I acquired a used American Vintage 62. Wow! Excellent guitar. Beautiful finish with only one very tiny scratch above the pickguard. And it resonates extremely well. I've owned lots of Strats but I have never felt the neck vibrate in my left hand as I play. Never. This one does. You can actually feel vibrations go from the neck into your hand. The guitar is also the heaviest Strat I've ever owned. This instrument is very solid.

What I felt was odd was that these Strats come with a vintage 7.25 radius. I expected it was going to be tough to play but it wasn't. So I asked my tech to measure it. He said the neck is indeed a 7.25 radius but the frets are actually 9.5. He added that this is a common technique that luthiers do to make Fender necks easier to play.

Know you know...

Congrats on your aquisition. I am glad you are happy with it. Pics would be nice, but not necessary. Have fun with it.

RK

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Congratulations! You know we love to see pictures of newly acquired guitars!!

I dont understand how guys find fenders easier to play when 80% of the guys I know or interviews I read it is almost famously known how you have to fight a Fender a bit when you are playing and how a Les Paul is such an easy ax to play.As a matter of fact I was just reading an article with Jeff Beck and he was saying thats what he loves about playing strats. I guess to each his own just like most guys are way more comfortable outside picking and I am the complete opposite.

The difference is in the scale length. Les Pauls have a scale of 24.75", while the Strat (and Tele, I believe) are somewhat longer: 25.5".

It's not a big difference, but it is there. That said, I don't think it really makes a difference once you're used to the guitar; they become a home, a comfortable place no matter how long or short the scale is.

I own a couple Gibby's. The shorter scale length works for you in 2 ways that I have noticed: First the string tension is a good bit less on a 24.75" scale, makes for a rather loose feeling (one big reason why my Gibby's have heavier gauge strings than my Fenders). Second, the shorter scale make chord work around the first 12 frets a bit easier since they are a tad closer together. But that said, things get positively cramped after you get down around the 15th fret or so.


I switch around often enough that I really don't notice the difference anymore. You get used to it.

What!!!! What is the difference from a fret used in 7.25 radius and a fret used in a 9.5?
Fret sizes are fret sizes it don't matter what the radius is, a vintage fret is a vintage fret, a jumbo's a jumbo. a medium is a medium ect. ect. no matter what radius the neck is. If you have a 7.25 radius neck then the frets in it are curved at 7.25. I think you need a new tech!!!!

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

A fret is a fret but you can have a fingerboard radius of 7.25 but the frets can be dressed at 9.25 to make the neck easier to play. Granted I have not heard of this either but I believe it cuz when I played this axe today I was alarmed at how easy it was for me to bend and I have always struggled to bend on vintage boards.

My tech is highly skilled...

Shame on you for denigrating him!

Fenders are not easier to play because many of them have the vintage 7.25 radius. Most people find it hard to bend on them boards. Guitars like Les Pauls and Jacksons have a much flatter fingerboard like 12". But as the years have wore on Fender has introduced other radiuses like 9.5 and 12. If you are going to play a Fender it's crucial to get a neck that has the curve you want.

don't think so but I have only been doing thics stuff for 30+ years I don't know it it all.
Fret wire come in 6100, 6105, 6130, 6230, 6150 they all can be used in any guitar. As you press or tamp them into the slot they follow the radius of the neck. You then dress the fret make sure you file the spouts properly and the crown. You don't do anything different because of the radius. The frets have to be the radius of the slot they are pressed into they can not be anything different.

Who is this tech?

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

He's been working on my axes for years now and he is really good at what he does. He's built guitars and even amps for people. Very talented and skilled.

It's most likely you have misunderstood something he has said then because thats not possible. The fret cannot be flatter then the radius. When the fret is pressed in the tang holds in down into the slot. You then even the crown across the board so that your setup can get the proper string height off the fret and be even so theres no buzz. You then file the ends so you don't feel the sprouts and you take the sharpness off the tops but not to the point where it makes the string fret out. I have done many many of these myself along with who knows how many amp repairs. (three this week alone amps that is)

That said congrat on your new guitar though. You will find that vintage 7.25 great for rhythm playing. Most find flatter radius necks harder to play 9.5 - 10. is the happy medium . Flatter radius are less likey to fret out and bend easier which is why some go the way of compound radius necks the radius is flatter where you do the most bending and rounder as you move up to the nut where you do the most hythm playing. .

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

cvilleira - I forget but is my '08 MIM standard HSS have a 7.25 radius? I have big hands and trying to work the fretboard is not easy...is it due to the neck radius?

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Your Fender HSS Standard Stratocaster in Electron Blue was made at the Fender Ensenada Plant in Mexico in the Year: 2008.
Final Assembly Date: July 30th, 2008
Model Number: 013 4700 587
Serial # MZ8031252

I would concur - find another tech fast! What you have described would have the frets level with the board around the 3rd and 4th strings!

That should be a 9.5 radius with med. jumbo frets.. Having large hands has more to do with the neck shape (the back) then a fretboard radius. Be it a modern C, soft V, regular V, or a D.
The D shape to most people is the hardest to play but some will say the extra wood adds sustain. You just have to find what is comfortable to you.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson