Do you prefer smaller or larger radius?

[Jefenator]

Haven't measured - maybe my old-school P & Js are rounder?
It probably wouldn't bother me since I spend half my time playing upright.
Flatter doesn't faze me. So I guess no preference?

 

[slagbass]

Lower radius for me. 10" is about the max radius I feel comfortable on. I'm primarily a 4 string player.
Note that radius affects both fretting and plucking technique.

 

[Runlikegregg]

I like a flatter radius a little tiny bit better, like a 12" or so. But I have and have had and played many different radii and in the end it doesn't matter. The overall feel and sound of the bass is much more important to me.

 

[mrjim123]

If larger radius translates to a thinner neck front-to-back then I'm a happy camper. Nothing worse (for me) than trying to wrap my left hand around a baseball bat.

 

[pbassnut]

Hello mates!

Tell everybody WHAT, WHY and also HOW MUCH RADIUS?

I like the 9.5" radius Fender American Standard P and J necks. I also like the 10" radius Warmoth and AllParts replacement P and J necks.

 

[fhm555]

No choice for compound radius?

 

[ColdEye]

Indifferent. This, along with nut width are one of the things I never knew was a factor before coming to TB.

 

[TrevorR]

Radius is one thing I have never noticed.

Yup, I've got 6 basses and I couldn't tell you the radius on any of them...

 

[TerribleTim68]

So I always had whatever the mainstream factories built. But I recently built a bass with a 20" radius fretboard and find it way more comfortable. So moving forward, all the basses I build for myself will be 20" radius.

 

[FLStudiobassist]

I enjoy having my Jazz bass Vintera with its 7.25" rounded fretboard and also my Stingray which is flatter. I find it easier to play chords on my Stingray Special... I've heard that has something to do with radius.

 

[Topkat13]

Hmmmm. I can tell you this, when it comes to my proctologist I prefer a smaller compound radius.

 

[Grinderman]

Everyone has different hands.

I have small hands. Maybe having small hands thus being forced to learn how to adapt is why I play narrow and thin necks (Jazz), wide and thick necks ('50s style P necks), necks between, and whatever fretboard radius.

This was my first unwieldy beast (one just like it) I started to learn on the '80s.

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[Notaluthier]

Hello mates!

Tell everybody WHAT, WHY and also HOW MUCH RADIUS?

Larger because it is closer to double bass.

 

[Killing Floor]

I have small hands. Maybe having small hands thus being forced to learn how to adapt is why I play narrow and thin necks (Jazz), wide and thick necks ('50s style P necks), necks between, and whatever fretboard radius.

This was my first unwieldy beast (one just like it) I started to learn on the '80s.

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Yes, we are all made differently. I can palm a basketball easily. I am more comfortable on chunky classic C type necks. I do find a larger radius (flatter) more natural for chords (bass and guitar) but this is all related to feel. I suppose one could adapt to play anything. I never looked at neck or board shape on specs for many years yet most of what I own are similar. Play what works for you.

 

[39-Bassist]

I have 9.5 on all of mine. makes it very easy to play for my taste.

 

[Grinderman]

Yes, we are all made differently. I can palm a basketball easily. I am more comfortable on chunky classic C type necks. I do find a larger radius (flatter) more natural for chords (bass and guitar) but this is all related to feel. I suppose one could adapt to play anything. I never looked at neck or board shape on specs for many years yet most of what I own are similar. Play what works for you.

I've landed on 9-1/"R with 6230 or 6105 frets as my go-to satisfactory zone.

 

[GIBrat51]

Hello mates!

Tell everybody WHAT, WHY and also HOW MUCH RADIUS?

To be honest... I've really never paid much attention to a bass neck's radius. It would have to be really small for me to even notice - and no bass I've ever played - much less the 25 I own now - had a neck radius that small. But, if I have to pick one that I prefer? Let's go with "whatever a Rick 4001's neck radius is", and leave it at that. It's the one I play the most, anyway...

 

[Chewy_B_i_T_s]

because I can't stand reaching over a "hump" to access the lower strings.

Yes! My feelings exactly, and with the same bass, the since traded G&L JB-5.

 

[littlebun]

Hello mates!

Tell everybody WHAT, WHY and also HOW MUCH RADIUS?

A flatter radius equals easier and faster playing for me, but isn't needed so much on a J style neck. For me, a P or J style with a 12" radius plays faster than a typical 7-1/4. Alembic uses a 12" radius, and I believe some Sadowsky have a 12" radius, too. My Tyler is 16 or 18".

 

[GroovyBaby]

I had no I idea I cared about fretboard radius until I ordered a 5 string G&L JB-5 that comes default with a 9.5" radius. I had owed many, many 5 string basses before this but they must have all had flatter radii because it really threw me off. It made it more difficult to play notes on the B and E string without inadvertently muting the higher strings.

I had this same experience with my JB5. My 12” radius L-2500 had the same spacing at the bridge but the JB5 felt like I had to reach around the fingerboard to reach the B string. I’ve since sold both as I’m playing all fours, two of which have 14” and one is 10”. I find them all comfortable but prefer the 12-14 range. I don’t think I’d buy a 5 string with under 12” radius though.