Need a neck and advice

[phred]

I'm about to start a Tele project and I need a neck. I can get a new MIM Fender for 200.00, Warmoth for about $15.00 less, but it is unfinished and has no nut. Mighty Mite are cheaper, but I have never liked the feel and it would need fretwork and nut also. There are a few dealers on the bay that sell MM necks with fretwork complete, but I'm skeptical. Any thoughts? Anyone ever had a MM neck and kept it? Obviously I'm trying to keep prices down.

Thanks for your input.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Need a neck and advice

I've done quite a few neck and body mix'n'matching in my time.....being a lefty you end up doing this to get the colour/wood combos you want. I bought an MIM loaded body, and a Warmoth tele neck. Guitar was GREAT, even the stock pickups sounded thick and fat. The updated ones (Jerry Donahue, twisted tele neck) sounded even better.
Later on I needed a new neck for a warmoth body I bought on impulse. So the MIM body donated its neck, and I got a recent MIM neck.

Upshot was that my new MIM sucked. It lost a lot in that swap. It got sold.

Don't know whether the newer MIM neck was bad, or that the Warmoth one was good, or that the original combo was just right......but I've never had a dud from warmoth yet.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Need a neck and advice

I have a lot of experience with Warmoth necks if you cannot find any other options you like. Warmoth makes great necks so if you have any further questions about Warmoth necks a lot of us on these forums can help.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Need a neck and advice

I'm about to start a Tele project and I need a neck. I can get a new MIM Fender for 200.00, Warmoth for about $15.00 less, but it is unfinished and has no nut. Mighty Mite are cheaper, but I have never liked the feel and it would need fretwork and nut also. There are a few dealers on the bay that sell MM necks with fretwork complete, but I'm skeptical. Any thoughts? Anyone ever had a MM neck and kept it? Obviously I'm trying to keep prices down.

Thanks for your input.

Hands down Warmoth between the three. If it is an unfinished Maple then just keep it oiled with Linseed Oil or Gunstock Oil/Danish Oil (Van Halen had his maple necks un-oiled...which I don't recommend but just saying)

 

[Kostas]

Re: Need a neck and advice

Ι have four Warmoth guitars and I have played more, their quality is very good and you have a lot of options to choose. Check their showcase to see if you can find a neck to your specs, you will save time and money. Also check Musikraft and USACG, many people are pleased with their products. I would prefer a neck from these three companies if I was assembling a guitar, more options and better quality than Fender or MM. On the other hand, I would not leave a maple neck unfinished, oil is not finish and depending on the use you will need to reapply it. It may be more expensive but there is a reason guitar companies don't leave maple necks unfinished. Music Man is the exception and many of their guitar & bass necks are problematic and need constant adjustment.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Need a neck and advice

On the other hand, I would not leave a maple neck unfinished, oil is not finish and depending on the use you will need to reapply it. It may be more expensive but there is a reason guitar companies don't leave maple necks unfinished. Music Man is the exception and many of their guitar & bass necks are problematic and need constant adjustment.

Not to be argumentative, but I've never had any issues with an unfinished Maple neck. I do keep mine oiled regularly...and Van Halen had is completely unfinished... Also, I've not heard of Music Man necks being problematic and needing constant adjustment....news to me.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Need a neck and advice

Not to be argumentative, but I've never had any issues with an unfinished Maple neck. I do keep mine oiled regularly...and Van Halen had is completely unfinished... Also, I've not heard of Music Man necks being problematic and needing constant adjustment....news to me.

I have had two finished maple necks warp on me and some others that remained perfect. I personally am not using any maple necks at the moment and not sure if I ever would in the future to be honest. Some pieces of maple are great and I am sure EVH buys quartersawn top grade maple but I do not think the OP has that kind of money. I would hate to see a forum brother end up with a warped maple neck because of this advice.

I have three warmoth guitars currently and a warmoth bass. I too have owned more than these and played other warmoths. They are great guitars. I would suggest the OP to consider them strongly if it is in the budget.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Need a neck and advice

I have had two finished maple necks warp on me and some others that remained perfect. I personally am not using any maple necks at the moment and not sure if I ever would in the future to be honest. Some pieces of maple are great and I am sure EVH buys quartersawn top grade maple but I do not think the OP has that kind of money. I would hate to see a forum brother end up with a warped maple neck because of this advice.

To each his/her own. I've seen necks warp from improper maintenance and leaning the headstock against the wall instead of in a stand or guitar case...haven't had an oil neck warp on me yet. Again, to each his/her own...

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Need a neck and advice

To each his/her own. I've seen necks warp from improper maintenance and leaning the headstock against the wall instead of in a stand or guitar case...haven't had an oil neck warp on me yet. Again, to each his/her own...

I agree. I have always used a stand to store guitars. I had a MIM maple strat neck warp and a Squier P-bass neck warp. Neither guitar was improperly cared for. Minnesota summers are extremely humid and the winters are extremely dry with extreme temperature changes. It happens, deal with it.

Now I play on Wenge, Bubinga, Bocote and Indian Rosewood necks. All unfinished and beautiful in their own way. I prefer unfinished necks but never maple. My grandfather was a carpenter, two of my best friends are luthiers. None of them would ever suggest leaving maple unfinished or untreated.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Need a neck and advice

I agree. I have always used a stand to store guitars. I had a MIM maple strat neck warp and a Squier P-bass neck warp. Neither guitar was improperly cared for. Minnesota summers are extremely humid and the winters are extremely dry with extreme temperature changes. It happens, deal with it.

Now I play on Wenge, Bubinga, Bocote and Indian Rosewood necks. All unfinished and beautiful in their own way. I prefer unfinished necks but never maple. My grandfather was a carpenter, two of my best friends are luthier. None of them would ever suggest leaving maple unfinished or untreated.

Definitely a different climate than here in the South...its hot and humid in the summer while cold and humid in the winter...always wet. Regardless of being finished or unfinished, improper care can lead to a neck warping. I personally use Danish oil on my maple necks, usually put a coat on once a quarter and usually oil my Rosewood fretboards once a year with Lemon Oil. And that is interesting, perhaps difference in climates?

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Need a neck and advice

Definitely a different climate than here in the South...its hot and humid in the summer while cold and humid in the winter...always wet. Regardless of being finished or unfinished, improper care can lead to a neck warping. I personally use Danish oil on my maple necks, usually put a coat on once a quarter and usually oil my Rosewood fretboards once a year with Lemon Oil. And that is interesting, perhaps difference in climates?

Different climates definitely play a role for sure. Where I am now is much more like the climate of the south but now I do not have the square footage to keep my guitars on stands all day. Only the one I am playing currently, the rest stay in their cases sadly.