Fingerboard radius - what's your preference?

[supar6]

I'm interested in hearing your preference for fingerboard radius. I know most likely have a few guitars with different sizes but likely have a favorite.

For me - it's 7.25. Pair that with vintage frets and I'm in heaven!!

I own just about every size out there and while they have a different feel I've grown quite fond of my '62 Fender American Vintage RI strat with vintage frets.

Happy posting!

[Old Tele man]

...the "old" original 7¼" that Leo Fender first started with, much easier to "chord" with than newer, flatter radius boards.

[Flyin' Brian]

Nothing smaller than 9 1/2 or bigger than 12. Any in between is OK by me.

[re-animator]

i like the wide-flat classical type 12" boards for lead playing.... but I prefer the rounder old school fender necks for rhythm. Thank god for compound radius.

[Bill Brasky]

7.25. with vintage Fender frets. I have absolutely no problem with bending or notes fretting out.

[Sean French]

12 for a Gibson
7.25 for a Fender

[jazzandmetal?]

12 :RoCkIn

[hawkeye17]

Compound radius 10"-14" is my favorite. Anything from9.5" to 14" works for me though.

[VaughnC]

7.25" Fender generally feels the best in my hands but, for some reason, the SRV Strat is one 12" neck that doesn't bother me. Other 12" Strat necks just drive me crazy and I dislike anything Gibson.

[pickaguitar]

I've been thinking of getting a nice nitro Musikraft neck to put on a 3lb 10oz highway one body I recently got for a great price on ebay. (I'm having it buffed to a gloss)

My concern is fingerboard radius!
I've had an EJ strat and felt the 12inch radius wasn't as friendly to me as I had hoped...too flat.
I don't really want 7.25 all the way down the board for fear of fretting out and such.
Since I don't really have the opportunity to try guitars with custom fingerboards...are there any hints/recommendations as to what I 'might' like based on the below options?

7.25
9.5
10
compound 7.25 - 9.5

I don't know where I can try a compound 7.25 - 9.5 neck to see if I like it but in theory it seems both comfortable for the cowboys chords and comfortable for bends up the neck.

Or I could just play it safe and go simply 9.5 or 10. (not compound)

[Redbell]

12, grew up playing Les Pauls.

[tonedaddy]

7.25 or 9.5 work equally well for me

[Old Tele man]

...this question would make an excellent POLL subject (hint,hint)!

[Dave]

Originally Posted by hawkeye17

Compound radius 10"-14" is my favorite. Anything from9.5" to 14" works for me though.

Same for me.

[Pete Galati]

I like 7-1/4"R. the best for Fender type necks. 9-1/2"R. works just fine though. I'm not a big fan of compound radius fingerboards.

Gibson type necks are a lot flatter, and those are usually very comfortable. I think the shorter scale necks work better with flatter fingerboards.

If I was going to get a 24-3/4" scale Fender type neck, I'd probably choose a flatter fingerboard to go with it.