Gibson fretboard radius?

TomTaco · 09-08-07, 10:44 PM

Anyone know what Gibson's fretboard radius is? I always thought it was 12 or 12.5

RamiLP · 09-08-07, 11:11 PM

redb · 09-09-07, 12:03 AM

Well les pauls are typically 12, but does the page have a compound radius? I believe his danelector used a 14", so it would make sense for him to use a compound since gibson didnt make any bursts with that sort of radius. Are there any other models with a compound radius?

sinner · 03-15-11, 05:26 PM

Aren't vintage Gibson LPs like 10" radius?

I always thought Historics were 12" but maybe I made it up all wrong?

Then there's the radius of the ABR Bridge to consider...

StSpider · 03-15-11, 05:30 PM

Never heard that they used anything but 12" on Les Paul.

TommyTouch · 03-15-11, 08:59 PM

The fingerboard radius of a Les Paul is 1 in 12. It had nothing to do with inches. I know I am an old man, but I remember when the fingerboard used be given as a radius. Examples are 1:7.25, 1:9.25, 1:12, etc, etc. Now the fingerboard radius is given as 7.25" or 12". What the fuck is that? A radius is a radius no matter if you use inches, centimeters, yards, meters or miles.

Wilko · 03-15-11, 09:24 PM

what the fuck are you saying? A radius is 1/2 of a diameter. The number is not a ratio and is certainly related to what measuring scale you use.

A 12" radius is a 30.48 cm radius.

TommyTouch · 03-15-11, 09:40 PM

I thought that the fingerboard radius refers to the "curve" on the fingerboard. What I am trying to say is a 1'' in 12'' is the same curve as a 1 mile in 12 miles.

Wilko · 03-15-11, 10:26 PM

"1 in 12" does not mean curve. A radius is a curve and is the measure of half of a diameter. One number, not two.

1 in 12 would be a "grade" of a roofline. where a for every 12 units of distance, there is 1 unit of rise. That is not dependent on the scale.

TommyTouch · 03-15-11, 11:25 PM

Thanks for the info Wilko. I can see clearly now. I mistakenly thought the fingerboard curve was given as a ratio. (Then it would be called a ratio not radius.) I stand corrected and apologies for my saying "what the fuck is that?"

Greco · 03-16-11, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redb

Well les pauls are typically 12, but does the page have a compound radius? I believe his danelector used a 14", so it would make sense for him to use a compound since gibson didnt make any bursts with that sort of radius.

It wouldn't make any sense at all! His Tele probably had a 9.5" radius, why not copy that? Nearly all Danelectros as I understand it have a 14" radius. The newer ones certainly do. Page's burst would've had a 12" radius. Why would he go to all the cosmetic hassle to re-do it at 14" or some compound radius?

While we're at it, how about we get some photos of Page with his burst in here?

djangolad · 03-17-11, 04:37 AM

Please excuse my ignorance(not as bad as some I notice) but what is "compound" radius? more than one radius along the scale or what? I perhaps imagine 9 at the nut and 14 at the dusty end? But it's not making sense in my head.

Don · 03-17-11, 06:52 AM

You got it right. The fretboard is shaped like a cone (a very subtle cone).

Greco · 03-17-11, 06:58 AM

http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/Neck...undradius.html

thejaf · 03-17-11, 10:16 AM

Les Paul Elegants have/had a compound radius fretboard

Gold Tone · 03-17-11, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djangolad

Please excuse my ignorance(not as bad as some I notice) but what is "compound" radius? more than one radius along the scale or what? I perhaps imagine 9 at the nut and 14 at the dusty end? But it's not making sense in my head.

"Dusty end" I Love that phrase!

