Skip to content
Facebook
Please Call (678) 475-9688
Aperio Guitar Logo Aperio Guitar Logo
  • Services
    • Stainless Refretting Details
    • Refret Pricing
    • Our Guarantee
    • Free Shipping Boxes for Your Neck
    • Refret Reservation and Shipping Instructions
    • Aperio FAQ’s – Please Read
    • Testimonials
  • Product Info
    • Aperio Guitar Necks-Features
    • Fingerboard woods
    • Facts about Fender necks and bodies
    • Faqs
  • Shop
    • All Guitar Accessories
    • Neck Shims
    • One Piece Maple Necks- call to order
  • My Account
    • Make a Payment
    • Login-Settings-Register
    • Cart
    • Payment terms, Returns, Business policy
  • Contact
  • Blog
    • Everything
    • Refrets
    • Electrical
    • Repair Only Gallery
    • Builds
    • Videos
  • About
    • About Us
    • Rates and Services, FAQ’s
    • Custom Work Pricing
    • Privacy Policy
    • Covid Policy
  • Services
    • Stainless Refretting Details
    • Refret Pricing
    • Our Guarantee
    • Free Shipping Boxes for Your Neck
    • Refret Reservation and Shipping Instructions
    • Aperio FAQ’s – Please Read
    • Testimonials
  • Product Info
    • Aperio Guitar Necks-Features
    • Fingerboard woods
    • Facts about Fender necks and bodies
    • Faqs
  • Shop
    • All Guitar Accessories
    • Neck Shims
    • One Piece Maple Necks- call to order
  • My Account
    • Make a Payment
    • Login-Settings-Register
    • Cart
    • Payment terms, Returns, Business policy
  • Contact
  • Blog
    • Everything
    • Refrets
    • Electrical
    • Repair Only Gallery
    • Builds
    • Videos
  • About
    • About Us
    • Rates and Services, FAQ’s
    • Custom Work Pricing
    • Privacy Policy
    • Covid Policy
Loading...
  • Aperio Guitar
    Stainless
    Steel Refret
    Specialist

  • Craftsmanship
    Quality
    Care

Home/Blog, Tips and Faqs/7.25″ Radius Necks and Playability

7.25″ Radius Necks and Playability

Here is a question I get asked quite often so I though I would post it.

“Can you refret my 7.25″ radius neck and file the frets down flatter so I can play lead on it better?”

The answer is yes with a couple caveats.

Many people have 7.25″ vintage radius necks and want the frets filed flatter in the center so they can play solos easier and more comfortably. The reason people do it is to provide more distance to bend the note at about the 15th fret before fretting out. It can give a somewhat flatter effective radius. If you want to bend the high e to a minor third on a standard 7.25 radius at the 12th and beyond then the action has to be set high, 2/32″ and above to avoid fretting out on the frets forward of the one you are bending on. It is just a matter of geometry and the math doesn’t lie. That tight radius will not allow the bend without higher action. That is the compromise.

If the frets are flattened in the center you can work the action down to about 2/32″ on the high e and just make a minor third bend at the 15th before you fret out. That is an acceptable action but higher than a flatter radius neck. And you have lost some fret height.

The truth is another neck with a 10-16″ compound radius or even flatter should be considered to play solos.  It’s a personal choice and depends on how and what you play. Guitars are like tools in the shop. One tool will not do every operation we have so we have many tools to accomplish our goal.

If you have a tight radius neck like a 7.25″ please keep in mind the higher action requirements to avoid fret out during bends higher up the neck..

Greg Hails2019-09-19T19:13:29-04:00

Share This Story!

FacebookTwitterRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related Posts

Schecter Refret
Gallery

Schecter Refret

Jackson Refret
Gallery

Jackson Refret

Roasted Maple Refret
Gallery

Roasted Maple Refret

Greg in the shop ca.2009
Tele Walnut Control Plates are back!
Gallery

Tele Walnut Control Plates are back!

The definitive Crate V1512, Palomino V16 Cleanup Mod for less than a buck
Gallery

The definitive Crate V1512, Palomino V16 Cleanup Mod for less than a buck

  • Blog Everything
  • Refrets
  • Electrical
  • Repair Only Gallery
  • Builds

Aperio Guitar

Stainless Steel Refrets
Lawrenceville, Georgia
Email: Contact Us Here
Phone (678) 475-9688

CURRENT HOURS
Contact us
Monday thru Friday

CLOSED
Saturday and Sunday
except for appointments

© Copyright 2009 -    |   Aperio Guitar   |   All Rights Reserved   |   Powered by our Best Friends Forever

Page load link
Go to Top