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Post subject: neck radius question
Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 1:15 am
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Hey,
I've been trying to understand the neck radius on my strat so I can adjust the neck relief properly. Can someone explain in plain English how to determine the neck radius? The Fender tech sight explains it in terms of tying a pencil to a string with a thumb tac on the other end and drawing a circle to represent the neck radius. WTF? I guess I just don't get the visual on this. Any help would be much appreciated.
R


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Post subject: Re: neck radius question
Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 1:22 am
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hi , what age and model of strat do you have ? i use a set of radius gauges for doing settups and they can be handy for determining the radius , but if you let us know what model you have you should get the answer in no time :D . cheers
Alan

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Post subject: Re: neck radius question
Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 2:19 am
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You don't realy need to know the radius. It is not a must . I adjust my guitars , vintage or modern close to .011 inches . You playing habit tell what you need .
I have all precise gauge from StewMac for this work.
What Fender suggest , .010 for modern radius and .012 for vintage is an average.

Modern guitar ; 9.5 radius , Vintage 7.25..

Your question made ​​me smile : " I have a problem with my Stratocaster, can you help me ?"

No details, nothing to help us. Fender built so many Strat model. Unfortunately you're not the first nor the last.


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Post subject: Re: neck radius question
Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 7:04 am
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The radius is a measurement of the arc of a circle. From the center of a circle to the outside edge, to be precise.
So a circle with a radius of 3" has quite a steep arc. A circle with a radius of 8 ft has a very shallow arc.

It plays no part in your neck relief. Your playing style has significantly greater impact on how much relief you'll need in your neck.

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Post subject: Re: neck radius question
Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 11:19 am
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nikininja wrote:
The radius is a measurement of the arc of a circle. From the center of a circle to the outside edge, to be precise. So a circle with a radius of 3" has quite a steep arc. A circle with a radius of 8 ft has a very shallow arc. It plays no part in your neck relief. Your playing style has significantly greater impact on how much relief you'll need in your neck.


+1
Basically, the higher the neck radius number (12") will be slimmer
than lower numbers (7"), which will be thicker.

Wonder if we can get a 20" radius for a more flat neck :D

Another thing it that neck radius' change towards being thicker
near the nut or the body and thinner near the 12th fret.

Hope this helps. Toppscore 8)

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Post subject: Re: neck radius question and intonation issues
Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 12:47 pm
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Thanks for all the help. I have 2003 standard strat with a rosewood fret board, nothing unusual about it. In trying to adjust the intonation I noticed that when I fret the 12th fret with out plucking the string, there are 2 notes audible. The obvious note that sounds is the pickup side of the fret (an octave above the open string yes?). but the other note, created be the distance from the 12th fret to the nut, is a 1/2 step above the open string. Are you with me? What I'm hearing are 2 notes a 1/2 step apart, a dissonance if you will. Is this normal? It seems to me that this could actually cause some real harmonic problems such as phase cancellation or intonation maladies. I hope I explained this clearly. Thanks.


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Post subject: Re: neck radius question
Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 1:13 pm
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You're worrying too much and hammering the string a little too vigorously. My guitars all do it if I play with over enthusiasm.

You're hearing both sides of the string. Usually you'd only hear the fret to bridge side. But you're also hearing the fret below to nut side of the strings talk length.
It won't be audible when amplified. Because the pickups are at the bridge side so only see that side of the strings talk length.

Nothing to worry about at all.

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Post subject: Re: neck radius question and intonation issues
Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 3:02 pm
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Rblooz wrote:
Thanks for all the help. I have 2003 standard strat with a rosewood fret board, nothing unusual about it. In trying to adjust the intonation I noticed that when I fret the 12th fret with out plucking the string, there are 2 notes audible. The obvious note that sounds is the pickup side of the fret (an octave above the open string yes?). but the other note, created be the distance from the 12th fret to the nut, is a 1/2 step above the open string. Are you with me? What I'm hearing are 2 notes a 1/2 step apart, a dissonance if you will. Is this normal? It seems to me that this could actually cause some real harmonic problems such as phase cancellation or intonation maladies. I hope I explained this clearly. Thanks.


Wow :shock:
Interesting :?
Maybe, someday someone will put pickups
on the 2nd 3rd & 4th frets for double reverse tones and a half?

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Post subject: Re: neck radius question
Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 8:53 pm
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Thanks nikininja!


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Post subject: Re: neck radius question and intonation issues
Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 9:53 pm
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Rblooz wrote:
...I have 2003 standard strat...


FWIW, you have a 9.5" radius.

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Post subject: Re: neck radius question
Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 10:43 pm
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hi , topscore , Frank Zappa used to mic up the neck of his guitars when recording , he was way out there :mrgreen: cheers
Alan

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Post subject: Re: neck radius question
Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 1:13 am
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alanssaab wrote:
hi , topscore , Frank Zappa used to mic up the neck of his guitars when recording , he was way out there :mrgreen: cheers Alan
Good to know.
Any pictures of Zappa's guitar neck?
Toppscore 8)

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Post subject: Re: neck radius question
Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 3:31 pm
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Thanks for that alanssaab! I've seen a picture of Frank Zappa playing a special guitar with pickups in the neck. Can't remember what magazine it was in..something to do with the history of rock and jazz coming together...I'll find it and post it when I do.
R


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Post subject: Re: neck radius question
Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 9:43 pm
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Rblooz wrote:
Thanks for that alanssaab! I've seen a picture of Frank Zappa playing a special guitar with pickups in the neck. Can't remember what magazine it was in..something to do with the history of rock and jazz coming together...I'll find it and post it when I do.
R

RBlooz! That would be great.
Start a thread with it so we can comment and not miss it.
Toppscore 8)

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