MIMF

Still planning and aquiring tools and materials for my first build. I want to order a radius block from stewmac but not really sure what I want. What do you use? How does a smaller or larger radius effect how the guitar plays and feels? Is there one particular radius that is used most? thanks

I'm partial to 12" and don't really care for the tighter Fender radii as it feels kind of cramped to me. I'd recommend going to a guitar store and playing some different necks and then tracking down the specs on the one you like best.

If you are building the guitar for yourself, then definitely go to a store and play some guitars to find your favorite.
If you are the kind of player who has a smaller hand, the smaller radii, shorter scale guitars might feel good to you. I have a variety of neck radii and scale lengths in my small collection.
I have a 62 Strat with a 7 1/4 radius, which is a great feeling and playing guitar. Very comfortable for chording in the lower frets.
Some people say that a small radius will cause "Fretting Out", while bending notes. My Strat is set up for low action, and I've never fretted out while bending, even bending notes 2 or 3 steps up.

If you are a more modern player who likes finger tapping and that kind of technique, a flatter radius might be more to your liking. Some say they play a bit "Faster" for soloing. Many of the modern Metal players like a 16 inch radius.

I also own a LP with a 12 inch radius. This is really a nice, medium kind of feeling neck. Good for both chording and soloing.

The guitars I build all have a 12 inch radius and a 25 1/2 inch scale. I think, and this is purely my opinion and others will disagree, that a longer scale guitar sounds better, and is easier to play in the higher neck positions.

If you plan on using a Floyd Rose locking nut, the nut radius is 10", so you might want to take that into consideration. A good all around radius already mentioned is 12". I usually don't like flatter radii for electrics, because I find it more uncomfortable to pick, though depending on your style a flatter radius might be better.

Usually, however, if the persom I'm making a neck for plays more bluesy-style, where the thumb wraps around the top of the neck, I may be inclined to put more radius, as opposed to a shredder who keeps their thumb more on the back like a classical player.

Some people say that a small radius will cause "Fretting Out", while bending notes.

It will, if your action is low and you are bending near or past the 12th fret. If you bend an E or a B string, the bending action pushes the string into the "hill" of the radius.

Can I advocate a compound radius?
If you have a plane to rough in the fretboard, a long sanding board/beam to tidy it up, and a set of radius gauges to check your progress, you can easily achieve a compound radius with a need for fancy jigs.
I usually prefer about a 10" at the nut to 16" at the 22nd fret.

I make all mine 12" unless otherwise requested. I grew up playing Les Pauls so it feels most natural to me. Plus it's a lot easier to find hardware that matches 12" than any other radii. Of the non-adjustable variety anyway.

I like playing on a compound radius, but for my own style of playing I don't feel that I need it. I prefer a higher action and I don't use the superlight strings either. that along with the added difficulty in making them, I don't use it. I use a 12" radius too. Sometimes a 14". I like to use a press for my fretting and with a compound radius, it's very hard to have a caul for the press that fits so many different radius- Mario has made himself a jig for a compound radius but I don't want to go there.

Paul Rhoney wrote:I make all mine 12" unless otherwise requested.

Me too.

That's also my preferred radius on any of my own electrics. On acoustics I prefer flatter... like 16" or 20".

I grew up with classical guitars hanging around the house, then got the Fenders when I was a teen. Later when I just HAD to get an Ibanez RG in the 80s I found I preferred their 16" radius and wide fretboards. Now I build my personals either 12 or 16 and wide depending on what the axe is for like Gordon was saying. I'm even grooving on multiscale now for my current Rockabilly/funk fingerstyle blues tickling my whimsical directions. Thumpin the E and A strings like a bass.
But, that's me. You gotta accommodate you for the playing style you are nurturing. You'll find you can be a pretty particular customer for you to satisfy. Go wild.

Overall I prefer 12" I've used everything from 7.5 to 14 on various projects

Mine have all been 12", but I will be going to a larger radius or conical fretboard in the future.

I use 12" on narrow necks, solid body electrics---14" on the slightly wider archtop and flat-top accoustic necks---satisfy your self---forget the 7.25" Fender radius--- way hard to play IMNSHO.
Peace!

I like 12" but I round my edges off a bit between the frets

Strangely enough, the last 3 I have built, the customer wanted a flat "classical" fingerboard. I personally like flat fingerboards because I prefer the old Delta Blues style playing with a slide, and Flat boards are Ideal for that.