Guitarfetish bodies and necks

[Agileguy_101]

Has anyone tried these?

http://store.guitarfetish.com/necksandbodies1.html

I'm specifically interested in the unfinished Strat and Tele bodies. They seem like a great way to start learning how to finish guitars. Has anyone used these and could you comment on their quality?

 

[Wonker]

Re: Guitarfetish bodies and necks

$49.95 - I'd buy one

 

[dominus]

Re: Guitarfetish bodies and necks

I've never bought one of their unfinished bodies, but I've bought plenty of the finished ones. They're great.

 

[bluesbend]

Re: Guitarfetish bodies and necks

I bought a clear finish ash body from them. The first one had a dime size dent in the back of it, so I returned it for an exchange. The second one came with 11 little dings along the edges, a finish that was milky in places and pickup cavities that were routed left of center. I'm now waiting for the third to be sent to me. Curtis at GFS said they would pick a "quality" one for me. I should recieve it sometime next week.
I think the 12 year old girl they had in charge of QC over in their China plant may have been replaced by a 9 year old.

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Guitarfetish bodies and necks

I've never bought one of their unfinished bodies, but I've bought plenty of the finished ones. They're great.

The paulowina ones or the "real wood" ones?

 

[dominus]

Re: Guitarfetish bodies and necks

The paulowina ones or the "real wood" ones?

Paulownia is real wood.

:28:

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Guitarfetish bodies and necks

Paulownia is real wood.

:28:

If you say so.

 

[dominus]

Re: Guitarfetish bodies and necks

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-tech/162365-paulownia-wood-body.html

http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2009/Jan/5_Tele_Style_Builders_You_Should_Know.aspx

(One of them, Ron Kirn, has used Paulownia for a few of his custom Telecasters.)

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaster-discussion-forum/210982-those-familiar-ron-kirn-guitars.html

http://www.ronkirn.com/gallery/index.php?album=Sunrise

http://www.ronkirn.com/gallery/index.php?album=pattydavid

http://www.ronkirn.com/gallery2/index.php?album=Yukon+King

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Guitarfetish bodies and necks

Hmm, maybe it's worth checking out. I made the mistake of assuming that since it's so cheap, it'd be an inferior wood. You all know what happens when we assume...

 

[dominus]

Re: Guitarfetish bodies and necks

Hmm, maybe it's worth checking out. I made the mistake of assuming that since it's so cheap, it'd be an inferior wood. You all know what happens when we assume...

Just because I like it because it's cheap...

Actually, I like it because it sounds good. The cheapness comes from the fact that it grows very fast, making it renewable, which is also a good thing. The softness is probably the greatest detriment, but since I don't smash things around, I expect them to hold up fine. I use vintage Strat bridges and lock them down, so I don't think they'll tear out. (Which is what a lot of people said about basswood, but how many people have really pulled the bridge off their Ibanez?)

If it was just about the price.. in the grand scheme of things, if a Paulownia body costs a builder $50 and an ash one costs $75, in a $1750 guitar, it really doesn't make all that much of a difference.

FYI, The Guitar Mill sells Paulownia bodies for $200, so they can be priced just as high as Korina if you want to pay more. :banghead:

I think I used 4 of the GFS Paulownia Strat bodies, and 4 of the Telecaster ones. Didn't have any problems with them.