NGD: Warmoth Regal... Another Singlecut

[Hsb]

Love the look of the neck on this one

[Ace Flibble]

If you want a transparent colour top with a clear back on a wood other than maple then you need to call the order in and order that with binding; it's an 'off-menu' extra and not part of the online ordering form, nor do they do it without binding. (At least that's what they told me last time I asked for a transparent purple top + clear back.) If you order a transparent finish on a solid & unbound body it will always cover the entire body. A dye top on a maple laminate is the only way to get a coloured top and clear back as a standard combination.
Warmoth used to (many years ago) be less strict about combining top & back finishes but about ten years ago they started rejecting nearly all custom finish requests since they're churning out bodies at a much faster rate. It's always worth phoning them (they tend to be a bit more dismissive via e-mail) to check, but the general rule is if it's not on their website they ain't gonna bother. Especially at this time of year, which is always their busiest. (And 2020 has been extra busy for them overall and they've still got a massive backlog.)

[Mincer]

I kinda want a clear-back now....

Well, my thing is that I need to sell a few things before my order goes in, so I have time to sit with these decisions. While I love the idea of a transparent satin red over black korina, I love that wood's natural color. But a whole guitar out of that looks a little 70s furniture to me.

[Snake Aces]

Interesting about the dye- I never noticed, but yeah, they only do it on maple. I was looking at a transparent red korina body, and they are all painted, not dyed. I am now trying to decide if I want the back clear or red all the way around. I kinda think the clear back is more visually interesting.

I kinda want a clear-back now....

[Mincer]

Interesting about the dye- I never noticed, but yeah, they only do it on maple. I was looking at a transparent red korina body, and they are all painted, not dyed. I am now trying to decide if I want the back clear or red all the way around. I kinda think the clear back is more visually interesting.

[Snake Aces]

It's not a dye – they clearly denote dye finishes and only use dyes on maple. If you're ever unsure if one of their finishes uses dyes or not, another way you can tell they've used dye is if there is a slight 'burst' on the edges; they burst every dye finish, except Washed Blue and Yellow, with a darker colour unless you specifically pay extra for their 'clean line' option.
They actually do avoid using dyes as much as possible, likely because if there are any mistakes it is much harder (and more expensive) for them to fix, as opposed to simple transparent paints which can be easily chemically stripped without leaving any marks.
All their transparent finishes are a layered process of polyester sanding sealer, then polyurethane for colour. Gloss finishes get a polyurethane clear coat; they're being very vague about what they're using for the clear coat on satin finishes (after a previous attempt by them resulted in many flawed finishes) but it appears to be a tougher 2K lacquer, the same stuff used on expensive custom sports cars. It's actually a very cheap finishing material, but it's super tough and doesn't discolour.

I've got a similar guitar, 1"-thick all-rosewood 24.75" neck on a chambered alder carved Tele body with an LP electronics and hardware configuration (Warmoth body, Musikraft neck), and yeah, it sounds great. That neck of mine has been on several bodies now and it always goes well with chambered brighter woods (or solid mellow woods, like basswood). The lack of treble you get with rosewood balances the bright body wood, but the sharper pick attack from having a really dense and big neck balances out the dulled response you'd otherwise have with chambering. I believe this is why Carlos Santana likes all-rosewood necks on his lighter-bodies guitars.

I do wish Gibson would bring back their ash LPs, or at least make an Epiphone version. Their last run had maple & rosewood necks, so the whole thing was a bit icepicky, but if they would make a new run with the same chambered ash bodies but mahogany & rosewood necks, they'd be on to a real winner, I think. I have been tempted to get Warmoth to knock me up one, but they won't do it without binding and with the huge shipping and import fees I have to pay (twice over, since I get my necks from other companies), it's hard to justify.

Yes.

[Ace Flibble]

I am not sure. I ordered their transparent blue satin finish, so my assumption is that is what it is. If they use a dye to achieve the blue, it would not bother me at all because it looks very good.

