FB Radius 12" or Compound Radius

[Torment Leaves Scars]

...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...

Exactly.  Given the opportunity to choose, I guess I'd choose a neck with one, but I'm not going to be unsatisfied if I didn't.  If I found out I didn't have the CR on my guitar, it wouldn't bother me.  It plays great!

 

[reluctant-builder]

...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...

Exactly.  Given the opportunity to choose, I guess I'd choose a neck with one, but I'm not going to be unsatisfied if I didn't.  If I found out I didn't have the CR on my guitar, it wouldn't bother me.  It plays great!

My Heritage has a straight 12" radius and my Hagstroms are somewhere in the realm of 14", so they're both very flat, and I like them a lot. My Hags play incredibly well. The lower frets on a compound will be minutely rounder than on a 12, but not significantly, and the higher frets will be minutely flatter ... but I'd go compound from Warmoth because they feel good, play well and are the default, and thus cheaper, option.

 

[juwel1998]

Hello reluctant-builder,

coming to the "cheaper" option, since my neck seems to be in production already (according to Paul - W. "agent"). So a change from 12" straight radius to CR will cost $ 45.00 extra.......
Do you think it's worth it?

Bye  JULIA

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

Hello reluctant-builder,

coming to the "cheaper" option, since my neck seems to be in production already (according to Paul - W. "agent"). So a change from 12" straight radius to CR will cost $ 45.00 extra.......
Do you think it's worth it?

Bye  JULIA

Julia, if it'll give you peace of mind, then yes, it's worth it.  If I were in the position you are, given the choice, yes, I would make the change.  $45 is a small price to pay for peace of mind with such an expensive investment.

 

[Strat Avenger]

Wasn't the 12" straight radius an extra charge to begin with? You ordered it because you know that's what you like on your other guitar. Now you're freaking out because someone is telling you that the Compound is so much better. The only advantage is when it comes to string bending. You can make more radical bends before the string chokes out. Do you make radical string bends when you play? Is that part of your style?

I have 3 electric guitars with a 12-inch radius, and the only time I feel a difference is when playing above the 12th fret (feels flatter). Otherwise, it's not really noticeable.

 

[reluctant-builder]

No, it's not worth changing back if you've already paid the upcharge for a straight 12. I apologize for missing that you said you went with the 12; I thought you were still deliberating.

So, go with the 12. I'm sure it will play beautifully for you, but it's by no means worth paying more to change your order.

Just bear in mind that, next time, if you go compound from the start, it won't cost you anything extra; it's the default.

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

Wasn't the 12" straight radius an extra charge to begin with? You ordered it because you know that's what you like on your other guitar. Now you're freaking out because someone is telling you that the Compound is so much better. The only advantage is when it comes to string bending. You can make more radical bends before the string chokes out. Do you make radical string bends when you play? Is that part of your style?

I have 3 electric guitars with a 12-inch radius, and the only time I feel a difference is when playing above the 12th fret (feels flatter). Otherwise, it's not really noticeable.

Well, I have 8 guitars including 1 bass, and I just picked up all of them and bent all the strings to the moon...from the 12th through 22nd frets, and I had no issues with fretting out any of them.  Out of my 8 guitars, I doubt all of them have CRs...

 

[NQbass7]

Well, I have 8 guitars including 1 bass, and I just picked up all of them and bent all the strings to the moon...from the 12th through 22nd frets, and I had no issues with fretting out any of them.  Out of my 8 guitars, I doubt all of them have CRs...

They could just have flatter fingerboards.

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

Well, I have 8 guitars including 1 bass, and I just picked up all of them and bent all the strings to the moon...from the 12th through 22nd frets, and I had no issues with fretting out any of them.  Out of my 8 guitars, I doubt all of them have CRs...

They could just have flatter fingerboards.

I guess that's a possibility, but even if that's the case, I don't notice a whole lot of difference in their playability, other than the basics, such as each brand of guitar having their own unique feels to them.

I'll add that I just don't think a foreign B.C. Rich model from the 80s was built with a consideration for a compound radius, but I could be wrong....

 

[juwel1998]

Thanks to everyone, who tried to help me out here.  :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright: :hello2: :hello2:

But the decision went for the 12" straight radius, since paying on top to make the Compound Radius worth $ 80.00, is toooo much.

Really thanks a lot for all your thoughts and time writing them down.


Bye  JULIA

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

Thanks to everyone, who tried to help me out here.  :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright: :hello2: :hello2:

But the decision went for the 12" straight radius, since paying on top to make the Compound Radius worth $ 80.00, is toooo much.

Really thanks a lot for all your thoughts and time writing them down.


Bye  JULIA

Glad you FINALLY made a choice, Julia!  I was thinking about that while playing my W this morning, and I do not think I have the CR.  It didn't affect my playing in the least, and I played back to back with a guitar I know has a CR.

Many manufacturers have used standard radii on instruments since Day 1, and nobody have ever had issues with playing them, so I doubt you will, either.