fingerboard radius??????

zEr0 · #1 12-10-2002, 06:54 PM

I'm kind of new to the guitar world and i've heard some of my musician friends talk about the radius of the fretboard. I understand this has to do with how round the fingerboard is but i would like to know exactly how it is measured cuz i don't get it.

Does a higher radius mean more curvature or less???

Oh and what the hell is the f-space in guitar pickups??

Thanks to anyone for the help

littlegreenman · #2 12-10-2002, 07:47 PM

Welcome to the forum, now no need for cursing LOL!!!!!

Fingerboard radius, it is exactly that, the radius, or curvature of the fingerboard. The smaller the number, the tighter the radius.

If you imagine this, it is a radius, in inches or millimeters. all the fingerboard radius is, is a segment of a circle. If it is a 12" radius (like a fender) it would make a 24" circle. An Ibanez is 430mm (almost 17") so you would have a 34" circle, now cut a segment out of that, the segment on the 34" circle will be much flatter than the 24" circle.

To think of it in really dramatic terms, take a golf ball, and a watermelon. cut a 1" wide strip out of each of them. The golf ball will be nearly cut right in half, the watermelon will have a very small radius on the top.

That is fretboard radius, Ibanez is typically 430mm (17") Fender is typically 12"

F spacing on a pickup is a little wider string and pole spacing developed for use with Floyd trems, hence the F

Globbits · #3 12-11-2002, 10:43 AM

The tighter the radius, the more vintage and less fast (harder to play fast) the neck is.

littlegreenman · #4 12-11-2002, 02:21 PM

Not really, maybe I'd agree with more vintage, but harder to play? no.
in fact, the tighter radius is very helpful for people with smaller hands, it makes chording easier in many cases. However, you do lose bending quality as a higher bend will fret out faster with lower action, but not as fast, can't agree with that either, I can play just as fast on a Gibson with a 9.5" radius as an Ibanez with a 17" radius. I find fret size more limiting to speed than neck radius personally.

Globbits · #5 12-12-2002, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlegreenman

However, you do lose bending quality as a higher bend will fret out faster with lower action, but not as fast, can't agree with that either, I can play just as fast on a Gibson with a 9.5" radius as an Ibanez with a 17" radius.

I think that's what i mean't to say...

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlegreenman

a Gibson with a 9.5" radius

Is a Les Paul really that small a radius??

Rich · #6 12-12-2002, 01:02 PM

Nah, Jeremy's been at the crack pipe again. The FENDER is a 9.5" radius, the Gibson much flatter [I should know but I've forgotten] around 16" I think.

littlegreenman · #7 12-12-2002, 02:24 PM

ok, I'm wrong, but so is rich LOL!!!!!!!!

Gibson fretboard radius -> 12"

Fender fretboard radius -> from 9.5" to 15" (dependent on model)

Rich · #8 12-12-2002, 02:28 PM

Vintage Strat, always 9.5.

12"? Really? My Les Paul feels as flat as any Jem [from memory, it hasn't even been put back together in 8 years now]

littlegreenman · #9 12-12-2002, 02:36 PM

maybe it's wore out LOL!!!!!!!!!

Actually, I've noticed that on LP's too, that they feel kinda flat, but I think it has to do with the radius in comparison to the width of the neck, LP's are a quite narrow neck (all that I've played anyway) and so the radius just ends up feeling flatter cuz it's not as wide. Well, that's my opinion anyway, I still haven't played a LP I thought felt any better than a baseball bat LOL, and I've thought they did feel pretty round

Rich · #10 12-12-2002, 02:58 PM

You'd swear you were playing a wizard neck if you played mine

littlegreenman · #11 12-12-2002, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

You'd swear you were playing a wizard neck if you played mine

ya sure ya didn't stick a wizard neck on there? LOL!!!!!!!!

Rich · #12 12-12-2002, 03:06 PM

If you ever have the chance to pickup a 78' Custom you'll know what I mean

sitting duck · #13 12-13-2002, 12:47 AM

Just FYI:

Vintage Fender = 7.25 with small frets

Modern Fender = 9.5 on American Series with Med/Jumbo frets.

The SRV Strat has a 12" radius.

I sell these things every day, then go home and play my RG!!

Globbits · #14 12-13-2002, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sitting duck

Vintage Fender = 7.25 with small frets

How horrible...

sitting duck · #15 12-13-2002, 10:12 PM

Globbits - hee hee. Some people just don't know any better!