Fretboard problem with my strat

[coldshot76]

I got a fender aerodyne strat which i bought sometime ago.

Love the guitar but the having issues with the fretboard which i hope u guys can help me with.

I find it rather narrow after playing with it for sometime. And the fretboard has a 9' radius which kills the bends pretty fast.

Is there a way to rectify this problem?

I'm not very good with guitar set ups so im thinking of sending it in for a proper set up.

 

[edder]

9" radius were "created" to counter 7 1/4" radius fretouts. so... 9" shouldn't be of any issues. Probably a setup will settle some issues. New strings too.

If the neck is too narrow there's nothing much you can do except to change the neck.
Do measure the nut width with a good steel ruler or even better a vernier caliper. Visit www.warmoth.com or www.usacustomguitars.com and order a neck that has a wider width.

 

[coldshot76]

9" radius were "created" to counter 7 1/4" radius fretouts. so... 9" shouldn't be of any issues. Probably a setup will settle some issues. New strings too.

If the neck is too narrow there's nothing much you can do except to change the neck.
Do measure the nut width with a good steel ruler or even better a vernier caliper. Visit www.warmoth.com or www.usacustomguitars.com and order a neck that has a wider width.

Thanks!

would using thinner strings like 9s as opposed to 10s help counter the narrow neck?

 

[ShredCow]

By "narrow" you mean... Thickness of neck, or width of neck?

 

[edder]

coldshot75, i'd say no but only you will know till you've tried it.

 

[fgl]

With that kinda radius ..only way is to raise the outer E saddles... A and B too if need be till no more fret outs..

Mite kill your desired "low" feel but look at it this way, you can get slightly more tone & sustain with the increase in height...

2 cents

 

[coldshot76]

By "narrow" you mean... Thickness of neck, or width of neck?

Its more the narrowness of the neck.

The 2 E strings are very close to the edge. So close that it can have the tendency of slipping of the fretboard when i press it.

 

[KayCee]

I can't resist, it sounds like a nut problem . Replacing the nut could help with the string spacing.

 

[Whitestrat]

I find it rather narrow after playing with it for sometime. And the fretboard has a 9' radius which kills the bends pretty fast.

Send it in. Sounds like the frets need a dressing, or the neck needs a bit more bow. With a well set up neck, even a 7.25" radius will not have fret outs... My strats don't.

 

[Whitestrat]

I can't resist, it sounds like a nut problem . Replacing the nut could help with the string spacing.

no it won't. Not by much. you'd solve the chording string spacings at the lower frets. But the problem at the higher frets would still be there. The bridge spacing is still fixed.

 

[ShredCow]

Its more the narrowness of the neck.

The 2 E strings are very close to the edge. So close that it can have the tendency of slipping of the fretboard when i press it.

Aside from setup and nut jobs... It could be a matter of getting used to it.

Also, apart from nut jobs, it could also have to do with the Fret Ends being beveled too far in. Look at this:

http://www.mtlutherie.com/fixes/Repair_Strat/_Done frets closeup 1.jpg

This is how I think frets should be done, less chance of strings slipping out don't you think?