It's not a dye – they clearly denote dye finishes and only use dyes on maple. If you're ever unsure if one of their finishes uses dyes or not, another way you can tell they've used dye is if there is a slight 'burst' on the edges; they burst every dye finish, except Washed Blue and Yellow, with a darker colour unless you specifically pay extra for their 'clean line' option.
They actually do avoid using dyes as much as possible, likely because if there are any mistakes it is much harder (and more expensive) for them to fix, as opposed to simple transparent paints which can be easily chemically stripped without leaving any marks.
All their transparent finishes are a layered process of polyester sanding sealer, then polyurethane for colour. Gloss finishes get a polyurethane clear coat; they're being very vague about what they're using for the clear coat on satin finishes (after a previous attempt by them resulted in many flawed finishes) but it appears to be a tougher 2K lacquer, the same stuff used on expensive custom sports cars. It's actually a very cheap finishing material, but it's super tough and doesn't discolour.

Maybe that makes me a tonewood nut, but this combo of a chambered swamp ash body with an all Indian rosewood neck featuring the fat 59 roundback LP profile sounds really good!

I've got a similar guitar, 1"-thick all-rosewood 24.75" neck on a chambered alder carved Tele body with an LP electronics and hardware configuration (Warmoth body, Musikraft neck), and yeah, it sounds great. That neck of mine has been on several bodies now and it always goes well with chambered brighter woods (or solid mellow woods, like basswood). The lack of treble you get with rosewood balances the bright body wood, but the sharper pick attack from having a really dense and big neck balances out the dulled response you'd otherwise have with chambering. I believe this is why Carlos Santana likes all-rosewood necks on his lighter-bodies guitars.

I do wish Gibson would bring back their ash LPs, or at least make an Epiphone version. Their last run had maple & rosewood necks, so the whole thing was a bit icepicky, but if they would make a new run with the same chambered ash bodies but mahogany & rosewood necks, they'd be on to a real winner, I think. I have been tempted to get Warmoth to knock me up one, but they won't do it without binding and with the huge shipping and import fees I have to pay (twice over, since I get my necks from other companies), it's hard to justify.

[Snake Aces]

This guitar sounds great clean but it begs to get dirty. Bondage is okay, just make it moan. Just like any guitar with WLH, these pickups thrive when driving pure sex appeal. Hop on or strap up, just get ready to ride...

[Snake Aces]

Thanks! That might help others (and me) in deciding if Warmoth is the right way to go, especially when building a guitar of your dreams.

You're welcome

[Mincer]

Thanks! That might help others (and me) in deciding if Warmoth is the right way to go, especially when building a guitar of your dreams.

[Snake Aces]

Can you share what the total cost of this guitar was?

Sure. $1537 from Warmoth. An extra $200 from SD for the WLH. Then, this time, $400 from a luthier for fret leveling and assembly.

Worth it? Hell yes. I put this up against any non-CS Gibby LP.

[Mincer]

I used to love using hyperbole to prop my preferences up on a high horse. Over the years, I have been humbled many times over. What I do want to say after about a month of this guitar is it is balanced. It may be the most balanced LP-styled guitar I have ever played in my own hands, personally. It is very comfortable to play. Very lightweight.

As far as tone goes, this one nails it. Very versatile. I have always been fascinated with mixing different woods. Maybe that makes me a tonewood nut, but this combo of a chambered swamp ash body with an all Indian rosewood neck featuring the fat 59 roundback LP profile sounds really good! It has leapfrogged my solid swamp ash/roasted maple neck Regal as my new number 1.

The WLH set only enhances the experience. This one is special.

Can you share what the total cost of this guitar was?

[Snake Aces]

I mean, I can't play like JP, but this tone is legendary... this is a serious combo. Transcendent.

[Snake Aces]

I used to love using hyperbole to prop my preferences up on a high horse. Over the years, I have been humbled many times over. What I do want to say after about a month of this guitar is it is balanced. It may be the most balanced LP-styled guitar I have ever played in my own hands, personally. It is very comfortable to play. Very lightweight.

As far as tone goes, this one nails it. Very versatile. I have always been fascinated with mixing different woods. Maybe that makes me a tonewood nut, but this combo of a chambered swamp ash body with an all Indian rosewood neck featuring the fat 59 roundback LP profile sounds really good! It has leapfrogged my solid swamp ash/roasted maple neck Regal as my new number 1.

The WLH set only enhances the experience. This one is special.

[Snake Aces]

I really dig it! I bet it sounds amazing.

Thanks dude! I dig it too... but this guitar is truly special!