switching between guitars of different fingerboard radii

[walleye]

so... i sometimes have trouble adjusting between luke and the jp7, if you didnt know, thats a switch from 12" to 15"

Generally speaking its ok, but its only when im playing something taht really pushes my limits that i notice a big difference, but the weird thing is i also play a lot of classical on stage which has a zero (perfectly flat fingerboard) radius, which i have no troubles with at all.

im wondering if anyone else has trouble switching between guitars in this regard, i saw in the for sale thread that someone put up their HH albert because of its radius, so obviously he had the same troubles as I. I can't help shake the feeling that it could all be in my head, about a year ago i didnt know what a fingerboard radius was and im sure i couldnt have realised a perceivable difference in fingerboard curve on two different guitars back then.

just wondering if you all had any input on this. Perhaps i should start practicing switching between the guitars in general.. 10 minutes on one, 10 on the other and so forth...

 

[cm_17]

One of my favorite guitars has a 17" radius, while my Axis is 10". I also have an axe that has a compound radius, which is somewhat a mix of the two (Axis like on low notes, flatter on higher frets).

Sure they are different, but playing-wise it's much more the difference in string action height that gives the fretboards a different feel - smaller radius needs higher action so notes don't die out as quickly in bends. Also true that some stuff (mostly technical shredding) is a tad easier on the 17", but not extremely.

Are you sure it's the actual radius that bothers you? Do both guitars have similar action heights, neck relief, and string gauges? Also...one of them is a 7, which is quite a different beast when it comes to fretboard width...

 

[walleye]

i guess thats the point of the thread, im not 100% sure its the radius that bothers me, but at the moment i think its most likely

as for neck width, as i said i play classical as well which actually has a thicker neck than a 7 string electric. so thats no problem

further.. its not so much taht it bothers me as such, its just that during a set, changing guitars I immediately have a fair bit of trouble adjusting in such a short time, i really need about 10 minutes to adjust to the other guitar. after i adjust its fine from then on.

 

[BrosphsMystic80]

I know what you mean. I have problems switching from my JP to a Strat. The necks on those things are so bulky compared to my JP. The unfinished neck makes a big difference too.

 

[ily]

The playability about different radius depends of neck profile

i've experimented that with others brands ...

i don't like 15' RADIUS on an I......z
but ON AN EBMM JP it's much better

i love the 10' on an AXIS
i would prefer 12' on an Silhouette

one thing would be great compound radius

12'/15' or 10'/14'

 

[Stratty316]

I was going to say it may be the neck shape of the LUKE vs. the JP that is giving you issues. It is the sole reason I have not purchased a JP because I can't get 100% used to the thinner neck...

The LUKE to the Axis or the AL... not so difficult of a transition. (for me, at least)

 

[DrGonzo5150]

The LUKE to the Axis or the AL... not so difficult of a transition. (for me, at least)

no dramas for me either.

 

[hbucker]

Long answer:
I own a variety of neck styles and radii on my guitars. Once I'm use to a guitar and bond with it, transitions between guitars aren't any more difficult than conversations with my different children. I just know they are different and make adjustments as needed.

That being said, each guitar does have its different sound, feel and playability. This infuences what I think I can play on any given guitar. But that's why I have different guitars. I also have my preferences, but once I like a guitar, those preferences are less important with regard to specific features.

The short answer:
No. Changing to different radius' on guitars doesn't bother me.

 

[cm_17]

That being said, each guitar does have its different sound, feel and playability. This influences what I think I can play on any given guitar. But that's why I have different guitars. I also have my preferences, but once I like a guitar, those preferences are less important with regard to specific features.

+1000000

Words to live by.

 

[nathanhny]

I just got hold of a JP6. And thankfully don't find it difficult changing from the Luke to the Petrucci . But I did find it very weird playing a JP7 my friend had then playing my Luke

 

[straycat113]

I know exactly what you are talking about and went through it when I bought my JP6 without ever playing one before. I was really dissapointed in how thin the neck was as I do not own any other guitars with a neck that thin.

I just happened to love everything else about the guitar to trade it off. I also have nerve damage on the inside joint of my thumb that is going to have to be surgicaly corrected, so the only way I can get some time in playing is using the fattest necks I have so the pad of my thumb is dead center. But if all goes well and I am able to play normally and wrap my thumb around the neck I should have no problem. To be honest the JP6 has a neck that just about plays itself and makes certain techniques so easy that it just amazes me.

 

[Roubster]

I think it definitely is more about the whole neck as a whole. I have been playing my Silo and Silo Special exclusively for the past 4 years, and any other guitar I pick up just feels awkward and I dont feel comfortable playing at all. I had a LUKE for a while and had no problem switching back and forth. I sold it and now I have another on order, but when I played it again at GC recently it definitely felt different from the Silo Special and 20th Silo. I think its a matter of getting used to the necks. Cant wait for the LUKE!

 

[walleye]

ive been perusing this a lot of my own, ive made a few conclusions.. that will only really apply to myself

the main differences are that of the actual picking hand believe it or not. your (my) picking style has to change a minuscule amount when switching between guitars of different radii. also things such as how the guitar allowed you to rest your palm and wrist add to the subtle differences.

the reason I have no trouble switcing between luke and classical, regardless of the drastic change in neck types, is because you play the two instruments completely differently, classical picado style vs contemporary picking... as long as youre comfortable and competent with both, switching between them wont be a problem

I don't know why i didnt realise this to begin with... my left hand is perfect on either guitar, its the picks that i sometimes miss and hash up

 

[petruccirocks02]

I had a pretty hard time switching from my AL HH to my Petrucci, so eventually the AL HH got sold. I'm so used to the JP's I guess.

-Phil

 

[jamie_au]

Long answer:
I own a variety of neck styles and radii on my guitars. Once I'm use to a guitar and bond with it, transitions between guitars aren't any more difficult than conversations with my different children. I just know they are different and make adjustments as needed.

That being said, each guitar does have its different sound, feel and playability. This infuences what I think I can play on any given guitar. But that's why I have different guitars. I also have my preferences, but once I like a guitar, those preferences are less important with regard to specific features.

The short answer:
No. Changing to different radius' on guitars doesn't bother me.

This. Exactly this.

 

[ScoobySteve]

I agree. Bonding with a neck, ok. But a lot of playing guitar and the small nuances of it are all muscle memory. If all you've ever played is a Les Paul baseball bat neck for 15 years and try to vary the mix of your axes, chances are its going to be difficult for you.

If you've had variety for a while, it's no big problem. At all. I started with Ibby's, moved to Les Pauls, a JP now I'm on the 25th. No problem.

Big hands also help too.

 

[walleye]

picking hand
cough
picking hand
cough
sorry