Vintage Fender Stratocaster 7.25" Radius - Will It Shred? Can you Bend? Watch and find out!

In this video I show you that the vintage Fender Stratocaster 7.25" Radius isn't as bad as what people online will tell you. It's much better! With a proper set up big bends are still possible.
Don't believe everything you read online.
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[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

Consider Supporting The Channel By Getting Your Merch - Here's the Link and THANK YOU!

[@CristiNeagu]

David Gilmour, the master of bends, uses a 7.25" fretboard. Nuff said.

[@jaecenwhite2590]

I’m prone to tendinitis and discovered not too long ago when I got my hands on a 65 Jaguar that I can play longer comfortably on 7.5 radius neck than a flatter one. I also discovered I like the slightly thicker neck and vintage profile. Don’t listen to internet experts, go try stuff and see what your hands like best

[@t21mukherjee]

Thanks for this honest demo. Really answered a lot of questions.

[@petargavric2121]

Wow mate, great video! You deserve more subs and views, this is the only video on YT where somebody is talking honestly about vintage 7,25" radius, everywhere i look people are always complaining about not being able to bend notes properly, that you can't play fast and so on. I've got Fender American vintage reissue strat and i don't have literally any problems whatsoever, i can play Gilmour licks with heavy bends easily, so many players played vintage radius for decades. Anyway, great and very educational video. Cheers!

[@koenstrobbe8101]

Good video. There are a lot of misconceptions out there about the vintage radius. If set up correctly, it's a dream to play.

[@paigehawkins1945]

Love the 7 1/4 neck. Never ever had any issues with bends. I have a Shecter with a 14”16” radius and I can play it fine, American Pro with 9.5 same thing, but it’s something about the natural feel of the 7.25 that’s such a joy to play.

[@dr.j6747]

Great review, analysis, critical thinking, and demo!!! It's the accuracy of the neck and fretting that matters most! Mark Knopfler always sounded fantastic on his 7 1/4 Strat neck.

[@G-NutZ]

Great video and a topic that has captured my interest over the last 5 years or so. Thank you.

[@reportingfromthebunker]

I Read Yesterday that i can't bend or play clean with a 7.25 radius. Without it buzzing. That I shouldnt Play vintage frets for the same reason And a 7.25 with vintage frets is unplayable without acoustic like action. My question to myself was what did Buddy Guy, Clapton, Beck, Holly and all the great country and blues do with their guitars considering they did'nt have any other option than those specs. They played their guitars and made them sound great.

[@fredruhoff8576]

In my 50 plus years of playing I've discovered I mostly like a radius between 9" and 12", with frets close to medium jumbo, and a standard width fretboard. I never do more than a full step bend, and like the playing comfort that some fretboard radius gives. You played some good riffs on that 7.25 " radius and have opened my mind a bit. Thanks for that good demo!

[@taylor12elementvb]

Really glad I came across your vid. Been debating a neck replacement with a 7.25 radius but was concerned about bend choking. I now have absolute confidence that the 7.25 with be just fine. Many thanks Lucas. Big thumbs up from Canada. Cheers

[@justgriff1295]

Your vibrato is killer.

[@burado1974]

My Tele is 7.25 I didn’t realise when I bought it, I just lived how it felt. Does not fret out, beautiful to play. Before that I had an Ibanez Jem which is 15.75 feels so flat. Next was a PRS at 10 which felt much better but now that feels flat compared to the Tele. I’m about to buy a Strat, most are 9.5 but I’m going to search for a 7.25 they just feel so good.

[@LateBoomerGR]

Really appreciate the video and your personal experience and explanation on the radius. I just purchased a 75' hardtail. What wonderful, underrated guitars!

[@steveadams5085]

A refreshing no BS video. Thanks. I learned a few things.

[@gritsguitar]

Great job sir..........needed this as I am looking at a Fender with 12 inch radius...have 9 1/2 now.....thanks

[@StringBanger]

I have a YJM strat with a 9.25". I personally love a 16 but I hear alot of people stating their strats choke out. I've helped a few friends and it is usually a setup issue or a high fret. One buddy of mine adjusted his neck and said ever bend chokes. I took one look down his neck and it looked like a suspended bridge! He back bowed the neck to the point the center of the fret board was nearly touching the strings! I was like dude, don't wrench on guitars. Let me teach you. Other buddy his choked out after the 12 fret and I had found a high fret not pressed in all the way. Pressed it in and problem solved. Alot of ppl go for the file instantly on a high fret. Always make sure it's fully seated

[@mikescott8584]

I am with you on this. I am guilty of reading and watching youtube videos and of course learning a lot but stumbling into this area of 7.5 radius bad. About ten years ago I needed a new neck for my very nice fender Japanese made strat, I was gigging and in working bands, so I jumped on the warmoth site went through the order process and received a neck that looked nice and was similar to the neck on the guitar. I put it on and was literally heartbroken because it felt extrememly bad. I took it off and put it in the closet. Years later, I revisited the neck to see what I could do with it and after searching on youtube I realized it was actually a compound radius and being used to 7.5 I could not play the thing at all without a lot of time invested to retrain my brain so to speak. Today I think it is kind of funny to be watching the videos and learning more about this type of neck and how it seems to solve a problem - especially (supposedly)for those of us that use strictly 7.5 radius necks, as we can't bend without fretting out.....Reailly?!?I read a comment somewhere that this was/is a sales gimmick for warmoth, I do believe that is a big part of this push toward compound radius necks. I am not against compound radius necks for sure but I am kind of taken back at those who say there is a "problem" that needs to be addressed because of the 7.5 radius, that is just not the case at all. It is clearly another rumor or myth to add to the large bucket of rumors and myths surrounding every aspect of guitar technology.

[@PearlJambalaya]

Thanks man! I've just bought a 50s Classic Strat and the radius/bending "issue" was one I'd heard while researching online (after the fact...) so this video really helped put my mind at rest