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09-08-07, 10:44 PM	#1
TomTaco Les Paul Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 362	Gibson fretboard radius? Anyone know what Gibson's fretboard radius is? I always thought it was 12 or 12.5

09-08-07, 11:11 PM	#2
RamiLP Les Paul Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: LA california, USA Posts: 1,242	Re: Gibson fretboard radius? 12"

09-09-07, 12:03 AM	#3
redb Les Paul Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Land of the Pears, in Texas Posts: 683	Re: Gibson fretboard radius? Well les pauls are typically 12, but does the page have a compound radius? I believe his danelector used a 14", so it would make sense for him to use a compound since gibson didnt make any bursts with that sort of radius. Are there any other models with a compound radius? __________________ :: Funk 'em ... just to see the look on their face :: Hotleg - great music, great. ::

03-15-11, 05:26 PM	#4
sinner Les Paul Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The Expanse Posts: 3,536	Re: Gibson fretboard radius? Aren't vintage Gibson LPs like 10" radius? I always thought Historics were 12" but maybe I made it up all wrong? Then there's the radius of the ABR Bridge to consider... __________________ Good tone.....cost good money Great tone.....years of practice

03-15-11, 05:30 PM	#5
StSpider Les Paul Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Padua, Italy Posts: 1,923	Re: Gibson fretboard radius? Never heard that they used anything but 12" on Les Paul. __________________ - 2006 Les Paul Historic R4 Oxblood - 2012 ES-330TDVB - 1995 Les Paul Studio Ebony with B7 Bigsby There is NO substitute for Loudness.

03-15-11, 08:59 PM	#6
TommyTouch Les Paul Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 905	Re: Gibson fretboard radius? The fingerboard radius of a Les Paul is 1 in 12. It had nothing to do with inches. I know I am an old man, but I remember when the fingerboard used be given as a radius. Examples are 1:7.25, 1:9.25, 1:12, etc, etc. Now the fingerboard radius is given as 7.25" or 12". What the fuck is that? A radius is a radius no matter if you use inches, centimeters, yards, meters or miles.

03-15-11, 09:24 PM	#7
Wilko All Access/Backstage Pass Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Windsor, Berkshire, UK Posts: 17,514	Re: Gibson fretboard radius? what the fuck are you saying? A radius is 1/2 of a diameter. The number is not a ratio and is certainly related to what measuring scale you use. A 12" radius is a 30.48 cm radius.

03-15-11, 09:40 PM	#8
TommyTouch Les Paul Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 905	Re: Gibson fretboard radius? I thought that the fingerboard radius refers to the "curve" on the fingerboard. What I am trying to say is a 1'' in 12'' is the same curve as a 1 mile in 12 miles.

03-15-11, 10:26 PM	#9
Wilko All Access/Backstage Pass Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Windsor, Berkshire, UK Posts: 17,514	Re: Gibson fretboard radius? "1 in 12" does not mean curve. A radius is a curve and is the measure of half of a diameter. One number, not two. 1 in 12 would be a "grade" of a roofline. where a for every 12 units of distance, there is 1 unit of rise. That is not dependent on the scale. Last edited by Wilko : 03-15-11 at 10:46 PM.

03-15-11, 11:25 PM	#10
TommyTouch Les Paul Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 905	Re: Gibson fretboard radius? Thanks for the info Wilko. I can see clearly now. I mistakenly thought the fingerboard curve was given as a ratio. (Then it would be called a ratio not radius.) I stand corrected and apologies for my saying "what the fuck is that?"

03-17-11, 04:37 AM	#12
djangolad Les Paul Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 366	Re: Gibson fretboard radius? Please excuse my ignorance(not as bad as some I notice) but what is "compound" radius? more than one radius along the scale or what? I perhaps imagine 9 at the nut and 14 at the dusty end? But it's not making sense in my head.

03-17-11, 06:52 AM	#13
Don All Access/Backstage Pass Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 4,225	Re: Gibson fretboard radius? You got it right. The fretboard is shaped like a cone (a very subtle cone).

03-17-11, 06:58 AM	#14
Greco Les Paul Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: The Shire. Posts: 1,889	Re: Gibson fretboard radius? http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/Neck...undradius.html

03-17-11, 10:16 AM	#15
thejaf Les Paul Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 224	Re: Gibson fretboard radius? Les Paul Elegants have/had a compound radius fretboard __________________ 2007 CR8 2000 Elegant 1953 J50