Fretboard Radius Reference
Standard compound fretboard radius values and what they mean for played feel.
| Radius | Feel | Use case |
|---|---|---|
| 7.25" | Vintage Fender-style, very curved, comfortable for chord-heavy rhythm playing | Can fret out during heavy bends |
| 9.5" | Modern Fender-style, moderate curve | A good all-rounder |
| 10" | Similar to 9.5", moderate curve | Common on many modern electrics |
| 12" | Flatter, less curved under the hand | Good for both rhythm and lead; common on electrics and some acoustics |
| 14" | Flatter still, favors fast lead playing and low action | Less ergonomic for cowboy chords |
| 16" | Very flat | Shred/lead-oriented; lowest action potential without fret-out |
| Compound 9.5"-14" | Curved near the nut for chord comfort, flattens toward the body | Common on modern superstrat-style necks; low-action bends without fret-out |
Fretboard Radius Reference
| Radius | Feel | Use case |
|---|---|---|
| 7.25" | Vintage Fender-style, very curved, comfortable for chord-heavy rhythm playing | Can fret out during heavy bends |
| 9.5" | Modern Fender-style, moderate curve | A good all-rounder |
| 10" | Similar to 9.5", moderate curve | Common on many modern electrics |
| 12" | Flatter, less curved under the hand | Good for both rhythm and lead; common on electrics and some acoustics |
| 14" | Flatter still, favors fast lead playing and low action | Less ergonomic for cowboy chords |
| 16" | Very flat | Shred/lead-oriented; lowest action potential without fret-out |
| Compound 9.5"-14" | Curved near the nut for chord comfort, flattens toward the body | Common on modern superstrat-style necks; low-action bends without fret-out |