Last Updated on December 5, 2023 by Justin Thomas
If you want to make playing just a little bit easier and more comfortable, a guitar with a compound radius fretboard might be what you are looking for(some people call it a compound radius neck, but in reality it’s the fretboard). For years, I was living under a rock. I didn’t even know what compound radius was. But at the start of 2021, everything changed. And I’m really glad that happened…
My friend bought a Fender Ultra Telecaster that features a 10″ – 14″ compound fretboard radius, and it was a pleasure to play. A bit after that I bought this cheap Jackson to review and its 12”-16” compound radius took my breath away. And because of my deep love for compound radius, I was pumped to put together this article. It includes the cream of the crop guitars with compound radius fretboards from different price ranges and we’ll also look closely at the 3 best ones.
If you have any questions, just check the FAQ section or leave a comment.
Let’s get started!

Author: Teemu Suomala
31 Guitars with Compound Radius Fretboard
If you are after a high-value guitar with a 12″-16″ compound radius fretboard and Floyd Rose, keep the EVH Wolfgang WG Standard on your radar. It’s got a pair of versatile Direct mount Wolfgang humbuckers and overall it offers a great bang for the buck.
Price Range Icon Meanings:
$= $199-299
$$= $300-499
$$$= $500-899
$$$$= $900-1499
$$$$$= $1500-
*Consider all links in this post to be affiliate links. If you purchase, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission. It helps us to keep the lights on, thanks! 🙂
Model | Pickups | Neck Shape | Fretboard Radius | Body Style | Price Range | Check Current Price (affiliate links) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jackson JS22 Dinky – Best Budget – Read The Full Review | 2 x Jackson High-Output Humbuckers | Speed | 12”-16” | Modern Stratocaster | $ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Jackson JS32T Rhoads | 2 x Jackson High-Output Humbuckers | Speed | 12”-16” | V | $ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Jackson JS32 Dinky DKA – Cheapest With A Floyd Rose | 2 x Jackson High-Output Humbuckers | Speed | 12”-16” | Modern Stratocaster | $$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Cort Meta Series MBM-1 Matthew Bellamy Signature | 2 x Manson design humbuckers | Soft V | 12”-16” | Single-cut – Offset | $$$ | Guitar Center – Thomann |
EVH Wolfgang WG Standard – Great Value | 2 x Direct mount Wolfgang humbucking | Wolfgang | 12”-16” | Wolfgang | $$$ | Guitar Center – Thomann |
Jackson X Series Dinky DK3XR HSS | 2 x Jackson Single-coil & Jackson High Output Humbucker | Speed | 12”-16” | Modern Stratocaster | $$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Jackson Soloist SLX DX | Duncan Designed HB-103B (bridge) & Duncan Designed HB-103N (neck) humbuckers | Speed | 12”-16” | Modern Stratocaster | $$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Cort G 300 Pro | Seymour Duncan SH2N (neck) and TB4 (bridge) humbuckers | Not Available | 12”-16” | Modern Stratocaster | $$$ | Guitar Center – Thomann |
EVH 5150 Standard | 2 x Direct Mount EVH Wolfgang Humbuckers | EVH Modified “C | 12”-16” | Double cut 5150 Standard | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HT HH – Best Overall | 2 x Fishman Fluence Open Core PRF-COC Humbucker | Speed | 12”-16” | Modern Stratocaster | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Jackson Pro Series Rhoads RRT3 | 2 x Seymour Duncan SH-6 humbuckers | Speed | 12”-16” | V | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2A MAH HT | Seymour Duncan Distortion SH-6N Humbucker & Seymour Duncan Distortion TB-6 Humbucker | Speed | 12”-16” | Modern Stratocaster | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
FGN J-Standard Iliad | Seymour Duncan STR-1 & Seymour Duncan STL-1 single coils | Not Available | 9.84″ – 13.78″ | Telecaster | $$$$ | Thomann |
Charvel Pro Mod San Dimas HH | 1 x Custom Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro APH-1N Humbucker & 1 x Custom Seymour Duncan Full Shred SH-10B Humbucker | Speed | 12”-16” | Modern Stratocaster | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster – For Iron Maiden Fans | Seymour Duncan Hot Rails for Strat SHR-1N & Seymour Duncan JB Jr. SJBJ-1N & Seymour Duncan Hot Rails for Strat SHR-1B | C | 9.5″-14″ | Stratocaster | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
