What about a 8" radius or 8.5" radius?

bshane84 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:39 pm

Hey everybody.
So I'm sending my neck off soon to have it refretted with bigger frets and the radius took down a bit.(flatter) It has 7.25" radius now.(AVRI 57). Is it unheard of to have an 8" radius or maybe an 8.5" radius? I like the way the 7.25 chords. And for obvious reasons I also like the 9.5" radius. So what do ya'll think about something in between? Like an 8.5 or something.

tbazzone · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:55 pm

I don't think I would be able to tell the difference.

Capo · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 2:40 pm

It'd be better to get a compound radius board rather than just go in between. That being said I have a 7.25" and a 9.5" and I can't really tell the difference feel-wise o_O

Martian · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 7:20 pm

Frankly, I don't think you'd notice anything at all. As you know, a popular switch is from 7.25 to 9.5 where virtually all players gets accustomed to the difference pretty much immediately. Probably the only noteworthy differences going to the 9.5 (even in a compound radius) are that the action can be made a touch lower where in spite of this, upper bends don't choke out as much. YMMV.

orvilleowner · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 9:14 pm

I bet that in the old days some Strats left the factory with 8" radius fretboards (because of the handmade nature of things --- and guys gotta have a first day, you know).

Martian · **Posted:** Mon Mar 07, 2011 5:50 am

orvilleowner wrote:

I bet that in the old days some Strats left the factory with 8" radius fretboards (because of the handmade nature of things --- and guys gotta have a first day, you know).

I wouldn't be surprised at all!

Rebelsoul · **Posted:** Mon Mar 07, 2011 6:46 am

In the book Stratocaster Chronicles,it talks about the V-necks and some guy who was working there at the time said it was due to an inexperienced employee using the drum sander and turning out hundreds of them differently...of course some say that isn't the case....who knows.

bshane84 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 07, 2011 7:26 am

Martian wrote:

Frankly, I don't think you'd notice anything at all. As you know, a popular switch is from 7.25 to 9.5 where virtually all players gets accustomed to the difference pretty much immediately. Probably the only noteworthy differences going to the 9.5 (even in a compound radius) are that the action can be made a touch lower where in spite of this, upper bends don't choke out as much. YMMV.

The difference between the 7.25 and the 9.5 on the two strats I have is pretty noticeable. It's not at all hard to adjust to but it's quite noticeable. However, one is a modern C and the other is a soft-V. So the profile on back I'm sure has alot to do with it. I'll probably just get it taken down to a 9.5. Thanks for your Comments guys.

fendermandan · **Posted:** Tue Mar 08, 2011 9:41 am

I often switch between 9.5 on Fender ans 12 on Gibson and the only difference in feel is the neck scale. Curvature of the frets and neck is negligible in my opinion.

I would suggest you stick to more standard radius only for the future fret maintenance. I makes it easier/faster to service the neck with the standard radius vs custom if you are not a luthier and like some DIY action. Good luthiers probably don't have issues with either.

Ceri · **Posted:** Tue Mar 08, 2011 9:50 am

bshane84 wrote:

I'll probably just get it taken down to a 9.5. Thanks for your Comments guys.

Hi bshane84: the issue here would be finding the tools for the job, far as unusual radii are concerned. Guitar factories use purpose designed machinary for radiusing necks, but out in the world the rest of us (including your luthier) have to make do with radiused sanding blocks. In my experience those blocks come only in traditional sizes: 7.25, 9.5, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 20 inches. I haven't seen other sizes.

Of course, you could always make your own sanding block to a custom size and then radius the fingerboard from that - if you know how to. Or, it so happens I have just bought some replacement blocks from a guy making them near to where I live - this fella:

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/LUTHIMATE-UK?_ ... 4340.l2563

I have no idea what his manufacturing process is, but perhaps he could turn out different sizes to order? Or someone else nearer to where you live. If that involves significant rejigging and tooling up then it is going to cost.

Anyway. That's how you'd have to go about it if you were determined to have a non-standard radius.

...I'd stick to a normal one if I were you.

Cheers - C

Andybighair · **Joined:** Tue Dec 01, 2009 9:22 am **Posts:** 2175

Ceri wrote:

Of course, you could always make your own sanding block to a custom size and then radius the fingerboard from that - if you know how to. Or, it so happens I have just bought some replacement blocks from a guy making them near to where I live - this fella:

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/LUTHIMATE-UK?_ ... 4340.l2563

Sweet!

Are they any good Mr C? I'm in the market for a few myself.

Andy

Ceri · **Posted:** Tue Mar 08, 2011 12:07 pm

Hi Andy: it's a first class product. A touch more expensive than Stew-Mac, but then very low postage. It more than balanced out on just the two I bought. Very nice, helpful gent, too.

Recommended.

Cheers - C

bshane84 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 08, 2011 1:51 pm

Ceri wrote:

bshane84 wrote:

I'll probably just get it taken down to a 9.5. Thanks for your Comments guys.

Hi bshane84: the issue here would be finding the tools for the job, far as unusual radii are concerned. Guitar factories use purpose designed machinary for radiusing necks, but out in the world the rest of us (including your luthier) have to make do with radiused sanding blocks. In my experience those blocks come only in traditional sizes: 7.25, 9.5, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 20 inches. I haven't seen other sizes.

Of course, you could always make your own sanding block to a custom size and then radius the fingerboard from that - if you know how to. Or, it so happens I have just bought some replacement blocks from a guy making them near to where I live - this fella:

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/LUTHIMATE-UK?_ ... 4340.l2563

Thanks Ceri for your info. Appreciate it.

I have no idea what his manufacturing process is, but perhaps he could turn out different sizes to order? Or someone else nearer to where you live. If that involves significant rejigging and tooling up then it is going to cost.

Anyway. That's how you'd have to go about it if you were determined to have a non-standard radius.

...I'd stick to a normal one if I were you.

Cheers - C

Andybighair · **Joined:** Tue Dec 01, 2009 9:22 am **Posts:** 2175

Ceri wrote:

Hi Andy: it's a first class product. A touch more expensive than Stew-Mac, but then very low postage. It more than balanced out on just the two I bought. Very nice, helpful gent, too.

Recommended.

Cheers - C

Marvellous! That has taken another item of my rather huge Stewmac shopping basket.

Thanks!

Andy

Ceri · **Posted:** Tue Mar 08, 2011 5:23 pm

Hi bshane: no probs!

To Andy: be most interested to know what else is on that shopping list of yours...?

Cheers - C

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What about a 8" radius or 8.5" radius?

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