Hello Strat Lovers. I have always been puzzled by the neck radius on different Strats. Excuse my ignorance on this subject. I see 7 1/2 " & 9 1/2" & so on. Since the word radius is used for these curves, I have to assume that the neck radius is based on a circle. If I'm not mistaken, a 7 & 1/2" neck radius would be a 'rounder' curve than a 9 & 1/2' and so on. Would someone be kind enough to give me a way to look at this that would lend to understanding it a bit better? Thank You.

You are correct. The radius refers to the 'cylinder' that the fingerboard is cut to. The smaller the number, in your example 7-1/2" and 9-1/2", the smaller the circle/cylinder. Vintage fender necks typically used the 7-1/2" radius and newer fenders use the latter. Generally, the more rounded the radius the easier and more comfortable the neck is for chords and rythm work, although at higher registers (12th fret+) its more difficult to bend notes without 'fretting' out. Hence why compound radius necks are (IMHO) preferred.

ORC

Here's a pretty good explanation, with visual aids, as to just what a compound radius guitar neck will allow you to do from the company that invented the idea some twenty years ago...
http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/necks/radius.aspx

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An object at rest tends to stay at rest...
and an object in motion tends to stay in motion

The smaller the radius, the rounder the fretboard. The larger the radius, the flatter the fretboard. Here are some common Fender radii for your reference:


Note: This drawing is slightly exaggerated, but you'll definitely get the idea.

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I really like all them "Aster" guitars. You know, like the Stratoc, Telec and Jazzm.