What's the Downside to 12" Radius?

[Eddie27]

I've been looking at Strats. I currently play a Reverend 290, which is a 12" radius. I like it. I understand what radius is and that the downside to a smaller radius is that they're harder to bend and tend to fret out up the neck. I've got 2 questions:

 

1 - is there any downside to 12" necks? I know I like mine, but is there anything subjectively better about 9.5" or 7"?

 

2 - I played a Mayer Strat at a store and liked it but noticed that my ring finger would get pinched when doing a double bend. Doesn't happen on my Rev. The sales guy said that is a matter of setup not radius. I think that's BS, but anything to that?

[JC777]

Some of the Strats come with 12" Radius.
The Deluxe Players Strat definitely does.

Personally I don't like anything below 9.5.

Gibson's are typically a 12" radius.

And to answer your question, I can't think of any downside to 12" radius.

[Grantus]

Some people say a rounder radius makes chording more comfortable.

[Mudder1310]

^^^ yes.

The shorter radius makes it easier to chord, but bends can be more difficult.

[metallica_00]

^^^ yes. The shorter radius makes it easier to chord, but bends can be more difficult.

 

 

Yup. I've found for general major/minor/power rock chording and riffing even a really flat radius is no hindrance. But when I'm working with various inversions of 7th, 9th chords, etc (ie playing jazz) I can definitely tell where a rounde radius would be helpful for some of the more awkward positions, particular those involving barres. (my main guitars are 12" G&L and 16" Ibanez btw)

 

As far as feeling pinched, I'm not sure exactly what you mean, but remember nut width (which is independent of radius) varies as well.

[Jim85IROC]

My Ibanez has a 12" radius and my Strat has a 9.5". Most of my playing is chording, and I definately find it to be more difficult on my Ibanez. It's not a big enough difference to prevent me from using the Ibanez, but I definately have to be a bit more precise when playing chords on the ibanez. I never really found the Strat to be more difficult to bend on, but I don't really bend a whole lot either.

[-todgemistro-]

12" radius is perfect for me, I hate narrower radius as found on many fender guitars.

[mymindsok]

My EJ has a flat board and it took me a few days to get used to it. Now, I really like it. Bar chords need a bit more attention but you get used to it pretty fast. When I switch to my Tele necked Fender 51s its so much fun, cause everything feels like I'm just fooling around instead of "playing".

OTOH my Brawley has a 12" radius combined with a wide neck. You can be real fast with that one but it takes some getting used to!

I'd say, have no fear.

[Guitar Heel]

^^^ yes. The shorter radius makes it easier to chord, but bends can be more difficult.

 

 

Yep, hence the advent of compoud radus necks, which are around 9.5 for the first few frets, leveling off to around 12 in the upper registers. Big fan.

[ESPImperium]

What about a Compound radius like 12-16 like on a Jackson or Ibanez, as im looking at a Jackson or a Ibanez for a project at the moment and what would a compound radi feel like???