FB Radius 12" or Compound Radius

[Strat Avenger]

Julia, there is no difference in "comfort" between a 12-inch radius, and a 10-16-inch compound radius. The only real difference would be that if you are into a lot of string bending in the upper regions of the neck, you can bend the string further without choking the note. It will sustain better. Compound radius is great, and Fender has finally started doing it on some production models, but I can almost guarantee that you will be quite happy with the 12-inch straight radius. I have 3 guitars with a straight 12, one with a 9.5, one with a compound (and I don't know what my acoustic is).

Eric Johnson's signature Strat is a 12-inch straight radius, and he can have anything he wants. It's a nice all-around profile.

 

[crash]

I agree with Street Avenger.  You will probably not notice any difference between a 12 and a 10-16.  I went from playing an Ibanez 17" radius for many many years to a compound without trying one.  It took a few days to get used to.  I mean that in a good way.  It was easier for barre cords with the smaller radius, and no noticeable difference in the upper frets.

 

[Tipperman]

A 12" radius is fine, Julia. I think the compound is nice, and has advantages for sure, but a 12" will suit you very well. the $45 isn't worth it in my opinion. I think you will be very satisfied with a 12" radius. It is very playable and very comfortable all across the neck.

 

[Disco Scottie]

My first compound neck was on my Suhr. I bought it sight-unseen online, having never played anything with that feature. Within minutes of taking it out of the case, I was hooked. IMHO well worth the $45.

All that said, I still have plenty of straight-radius guitars that I enjoy just fine. Either way you can't go wrong.

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

A 12" radius is fine, Julia. I think the compound is nice, and has advantages for sure, but a 12" will suit you very well. the $45 isn't worth it in my opinion. I think you will be very satisfied with a 12" radius. It is very playable and very comfortable all across the neck.

Julia, just to add to Tipperman's post, I just checked the paperwork for my W neck, and it doesn't state anything about a compound radius, so I must have just gone with a standard radius. 

I have no playability issues whatsoever with it.  Sometimes I feel like when I get up on the fretboard past the 12th fret, it's a little hard to press the strings down with my 3rd and 4th finger as compared with my Jacksons, which have compound radii, but every neck is different, so it could just be a case of the overall shape of it.  My Jacksons' necks are a bit beefier than my W neck, as I went with the "Wizard" profile, which is very thin.

Truth be told, I really don't think the playability "issue" is the cause of a flat radius.

 

[Cagey]

I just looked at a few invoices from Warmoth that included necks, and none of them mention the Compound Radius. I suspect that's because the CR is standard, so they don't have to add it as a line item. If you wanted a straight radius, then it would be called out along with the radius dimension.

 

[Cagey]

Yeah, I just looked at the sales confirmation details and it does mention it there. What I was looking at before were the packing lists.

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

Yeah, I just looked at the sales confirmation details and it does mention it there. What I was looking at before were the packing lists.

Here's my manifest...I don't believe I have the compound radius...

 

[Cagey]

That was the first document I was looking at and I couldn't tell from it, either. But, if I looked up the original order confirmation it explicitly said "Compound Radius", among other details that weren't on the manifest.

 

[Updown]

All mine are stating what radius etc is on original invoices. (Not packing invoice)

Easy way to tell, if you haven't the measuring tools or original dockets.
Is if it's a Compound Radius it will have Warmoth Radius Stamped on the butt.

Like below pic ...
the other pic is a 9.5'' (hard to see it thou)

 

[SustainerPlayer]

Or else the information is on your account: Home > Your Account > Order History

 

[mayfly]

Hi Julia

The 12 radius will be just fine.  I would not worry.

 

[Johnfv]

IMO, either one will be fine. All my Warmoth necks are compound radius and I do love them. That said, my Eric Johnson Strat with 12" Radius is excellent as well...

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

All mine are stating what radius etc is on original invoices. (Not packing invoice)

Easy way to tell, if you haven't the measuring tools or original dockets.
Is if it's a Compound Radius it will have Warmoth Radius Stamped on the butt.

Like below pic ...
the other pic is a 9.5'' (hard to see it thou)

While I'm not going to remove the neck to find out if mine does, I believe the back of the neck on mine looks like the bottom one in your photo...

 

[juwel1998]

Hey Dan,

well, according to your "bill?" it says you have the  "WIZ" radius (if I read it correctly).
I don't know if that exists for a fingerboard radius tho.

Bye  JULIA

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

Hey Dan,

well, according to your "bill?" it says you have the  "WIZ" radius (if I read it correctly).
I don't know if that exists for a fingerboard radius tho.

Bye  JULIA

I'm not sure, Julia.  A 12" radius is a good all-round radius, so if you don't have the compound, I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[Cagey]

"Wiz" may be an abbreviation for "Wizard" neck profile, which don't think implies a particular radius.

 

[juwel1998]

@ Cagey,

well, that's what I thought I could mean, tried to check it on the "Neck Builder" and couldn't find it......
But probably you are right.

Adios  JULIA


@ Dan

thanks for trying to comfort me a little, concerning the FB radius. It's just that a certain person bugs me to definitly get the CR.

Ciao JULIA

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

@ Cagey,

well, that's what I thought I could mean, tried to check it on the "Neck Builder" and couldn't find it......
But probably you are right.

Adios  JULIA


@ Dan

thanks for trying to comfort me a little, concerning the FB radius. It's just that a certain person bugs me to definitly get the CR.

Ciao JULIA

Julia, basically, it's like this.  A compound radius is just said to be more ergonomically correct than a "standard" radius.  That's like saying one of those "ergonomically correct" keyboards is easier to type on than a standard keyboard.  Where's the proof?  :icon_scratch:

I could probably play two guitars, one with a compound radius, and one with a standard radius, and I'd probably never know the difference.

 

[Johnfv]

...I could probably play two guitars, one with a compound radius, and one with a standard radius, and I'd probably never know the difference.

+1. The difference I can feel between my 12" and my 10-16" compound guitars is quite subtle. Not worth losing sleep over IMO...