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Post subject: What neck radius is best for small hands?
Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2014 3:55 pm
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I see numbers and shapes described always but how does it translate to the best feel?

Thanks for any insight.

Rt4957 Phil


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Post subject: Re: What neck radius is best for small hands?
Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2014 4:02 pm
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The radius is referring to the curvature of the fretboard, and I can't see how hand size would make any difference.
The rear profile of the neck is a different matter.
Obviously a player with smaller hands is less likely to get on with the large early to mid 50s ('54 - '56) style necks, but it's a difficult thing to predict.


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Post subject: Re: What neck radius is best for small hands?
Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2014 6:32 pm
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I make the same recommendations every time a question like this is posted. The most common neck shape in the Fender range is their 'modern C'. Some of the guitars are fitted with a 'soft V'. We are seeing a 'D' neck on some new issues. There is also a 'U' shape. Then there's the Clapton which is described as a 'special soft V'. Based upon the description you give of your hand, find a store which is displaying an American Standard 'modern C', an American Standard or American Deluxe 'V', and a Clapton and see which of these suits you. FYI..you will only find the Clapton neck carve on that model.

The letter designations can be a bit confusing because they are derived from a very early time when neck carves of a specific shape and dimension were arbitrarily labeled 'A', 'B'. 'C', 'D'. The latter two have evolved into a sense of shape along with the 'U' and the 'V' which are literal descriptions of neck cross-section. But, for example, a Clapton-V, a 10/56-V, and the generic 'soft V' are three very different shapes and feels. It is, as well, with the 'modern C' on the American Standard compared to the vintage C neck on the Gilmour guitar, which is known as a '57V after the 1983 '57V Stratocaster it was mated to.

As far as fret board radius is concerned, the term applies to a circle whose radius is of the length described. The curvature of the fret board represents a section taken out of that circumference [a length of arc]. As the radius of the circle increases, the same length of arc will be flatter. Hence, the board gets flatter as its radius increases. Fender vintage necks have a radius of 7.5. The more common radius these days is 9.5. There are a couple of Fender necks which have a radius of 12. Fender is now fitting necks which have a compound radius starting at 9.5 at the nut and ending at 14 at the neck end. This means the boards gets 'flatter' as you move up the neck. The flatter the board, the easier it is to bend strings and the faster the neck becomes.

This is why my counsel has always been that, after familiarizing yourself with the various guitars in the products section, you really have to get out and play them. Keep us posted on what you learn.

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Post subject: Re: What neck radius is best for small hands?
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 8:54 am
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If you have the money, try to find a late '70s Stratocaster. It's been my experience that they have the smallest necks I've played. I, too, have small hands.

You can also go to Warmoth and build your own. Talk with the one of their sales persons and they should be able to send you in the right direction.

I also like the Clapton Strat's neck (soft "V").


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Post subject: Re: What neck radius is best for small hands?
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 8:55 am
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If you have the money, try to find a late '70s Stratocaster. It's been my experience that they have the smallest necks I've played. I, too, have small hands.

You can also go to Warmoth and build your own. Talk with the one of their sales persons and they should be able to send you in the right direction.

I also like the Clapton Strat's neck (soft "V").


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Post subject: Re: What neck radius is best for small hands?
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 1:59 pm
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paris wrote:
If you have the money, try to find a late '70s Stratocaster. It's been my experience that they have the smallest necks I've played. I, too, have small hands.

You can also go to Warmoth and build your own. Talk with the one of their sales persons and they should be able to send you in the right direction.

I also like the Clapton Strat's neck (soft "V").

I'm guessing the submit button's workin' funny again Paris. :?

That reminds me of the line from the Talking Heads song Psycho Killer, "say something once, why say it again?" :lol:

As for the OP, most all of the Strat Necks today have the Slim C back contour. The MIJ (Made in Japan) are a tad slimmer.

Go to the stores and play/finger as many models as you can before they call the cops on ya. Never seen that happen, though. :o

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Post subject: Re: What neck radius is best for small hands?
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 4:30 pm
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Opposite problem here - I have really big hands, and wish Fender would re-introduce the two wider choices they had before. They currently only have the narrow and extra narrow necks. Which is great for young people and those with smaller hands. :|


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Post subject: Re: What neck radius is best for small hands?
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 5:47 pm
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Thanks for the tips.
This is for future reference for my Grandson,Who is only a week old,,but my wheels are already turning.
(Also want him not to mess with MY guitars.)

Rt4957


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Post subject: Re: What neck radius is best for small hands?
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 6:46 pm
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arth1 wrote:
Opposite problem here - I have really big hands, and wish Fender would re-introduce the two wider choices they had before. They currently only have the narrow and extra narrow necks. Which is great for young people and those with smaller hands. :|

I've got the medium-small hands arth1, but my good bud is 6' 5" and has problems with "regular" necks. One of his most comfortable is a 7 string that he converted to a 6 string. He likes an 1 7/8 Nut and, of course, cuts his own.

He finally found what he needs at Warmoth. You can get a nice neck for under $300.00, just add tuners.
http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Necks/Superwide_WarmothPro.aspx
Replacement Strat® Superwide Guitar Neck Warmoth Pro Construction: This is about as wide as they can get and still maintain decent string alignment with the pickup pole pieces. As the nut widens, so also does the string spread at the heel of the neck. To make it all work, we have also widened the fingerboard over a 16th of an inch on either side . This all results in a normal string to fingerboard edge margin over the full length of the neck.

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