COMPOUND RADIUS

Originally conceived by the Warmoth brothers, compound radius fretboards embody

in just one fretboard the "feel" of all vintage, normal and modern flat fingerboards.
While old Fender necks are known as very comfortable for rhythm and chord playing
due to their curved radius (7-1/4") it is almost impossible to keep a low action
without having strings stopping during bending. Conversely, to achieve a lower
action, many modern guitars feature a very flat 16" to even 20"radius fretboard, but
the comfort factor is lost.
The best of old and new is, as usual, a compromise.
The compound radius fretboard usually starts with a 10" or 12" radius at nut, and
ends with a 16" radius at last fret that allows very low action and no bending
buzzes..
This solution guarantees easy, comfortable chords and arpeggios in the first
positions, moderate average radius in the middle positions for comfortable two hand
techniques, and flat radius in the high positions for silky-smooth bends, up to 2-1/2
semi-tones.

HINTS AND TIPS

Due to its geometrical structure, compound radius also offers the best relief for
strings to vibrate properly.
Due to the fact that, with constant radius, the fretboard width changes along its
length but the radius under it remains the same, if we adjust a constant radiused
fretboard for a perfect relief (slight up-bow) using the outer strings as a reference,
this will cause the inner strings (A and D) to "sense" a back-bowed fretboard.
This doesn't happen with compound radius, where change in the radius follows the
change of the strings pattern (I'll spare the complicated math formula) thus

delivering a better tone and less buzz on the fretboard.