Makings Bends Possible: Flatten Fret Radius??

I have a '62 Road Worn Strat that I really love. I'm setting it up after having it on a stand for a few months and I'm having an issue. The action is nice and low, neck is straight, everything feels perfect...but forget about bending on strings 1 and 2 up past the 12th fret cause they choke out.

These guitars have a 7.25" radius so obviously that isn't helping. If I raise the action on those strings high enough, I can get the bends happening but I really love having low action...plus it just feels awkward to have the 1st and 2nd strings raised up and out of the typical curved shape. What bothers me is that I had this thing setup previously and I remember the action being pretty low and having no bending issues at all.

I did a little research and I'm seeing some people talking about creating a sort of "false" radius by leveling the frets out to a flatter radius, only on the higher frets of course. Anybody have any experience doing this? And is there a method I can try before going to this fret job approach?

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Hesh Breakstone on August 14, 2015 at 2:21pm

I wanted to address the assumption that the tech's price is what it is because he was going to address the entire fret plane. When I talk about a fret dress, level recrown, fall-away inducement, polish, fret ends and a decent set-up with the nut slots being recut I am also addressing the entire neck and that's why this quote that you posted seems stratospheric to me....

Maybe I need to open a subsidiary in your neck of the woods.... :)