thoughts on the G&L 12'' radius necks

[beachroadbum]

Hi all,

I am a proud owner of one of the new f-100 models. I have played 9.5 radius strats for over 15 years which is why I think I am having some trouble adjusting to the 12 radius. It's such a fantastic well built guitar and I love the humbuckers that I am forcing myself to get used to the 12 radius.
I would love to hear what you guys think of the 12 radius and if you ever had a period of adjustment changing over from another guitar brand's neck. I am hoping I can truly work myself into this neck and get used to it.

Thanks!
beachroadbum

[sirmyghin]

I started on a squier strat with a 12" radius so it has never been an issue. Before I got my G&L I was playing a Carvin contour with a 14" I orderred, going back to 12 was no issue (I special orderred with a #3 neck on my ASAT). My first bass was a 9.5 or 10 probably, beinga 1975 J- jazz knockoff. On guitarI much prefer flatter boards, the 7.5" on the ASAT while playable is hardly comfy to me. The ASAT felt a lot better than standard 9.5 strats though, something to do with G&Ls neck and qualit I guess.

[blargfromouterspace]

beachroadbum, you will get used to it. I switched from 9.5" Fenders quite a while ago when I went into an Epiphone/Gibson phase. Since then I strongly prefer 12" 'boards. Once you get used to it you will find that you can switch between guitars, knowing what to expect, and be comfortable.

Persevere! You wont regret it.

[Kit]

The difference in feel between 9.5" and 12" radius should be minimal, I would think that general you wouldn't notice a difference going from one to the other. Two other factors, though, may make a bigger difference. One is the spec of the neck, specifically the nut width and the butt end width. If the widths differ by more than 1/16" at the nut the necks will feel different. The second is the setup. In general the straightness of the neck, which affects the action, can make a noticeable difference. Finally the action itself, if the necks have significant difference in how high the action is they will play quite differently.

I suggest you take a look also at your neck widths and setup to see if may be that is affecting how you perceive the necks to play.

[sirmyghin]

The difference in feel between 9.5" and 12" radius should be minimal, I would think that general you wouldn't notice a difference going from one to the other. Two other factors, though, may make a bigger difference. One is the spec of the neck, specifically the nut width and the butt end width. If the widths differ by more than 1/16" at the nut the necks will feel different. The second is the setup. In general the straightness of the neck, which affects the action, can make a noticeable difference. Finally the action itself, if the necks have significant difference in how high the action is they will play quite differently.

I suggest you take a look also at your neck widths and setup to see if may be that is affecting how you perceive the necks to play.

Your critereon and mine differ heavily. Nut width and fretboard radius are my top 2. Neck carve means very little to me, I don't wrap around it anyway, or at least not often.

[Boogie Bill]

I went from vintage Fenders and Music Man Sabres to the 12" Legacy neck in about two minutes. I had a lot of trouble going back to the 7.5" radius on a ACSH, and finally traded off that guitar.

BTW, as with any guitar, make sure your bridge radius is set to match the neck radius. Stew-Mac has radius gauges, or you can find plastic ones in the back of Dan Erlewine's book, "How To Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great". It's HUGE factor in making your guitar "...play like buttah."

I regularly switch between G&L, Gibson, Martin, Taylor, and Ibanez necks (And each one makes the same mistakes and the others!)

Set your mind to do it. Make the committment, and you'll conquer it.

Bill

[teddycrocker]

I just bought a 2001 S500, USA Made, and am wondering what radius neck was used on these? Any info would be helpful!

Teddy

[yowhatsshakin]

Hi Teddy,

You'll have to measure since it can be any G&L neck option. Although some necks are more common than others the only way to know for sure is to measure it. Dan Erlewine's book mentioned in Boogie Bill's has plastic radius gauges in the back which are already worth the price of admission.

- Jos