COMPOUND RADIUS
What the heck is this all about? Explain please, Rob...
Last month we discussed the basic rules of understanding fretboard radius. Today, let’s delve into the more complicated concept of compound radius.
Now, while a fixed radius can easily be visualised as the cross-section of a circle, a compound radius is actually the cross section of the surface of a cone.
Like a cone, a compound radius fretboard does not maintain a regular fixed radius along its length – its surface radius changes from one end to the other. A common compound radius for bass guitar is 12” to 16”, with the smaller radius at the headstock end of the fretboard: this becomes progressively larger along its length.