EVH Wolfgang Special | 2 x direct mount EVH Wolfgang Humbuckers | Wolfgang backshape | 12”-16” | Wolfgang Special | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder Exotic FR | Schecter USA Pasadena Humbucker & Schecter USA Sunset Strip Humbucker | Thin C | 12”-16” | Modern Stratocaster | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Schecter C-1 SLS Elite – Really Smooth Shredder | Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico Humbucker & Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic Humbucker | Ultra Thin C | 12”-16” | Modern Stratocaster | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
EVH Striped Series Frankenstein Relic | Seymour Duncan Custom Flat Strat SSL-6 Single-coil & Seymour Duncan Full Shred SH-10B Humbucker | EVH | 12”-16” | Modern Stratocaster | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
ESP LTD H3-1000 QM | 1 x Seymour Duncan Pegasus & 1 x Seymour Duncan Sentient humbuckers | Thin U | 11.81″-15.75″ | Modern Stratocaster | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
ESP LTD Arrow-1000NT | Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico Humbucker & Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic Humbucker | Extra Thin U | 11.81″-15.75″ | V | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Schecter Solo-II Blackjack – A Rare Single-cut With A Compound Radius | 2 x Lundgren M6 humbuckers | Thin C | 12”-16” | Single-cut | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Fender Tom Morello Stratocaster | 2 x Fender Vintage Noiseless Single-coil | Modern C | 9.5″-14″ | Stratocaster | $$$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Schecter Banshee Mach-6 | 2 x Lundgren M6 humbuckers | Ultra Thin KM | 12”-16” | Modern Stratocaster | $$$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Ibanez AZ2204N – Best Premium | 2 x Seymour Duncan Fortuna single coils & 1 x Seymour Duncan Fortuna humbucker | AZ Oval C | 9″-12″ | Modern Stratocaster | $$$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Boss Eurus GS-1 | 2 x EURUS-CTM Humbuckers | C | 12”-16” | Modern Stratocaster – Offset | $$$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Fender American Ultra Stratocaster | 3 x Ultra noiseless vintage Strat single coils | Modern D | 10″ – 14″ | Stratocaster | $$$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Fender American Ultra Telecaster – First Guitar With A Compound Radius I Played | 2 x Ultra Noiseless Vintage Tele Single-coil | Modern D | 10″ – 14″ | Telecaster | $$$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Friedman Vintage-T | 2 x Classic P-90 Single-coil | Vintage Taper | 9.5″-12″ | Telecaster | $$$$$ | Sweetwater |
Ibanez Lari Basilio Signature | 2 x Seymour Duncan Lari Basilio Single-coil, Seymour Duncan Lari Basilio Humbucker | AZ Oval C | 9″-12″ | Telecaster – Offset | $$$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
Suhr Classic JM S90 RW | 2 x Suhr S90 single coils | ’60’s C Vintage Standard | 10″- 14″ | Jazzmaster | $$$$$ | Thomann |
Our Favorite Music Store in The World!

Why?
– Excellent Customer Service (4.7/5 Trustpilot Score)
– Fast & Free Shipping
– Gear is Inspected, Tested, & Ready to Play When it Arrives to You (We love this)
– Fair Prices
Visit Sweetwater:
3 Best Guitars with Compound Radius Fretboard – My Favorites
Best Budget – Jackson JS22 Dinky

What I like
- Compound radius fretboard at a really affordable price
- Great quality hardware
- Comfortable and fast playing
- Surprisingly versatile
- Mean distorted tones
- Great all-around quality
What I don’t like
- Sometimes flaws in the finish
- If you hate metal, this axe is not the best option for you
Who is it for?
If you are after a cheap guitar that has a compound radius, can handle metal, plus possesses a nice amount of versatility too, and is smooth playing, Jackson JS22 Dinky is a really good option. Also, JS22 Dinky is really upgradeable, hit it with a pair of Seymor Duncan’s and you got a premium-sounding guitar in your hands.
