Ok brand new guitar player here.I have tried playing in the past but did not have the time or the patience.Now a little older and just really want to learn.So i have always wanted a strat as long as i can remember.I have picked up many strats and with the 9.5 radius it feels wierd.Almost like my fingers a to close together.Then i tried with the eric johnson strat and felt great.Now i would like to by an american strat there about a thousand dollars new at sweetwater.com.The eric johnson strat is more than i would like to spend stating out.So is it possible that i will get used to the 9.5 radius over time?Or should i just look at another guitar?

The Eric Johnson signature guitar has a 12-inch radius fretboard but it's not the only Strat with so flat a board that Fender makes. You might give the Deluxe Player model a look-see. It's also a 12-inch radius IIRC, and for substantially less $$$ than the EJ guitar.

Best of luck, HTH

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Yours is an oft asked question here, and we usually just respond, as above by saying that you have to play them. A 7.5 radius is the classic vintage neck, the 9.5's now being standard on greater percentage of guitars produced, with a 12 selected for certain guitars because of the easier string bending quality the flat radius affords. Hence, the new Deluxes have a compound radius which increases from 9.5-12 as one goes higher on the neck. Audition the guitar suggested above. The SRV Artist series guitar also has a radius of 12 with a neck profile different from the standard modern C. You might also look at the Clapton, and the Jimmy Vaughn which have V-necks of very different carving, the JV being the generic Fender V-neck, with the same radius, hence the feel may be different. Keep us informed.

Doc.

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"Another day in paradise!"

the previous note of advice is the best advice anyone can give you try them till you find one you like. then buy that one

Elf

I think your problem lies simply in the fact that you are brand new to the instrument. I really don't think a different radius fingerboard will help much at all. The vertical line of those strings is set between a 42mm long nut and a 56 or 52 mm long saddle spacing. The saddle spacing is only of real importance at the bridge and is mainly noticed by people who eshew the plectrum in favour of fingers. The position of the frets is pretty much set in stone too. You'll find narrower fret spacing on instruments from other manufacturers. I don't think you'll find wider spacing without getting a baritone instrument.

Looking back through the mists of time, and from showing the odd few people chords. I think your problem is common to everyone and that you'll stop noticing it as your left hand becomes more dexterous.

Stick with it mate, it does get easier and is worth all the trouble. You'll look back in years to come and think, "why did I struggle so much?".

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No no and no

Good suggestion! It has the 12 inch radius and the wider 2-7/32 inch string spacing. It seems that, if anything, maybe the string spacing would be what makes your fingers feel too close together, not the radius. The new American Standards have the narrower 2-1/6 inch string spacing. I think that you can easily get used to any radius, to me the 9.5 inch radius is the best. Here's my Deluxe Players.

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

Thanks for the help.I think i will buy the american standard in the new year.