Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm interested in knowing how the size of the fretboard radius affects peoples perceptions of string spacing. One question I have is whether a more curved board would give a feeling of more openness, either for real or imagined reasons. My guitars are all about the same radius so I have to guess about this. The one exception is my 430 whose board is very flat, but I don't have a small radius neck to compare it with. None of it gives me a problem, but I'm just curious about others' thoughts on this idea. Thanks

Anyone feel that a curvier fretboard is easier to play than a flatter one, per se?

Depends on what I'm doing. If I'm fingerpicking, a flatter fingerboard is what I'm used to. (Like a Gretsch or my SL Mossman) For hybrid picking, I'll reach for my Rick.

JimK

I don't have any differing perceptions regarding string spacing, Kira, but I really struggle with a tight radius fretboard - tight being 6.5" or 7.5".

I play a lot of full-barre, half-barre and ninth chords and the smaller radius means I have to concentrate on 'pulling down' on the treble side of the fretboard and in the case of a full-barre I also have to make sure I'm not muting on the bass side.

I'm most comfortable with 9.5" and 10" and don't have any problems with acoustics, which tend to be 12" plus.

I love a small radius--7.25 etc.

The fretboard radius on vintage Rics (like almost all Ric details) changed a lot between years. My '64 has a flatter 8.25 board, but I used to have a '65 that had a super curvy fretboard--7.25 I think, and it played great.

A lot of frustration with a fretboard's radius might have to do with playing style, chording style etc.

A lot of frustration with a fretboard's radius might have to do with playing style, chording style etc.

I don't believe that's the case with me, Collin. I think it's more a case of what I'm used to. I play modern Ricks, Strats, Teles and Gibsons and they all have a 9.5" radius or higher. I'm sure that if I spent time with a tighter radius and nothing else I'd come to grips with it.

To tell you the truth, I don't really notice radius, scale length, string spacing or fret size unless someone calls my attention to it. And even then I don't feel much difference.

Wow, it looks like it's a pretty subjective area with answers all over the place. Very interesting. I'd like to try a rounder neck, just for kicks, to see how it goes for lead work.

For me , if I'm playing lead , especially early Clapton, I much prefer a 12" radius. With very curved boards with a tight radius notes choke and die when I do bends. I do find a tight radius lends itself to chickin' pickin type things for some reason. Just my experience, your results may vary

britinvasion wrote:For me , if I'm playing lead , especially early Clapton, I much prefer a 12" radius. With very curved boards with a tight radius notes choke and die when I do bends. I do find a tight radius lends itself to chickin' pickin type things for some reason. Just my experience, your results may vary

Yeah, I definitely agree with you Frank.

It depends on the circumstances. When I'm ripping out some Claptonesque Bluesbreakers, I want a Gibson style flatter fingerboard, for maximum string bending. I simply don't play that kind of stuff on a Ric, where a curvy fretboard feels more comfortable to me. Not that it's impossible to play that sort of stuff on a Ric, but it just feels like the wrong tool for the job, ya know?

collin wrote:

britinvasion wrote:For me , if I'm playing lead , especially early Clapton, I much prefer a 12" radius. With very curved boards with a tight radius notes choke and die when I do bends. I do find a tight radius lends itself to chickin' pickin type things for some reason. Just my experience, your results may vary

Yeah, I definitely agree with you Frank.

It depends on the circumstances. When I'm ripping out some Claptonesque Bluesbreakers, I want a Gibson style flatter fingerboard, for maximum string bending. I simply don't play that kind of stuff on a Ric, where a curvy fretboard feels more comfortable to me. Not that it's impossible to play that sort of stuff on a Ric, but it just feels like the wrong tool for the job, ya know?

Exactly Collin , playing Ticket to Ride on my LP Std. doesn't quite get it done