You can read my full review of this guitar here: Jackson JS22 Dinky Review.
Check Today’s Price on
Best Overall – Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HT HH
What I like
- GraphTech TUSQ XL nut increases sustain
- Mean sounding & versatile Fishman Fluence Open Core PRF-COC Humbuckers
- Fretboard with 12″-16″ compound radius feels really comfortable
- Charvel Branded Die-cast Locking tuners hold the tune
- Great all-around quality
- Classy looks
- 2-way mini toggle voicing switch allows tapping into single-coil like tones
What I don’t like
- Single-coil like sounds are not very “Tele-like”
Who is it for?
If you are after a compound radius, rock-solid quality, versatile & mean sound, and awesome tuning stability, Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HT HH is one of the best options. It also has a mini toggle voicing switch that allows to use of different sections of the pickups and churn out single-coil-like tones. For this price, this guitar doesn’t have any real cons.
Check Today’s Price on
Best Premium – Ibanez AZ2204
What I like
- 9 different pickup combinations with the Alter mini-switch
- Seymour Duncan Fortuna pickups sound great and are versatile
- Clear sound
- AZ neck paired with 9″-12″ compound fretboard is a comfortable and fast playing
- Bone nut, Gotoh bridge, and Gotoh locking tuners (great overall hardware)
- Stays in tune like a beast
- Could cost even more
What I don’t like
- Expensive
Who is it for?
If you are after a compound radius, premium hardware, playability, and sound, check this Ibanez AZ2204. It’s Gotoh locking tuners ensure that it pretty much never goes out of tune, alter switch ensures versatility, and overall quality is high. It is expensive, but if you got the money for it, it’s likely that you won’t be disappointed.
Check Today’s Price on
FAQ
What Is Compound Radius?
First, the fretboard radius determines how curved the fretboard is. Usually the fretboard has the same radius all over the place, for example, 9.5″.

With a compound radius, the fretboard might have a 9.5″ radius near the nut, but the radius increases down the fretboard. For example, the radius can be 14″ near the body joint.
Is Compound Radius Fretboard Better?
It depends on your preference. If you like the idea of the fretboard having more curve near the nut and less near the body, then of course it’s better for you.
Personally, it’s not a must for a guitar, but to me, a compound radius fretboard is better. Here are the pros and cons of a compound radius neck:
Pros
- Allows you to riff and play chords near the nut with more curve and shred & solo with a flatter fretboard near the body
- Most players agree that compound radius increases playability
- Pretty easy to find a guitar with a compound radius nowadays
Cons
- You still have to do some searching to find one (great that you have this article)
- A guitar with a compound radius might be a bit more expensive than a one without
I recommend you try out a guitar with a compound radius to find out if it’s worth it for you. To me it is. Especially shaping chords is easier with a fretboard having more curve. At the same time, fast playing down the fretboard is smoother with less curve.
Does Les Pauls Have A Compound Radius?
There have been some Gibson Les Paul models with a compound radius available in the past. But at the time of researching and writing this article, there were none available. I’ll update GND articles frequently and if I happen to find any, I’ll let you know, so stay tuned. And if you know any Les Pauls with a compound radius, let me know in the comments!
There are some single-cut guitars with a compound radius available though, such as Schecter Solo-II Blackjack. But single-cuts with a compound radius are rare.
Conclusion
My dream guitar would have a fretboard with a compound radius. It just makes riffing & playing chords so much easier closer to the nut, and shredding down the neck so much smoother. To me, it was a game-changer. I highly recommend at least trying out a guitar with a compound radius as soon as possible.
I hope this article helped you out, and maybe you even decided to get one of the guitars featured. If you have any questions, leave a comment, I and the GND team are here for you.
Now go, my son, and Rock!
You might also like:
Great article. I wish Music Man made some. It seems to me like this is the future for guitars. Just like having wiring options in pickup switching (series to parallel).
Thanks Uncle Michael! I like Music Man axes a lot too and also wished they would start to feature compound radius. Personally I see no reason to not use compound radius on a guitar, haha. I also agree with your series to parallel point…again, why not have it on a guitar? Have a great day Michael and thanks for commenting!