FB Radius 9.5" vs. 12"

SKYHIGH · Feb 3, 2012

On a Fender type of guitars...be it Tele, Strat, J.Master, etc,

Anyone else prefer the 12" over 9.5" fingerboard radius???

street · Feb 3, 2012

For me, yes surprisingly.
I typically like 7.25 on Fenders.

I have a Classic Player 60's strat and a HWY 1 texas tele, both with 12" rad and both play great.
Loved the feel on the necks and was surprised to find out after buying they were 12".

djg714 · Feb 3, 2012

Believe it or not I like the 9.5. Not real problem with 12, but wouldn't chase it.

cosmic_ape · Feb 3, 2012

9.5 and 12 are great. I'm learning to love the 10" radius on my PRS, though...

JUSTJOB · Feb 3, 2012

Yes, I do prefer the 12" radius over the 9.5". I don't mind the 9.5", but given the choice I'd choose the 12".

Billygibson · Feb 3, 2012

I like my 9.5" Tele and I like my 12" OP.

zorak · Feb 3, 2012

My PRS is a 10, my Zion is a 12. Just bought a Strat Plus and it is a 9.5. I think anything in that range is good for me!

billyguitar · Feb 3, 2012

The flatter the better for me. When I bend a step or more I don't want to hear any zing. I want as little change to the sound of the note as possible. I don't really care if it changes sound some except that it always kind of startles me and pulls me out of the moment.
I know some guys say even a 7.25 can do that but I've had two necks from Scott Lentz, a 9'5" and a 12", and they both do it. I doubt anyone really builds a better guitar than Scott so I accept what my ears tell me.

buddastrat · Feb 3, 2012

Not too picky, anything up to 12" works. I probably prefer 9.5"

tapeworm · Feb 3, 2012

I used to use only 9.5....before I tried the CP 60's Strat and that changed everything...12" radius from now on whenever possible.

rawkguitarist · Feb 3, 2012

I prefer 10 if it's a straight radius, 10 - 12 if it's conical.

Copper_Head · Feb 3, 2012

14" or 16" straight for me.
Players Strats w/12" are ok.

3 Mile Stone · Feb 3, 2012

Copper_Head said:
14" or 16" straight for me.
Players Strats w/12" are ok.

I Love the Deluxe Player necks. I have a black Strat that I put one on and I'm working on a second. That 12" just feels so much better on the low strings to me. 9.5 always has a buzz going on. So it's either accept the buzz or set the action too high on the E string and I don't care for that much. Other than that I find the 9.5 very playable.

groovington · Feb 3, 2012

Most I've played with are either 9.5" or 12" and I think 9.5 is more comfortable, but I don't like when bending a note up a min or maj 3rd frets out with the 9.5" so I guess I go for the 12 inch radius.

I played one of those 9.5-14" compound radius necks Fender is using on the more expensive Am. Strats, and I would love to be able to put one of them on my Strat, although I have grown attached to my own strat's neck at the same time.

Eagle1 · Feb 4, 2012

Compound.

EADGBE · Feb 4, 2012

I think I prefer 10. But 12 may give a slightly faster action with a lessened probability of fret buzz.

bluesjuke · Feb 4, 2012

I like the 12" on my Gibsons but prefer the 9.5" on Fenders.

bluesmann8 · Feb 4, 2012

Yep! i'm a 12" or flatter.

With all the strat guitars that fender makes , why in heck don't they make a short scale with a 12" radius? ANSWER ME FENDER! AND why? put the neck ajustment at the heal of the neck?
sell me a guitar Fender :hiP