philip4229 - Posted - 11/12/2009:  05:48:18

I am in the talks with Stelling about having a radiused neck made, and they have suggested a 16" radius...around what a Martin would have. I know that there are variations of the different dimensions that you can go with on a radiused neck. Tom Nechville does all of his banjos with a radiused neck, but I am not sure of the dimension. Any thoughts?

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5stringypsy - Posted - 11/12/2009:  06:28:39

patiently awaiting responses I can't wait for my neck to be built.


I'm pretty ceartain Nechville uses a compund radius. I've played a few (and fell in love with) and it seemed like it. My last archtop guitar I had built was a compound radius board and it was a dream. On Tom's site it says "The carefully crafted 7 to 12" compound radius of the fretboard surface helps with noting the accuracy and clarity of tone."


Here's a couple of radius topics in the forums.

http://www.banjohangout.org/pages/f...IC_ID=160419

http://www.banjohangout.org/topic/160402

HIKE FASTER I hear a banjo...

scooter46 - Posted - 11/12/2009:  06:44:54

I think if you're going to have a radius neck find what feels good, go check out the different radius on guitars to see what you like. My banjitar has a 16in. radius and it's almost flat I would say 12 in. Larry


Learning a new skill takes time, patience and practice. Also it is very important to stay hydrated

pearcemusic - Posted - 11/12/2009:  06:57:14

my Stelling Red Fox has a 16" radius,
and my Tuttle (mastertone type) is compound 9-12".

Both are very comfortable to play.
Make sure your bridge radius roughly matches the end of fingerboard radius of whatever you choose.

The Pearce Family Bluegrass Band
www.pearcemusic.com

desert rose - Posted - 11/12/2009:  07:05:44

The most common radii are 12" 14" and 16"

I personally have always used 16" unless the customer requests other.
My logic has been than many banjo players also play guitar and if they do Martin would be the likely choice or a Martin copy and they all use 16" so its user friendly.

There is NO perfect radius, and no logic to determine a perfect radiius

Gibson guitars are 12" Fenders were 7 1/4 now 10 inch standard, neither is better than the other but their chosin radius is part of their signature feel

Scott

Desert Rose Musical Instruments
www.desertrosebanjo.com

Alex Z - Posted - 11/12/2009:  07:10:55

Have a Prucha with an approximate 11" radius. It is comfortable.

I've played a few different radiused necks. I don't see any need to go less than 11". You don't need much of a radius to make a noticeable difference, compared to flat. Nechville and OME have comfortable, radiused necks, and you might check their dimensions.

Alex Z

Cornflake - Posted - 11/12/2009:  07:25:51

I play a Stelling 16" radiused Swallowtail and I can hardly tell the difference from my flat Red Fox.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The opposite of a profound truth may well be another truth.
Neils Bohr

howseth - Posted - 11/12/2009:  07:54:56

I wonder what the radius is on my Ome openback? It seems pretty subtle. I suppose a little goes a long way on a banjo's thin neck (as compared to a wider guitar neck). But, subtle makes a difference to me: very comfortable. The radius is more curved higher up the neck. Compound? The bridge has a radius too.

Howard

Ira Gitlin - Posted - 11/12/2009:  07:55:34

IIRC, Huber uses a 14" radius. I have a Robin Smith neck with a 10" radius. Both feel very comfortable to me.

Thor - Posted - 11/12/2009:  10:20:28

quote:

---

Originally posted by howseth

I wonder what the radius is on my Ome openback? It seems pretty subtle. I suppose a little goes a long way on a banjo's thin neck (as compared to a wider guitar neck). But, subtle makes a difference to me: very comfortable. The radius is more curved higher up the neck. Compound? The bridge has a radius too.

---

mikieb53 - Posted - 11/12/2009:  12:39:54

Thor is right, but there's more. There is an excellent tutorial on Stewart McDonald's website, explaining why the radius must be compound for playing action to be consistent over the entire neck.

http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/Nec...dradius.html

A very common radius for banjos is 7 to 12.

Michael B. Rentz

howseth - Posted - 11/12/2009:  12:41:29

I have a 'Reverse Compound' then? On my Ome the lower frets (nearest the peghead) are flatter and the curve does increase as you get nearer to the head.

Howard

5stringypsy - Posted - 11/12/2009:  12:43:54

POPCORN...

HIKE FASTER I hear a banjo...

howseth - Posted - 11/12/2009:  12:51:58

NROCPOP!... to you

Howard

snakeherd - Posted - 11/12/2009:  13:02:54

Yup, that's backwards alright.

Scott

Alex Z - Posted - 11/12/2009:  16:44:58

To howseth: If the actual "curve" or radius near the peghead is sharper (smaller radius) than near the pot, then the cone would be reversed from the normal orientation. This would be very unusual.

Now, because the neck is much wider near the pot than near the peghead, there is in fact a greater arc being traversed across the fingerboard, so that it appears the curve is greater and therefore sharper -- but the radius of the arc actually might be larger than near the peghead, and that's what counts. To reverse the cone direction in a compound radius fingerboard would not make any sense at all, for the geometry of the string fit to the neck. The purpose of the compound radius is to take into account that the neck (string spacing) becomes wider as it approaches the bridge.

Hope this helps. If your Ome has the compound radius reversed from normal orientation, you may want to check with the Ome folks.

Alex Z

howseth - Posted - 11/12/2009:  18:30:22

Alex, I see what your saying - the wider part of the neck would show more curvature - giving the appearance of a variable radius -
(Perhaps, an e-mail to Ome is in order.)

Howard

Alex Z - Posted - 11/12/2009:  18:38:51

I should have omitted the word "than" in the first sentence.

Should read: "If the actual "curve" or radius near the peghead is sharper (smaller radius) near the pot, then . . . "

While I don't have an Ome, I've played several, and their necks fit my hand superbly. I'd be interested in the Ome specs for a radiused fingerboard. So, Howard, if you get some information, go ahead and post it.

Thanks.

Alex Z

howseth - Posted - 11/20/2009:  10:53:18

I contacted Tanya at Ome banjo about the radius fingerboard on my Primrose open back, she said:

" The radius is approximately 7" on your banjo. This will vary a little from banjo to banjo as the fingerboards
are hand sanded."

It's subtle but good - one can never get too much of subtlety with a musical instrument.

Howard