What Is the Radius of a Fender Stratocaster Neck?
Fender Stratocasters are electric guitars with an instantly recognizable shape. Guitarists such as Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton and Yngwie Malmsteen have their own signature Stratocaster, and the guitar is used by many more guitarists.
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Neck Radius
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The neck radius has a lot to do with how comfortable you will be playing the guitar. The larger the neck's radius is, the flatter the curve of the neck of your guitar will be. The radius is calculated by assuming the curve of the neck continues on to form a circle, and then using that imaginary circle's radius to identify the neck's curve.
Vintage Stratocasters
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The radius of a neck on a vintage Stratocaster is 7.25 inches. This makes for a relatively curved neck, which may be slightly uncomfortable for some players. For most players, 9.5 to 12 inches is suitable, but if you want a vintage, you will get used to the neck radius with time.
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Modern Stratocasters
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Modern Stratocasters have a 9.5-inch neck radius. This will be comfortable for most players, but if you normally play lead, you should consider something with a larger radius. Slightly flatter necks are better for lead players.
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References
- Photo Credit electric guitar go-round image by Edward Stephens from Fotolia.com
