably won't risk flicking up my MIA to make that happen lol.

The vintage 7.5 radius is kind of rough high up on the neck.

 

[PiggySmallz]

Im more sensitive to neck shape than radius but I also have never played a 20" radius that has felt comfortable.

Put me in the 12-16" preference

 

[VonBonfire]

True dat, I am like a carney, small hands, smell like cabbage.

derka derka cabbage derk derk

 

[Scot]

I’ve been so used to my Jackson b/c it’s been my only guitar for so long. Picking up a strat (9.5”) was a real eye opener b/c the lack of shoulders and 9.5" radius is fantastic. Better still, after playing my strat for extended periods, it seems like it improves my playing when going back to the Jackson so that's a win.

 

[Geo]

There's nothing like a gibby with a good setup.

I am chubbing up just thinking about it.

 

[ners]

The vintage 7.5 radius is kind of rough high up on the neck.

This is what actually made me make this thread.

I was testing some new tubes the other day and my MIJ Strat (7.5") was closest to me, so I just grabbed it and tried to play No More Tears solo and it felt horrible. Got curious and played it on my Tele (9.5"), which was tolerable, but my Jackson (compound 16") was by far the best feel for a solo.

But when it comes to just chugging some chords or playing some Zeppelin riffs I still preferred my Tele as it just felt more fun some how.

 

[Corey James]

10-14 baby, though I can find happiness on almost anything with a good setup.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

I am not in love with below 14. But the compound radius just feels right

 

[VonBonfire]

I am not in love with below 14. But the compound radius just feels right

More jazz chords less powerchords=smaller radius ftw

 

[PDC]

Because the majority of my guitars are partscasters with Warmoth necks, I have grown accustomed to 10"-16" Compound Radius.

I do have a couple of Musikraft necks with straight 12" radius and really like the way they feel.

Compound radius necks will let you get away with a few minor high frets and still get reasonable action - strait radius really requires everything be perfectly level. Not a big deal - but all of my Warmoth necks have set up beautifully out of the box with zero fret leveling. And since I always order Stainless frets - if it sets up fine out of the box, it never sees a fret file.

 

[The~Kid]

12 or compound 12-16. So Les Pauls, Kramers and Charvels these days.


Can't play 7.25 anymore......

 

[Music&Chaos]

As someone who has a history and base as a shredder, I actually have found that more vintage/rounded radiuses help me. Everything has been the opposite for me as I age. I thought thin necks and flat radii were my thing because I just 'had' to get something other than my strat at the time.

I was so wrong lmao all these years later.
.....

Anyway, I tend to prefer 12 as my highest radius now. I have guitars with a flatter board but 12 and lower are comfy to me. Thicker neck profile fits my hand better as well.

 

[MadAsAHatter]

I'm good with anything between 10 and 16, though it really depends on what I'm playing. I like a more curved radius for chording and flatter for riffing. I'm really more concerned about neck profile. For me, that the bigger factor for if a neck is comfortable to play or not.

 

[Devin]

12" or higher is my preference

 

[LPMojoGL]

I have Squier CVs with 9.5" radius, PRS with 10", Gibbys and CS Tele with 12", and a couple with compound radius. I've had a few with 14" or 16".

Honestly, once I'm acclimated, they're all fine. I can probably play faster and more technical stuff with the flatter radius guitars, but I'm close enough with the others, and can squeeze some sweet tones out of em all.

I prefer compound radius, would go at least go 12", if doing a custom build.

 

[Holy-diver]

Basically anywhere from 10-16 is good for me, I like to have slightly different feels in my stable. I find the super vintage stuff to feel awkward and the 20” is uncomfortable after a couple minutes.

 

[HowieJams]

I voted 12" as my favorite guitars are Gibson Les Pauls, but I also like compound Radius necks.
My Charvel Guthrie Govan USA and Ibanez Prestige LB1 both have great comound radius necks, super comfortable to play.