Strat - Are 7.25’ radius necks better for thumb work ?

7.25" necks are easier for chord work, yes, but not necessarily for thumb chords.

I wouldn’t go for a smaller neck radius.

Just practice a bit more.

Have you tried a Silver Sky?

I do have a PRS Silver Sky 7.25", very comfortable neck, you can bend without any issues and the PUs are great for JM tones. I don't have big hands, but thumb over the neck is OK, although this is not the thinnest strat neck out there. (neck dimensions .830 1st - .950 12th fret, 1.656" width at nut)

You could play with your thumb over the neck with 7.25" or 9.5" radius. The neck profile and dimensions will impact how comfortable you feel playing chords with your thumb. If you have a chance try Fender's custom shop thinnest neck: '60s oval C shaped (.790 1st - .930 12th fret, 1.65" nut, 9.5" radius) and let me know how it feels.

If you don't want a high end option, Fender released Vintera Series MIM (Neck profile: Mid-'60s C, .820 1st - .950 12th, 1.65" nut, 7.25 radius). I can't tell how this compares in quality to CustomShops or PRS.

Anyway, choose the neck that works for you regarless specs, and don't worry about the pickups you can easily change it.

Warning: If you are trying to play Neon fully with your thumb over the neck, forget about necks, you'll need giant thumbs anyway or you better use another technique as the rest of the mortals.

I have a '59 AVRI Strat, it has the D shaped neck (wide and flat), and 7.25" radius, it's from 1999. I've had this guitar for about 20 years now.

The thumb-over is as easy as my other 9.5" strats, but you'll find that with 7.25" early Fender radius, the bends past the 12th fret can get to a whole-step, but much past that it'll fret out. The action has to be a bit higher to compensate.

Not a fan of small radius nor a fan of the Custom Shop at all. My Suhr strat has compound radius and feels the best my far from the moment I took it off the rack. Soundwise, maybe a Fender could potentially get more authentic tones but the feeling of handling a toy in comparison doesn't make up for it.

Quote from JedMckenna

maybe a Fender could potentially get more authentic tones but the feeling of handling a toy in comparison doesn't make up for it.

What are you even talking about?

Hi,

MIM 60's original version of the strat definitely is a very usable reissue of an original 60s fender mia strat, for which you'll have to pay double. Still there is a noticeable sound difference. You'll have to decide wether you like it better. The MIM comes with nitro finish (nicely done) and a 7.25 neck. All together a compound radius neck is easier to handle, even a 9.5 one is.

But to get the right (60s) sound maybe you should have the right feeling under your finger tips and comfortable does not translate to "right". Chords not only go down well but sound more substantial (subjective of course). Lead guitar playing is a bit (but just a bit) harder (strings are a wee bit higher; so you can do bendings 1,5 - 2 tones) Bottleneck is quite hard to get a grip on because of the neck's greater curvature.

I would not trade this mim original 60s strat. In my opinion it stands it's ground. I did compare it to an american standard (2011) of mine and a 79 rather old strat (wich sounds better than the two of them together) actually the second real guitar I bought 40 years ago.

So if I had the money I certainly would try to get a custom shop 60's reissue. Alas most strats on offer are made to look older (brr!). What's the word now...roadworn ?....relic!

Greetings

Joachim

for thumb over - the V profile neck. Like with Clapton.