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Electric Guitar Necks in Detail
The guitar neck – this is where you fret and where a large part of the tone is produced. A comfortable neck is therefore absolutely crucial for a pleasant playing feel and the resulting sound. Everything you need to know about the guitar neck and everything around it can be found here in our guide.
The Fretboard Radius
When the first electric guitars hit the market, they were made with a radiused fretboard, because that shape supports the natural fretting motion. On vintage Fender guitars the radius of that curve was 7.25 inches. However, as playing techniques have changed, players ran into the problem of outfretting during, for example, sometimes excessive bending. This occurs when, during a bend — i.e. pulling the string — the string meets a fret because of the fretboard radius and the note is effectively choked.
To avoid this problem, Fender soon adopted a fretboard radius of 9.5 inches, while Gibson had always used 12 inches. The best of both worlds is combined in the so‑called compound radius. That means the fretboard radius flattens slightly from the lower frets, where most chord playing takes place, to the higher frets, where soloing happens, in order to combine better playability with a comfortable playing feel.
When shredding emerged in the 1980s, even flatter fretboards with radii of 12 to 14 inches became popular, as they offer improved characteristics for fast playing and newer techniques like tapping. The radius capabilities of the fitted tremolo also determine the fretboard radius of the respective guitar.
The Electric Guitar Neck — Expert Talk
In the video below our guitar guru Olli explains the whole topic of the “guitar neck” once again in full detail and in colour. Click in now and get informed!
Neck Shape
There are now a wide variety of neck shapes, which are linked to changes in playing style and technique. Regarding the width measured at the nut, the electric‑guitar world has, with a few exceptions, settled on 42 (Fender) or 43 (Gibson) millimetres. Neck‑shaping, however, refers to the curve of the back and is usually given in capital letters that visually resemble the shape. Thus it ranges from U through C and D to V profiles.
On classic electric guitar models you'll find more rounded neck shapings, and many blues guitarists appreciate this neck shape because it favours techniques where the thumb wraps over the top of the fretboard. Modern guitar necks often have a rather flat neck profile, since with the corresponding techniques the thumb often doesn't rest on the upper back of the neck but is pressed onto the middle of the neck back.
Ultimately, the shape of the neck is largely a matter of personal preference, so we absolutely recommend testing and handling different guitar necks.
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Pampering Products for Your Guitar Neck
Now that you've learned quite a bit about guitar necks, their radii and shapes, we'd like to recommend a few care & grooming products. Patina or not: only a well‑maintained neck can be gripped and played optimally :-)
