Will I not like the standard 9.5 radius on American Strats

[still.ill]

compared to the compound radiuses on the Deluxe models?
gotten so used to how easy it is to bend without fretting out and the lower action at the higher frets

 

[Strat87]

Assuming the fretwork is good, 9.5" radius will allow low action and big bends. Setup is everything

 

[Badside]

Straight is perfectly fine, compound is just better (IMHO)

Try one for yourself. I MUCH prefer compound, but it's a subtle thing and most of my guitars don't have it. Then again those that don't have it have a flatter radius than 9.5"... (12 to 14)

 

[Paleolith54]

Assuming the fretwork is good, 9.5" radius will allow low action and big bends. Setup is everything

I agree, though I've found it easier to get a good set-up with flatter and/or compound boards. Someone more skilled might get better results.

 

[Gearaddict]

I prefer 7 1/4", 12" radius or compound which varies 9 1/2" to 14". I can't play a straight 9 1/2 to save my life!

 

[gulliver]

I don't notice a difference going from my straight (older) deluxe to a compound wormoth ... but I keep my action normal to high by today's standards.

 

[snow and steel]

Stop by a GC or a sam ash and try one.

Its a subtle difference to me.

 

[JWDubois]

I've never played a compound, although I would like to.

I have two AmStd Strats and an AmStd Tele with 9.5's and they all play great. I have the action set very low (less than 1/16" on all strings) with a nearly straight relief on all three, with no fretting out anywhere. They didn't need any fretwork or nutwork to achieve this.

If they weren't so expensive, I'd buy some 2011-2013 AmStd necks and store them away, I like them so much.