Anyone have any tips on lowering the action on a '85 MIJ Strat. It's a '62 reissue and the radius causes me to fret out on bends. I like to "shred" a lot and this hinders my playing. Can I have a tech flatten out the board for me or am I just stuck buying a replacement neck with a compound radius from Warmoth?

Flattening out the radius on a fretboard is almost impossible as most fretboards have a cap of maple or rosewood rather than one solid piece of wood.Removing the fretboard and putting on one with a flatter radius would cost a very,very large amount of money.You'd be much better off getting a flatter radius board maybe a 12" radius board would fit the bill.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

That's what I figured. I love the guitar but I also love low action. It's hard to do with these things. Thanks for the answer.

It largely depends on whether your fingerboard is slab or laminate shaped along the bottom. If it is slab boarded, then you can do it, if laminate then as Guitslinger said, don't bother.

In truth with a decent setup I don't see why you can't have what you want on your guitar as it is now. I think the whole bending/action limitation thing with 7.25"R boards is greatly exaggerated. Yngwie, Blackmore and plenty of others never had any problem getting speedy on those boards.

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No no and no

I guess you're right ninja. I never thought about the Yngwie/Blackmore thing. I may need to just have a set up done to it. The frets are worn and I don't know how to do a proper fret polish or jeweling or whatever you want to call it.

I believe it was Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits that used to get the finger board of his Strats shaved down on the higher frets like a compound radius. Eric Johnson has a the flatter radius on his vintage Strats. I don't think they are replacement necks. I may do it to my Classic 60's Strat when re-fret time comes. The neck will be a bit thinner front to back, but there is a little more beef on Classic 60's necks, so there is room. I wouldn't try it on my '89 American Standard though. Ceri is in the know I'm sure. I think YM used to scallop his fretboards.

I have several 80's MIJ's with the 7.25 radius fretboards. I found that setting the neck relief as flat as it will go helps. The action on mine are lower than Fender Specs.
Playing technique is next. Use a lighter touch when playing.

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

if your going to do it yourself i suggest one of the neck leveling straight edges that stewart macdonald sells . it has notches for the frets so your actually leveling out the fret board not the frets then you have to determine if your frets are all level afterward . if not the they have to be leveled as well . then re crowned. a tedious process. ive done it . that stew maac straight edge makes all the difference. now i can set a super low action with no buzzing.

Sweet! Thanks for all the suggestions.