Questions About Warmoth Compound Radius

[Schappy]

I am about to purchase a neck for a strat built Im doing but am shying away from Fender since I want a neck with a higher radius.

Im a little scared to dump a bunch of money into a Warmoth compound radius without ever playing one?

Should I just order a 12" radius from Warmoth?

 

[jmh151]

Re: Questions About Warmoth Compound Radius

I have a compound radius on my Jackson soloist. I notice that it's a bit more comfortable to play all across the fretboard than the straight radius necks on all my other guitars- especially in the upper registers

If you can, visit a local guitar store and try out an neck through body Jackson- import or american- and you'll see how the compound radius feels.

 

[jerryjg]

Re: Questions About Warmoth Compound Radius

Just dont get it too flat i think. I have one thats really like 16 or something and its so flat it hurts my fingers . Not sure.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Questions About Warmoth Compound Radius

I've got one with the standard 10-16" compound radius. It is the most comfortable neck I own and the most comfortable neck I've ever played.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Questions About Warmoth Compound Radius

I am about to purchase a neck for a strat built Im doing but am shying away from Fender since I want a neck with a higher radius.

Im a little scared to dump a bunch of money into a Warmoth compound radius without ever playing one?

Should I just order a 12" radius from Warmoth?

You could also order a Warmoth showcase neck first and send it back. You are not allowed to put it into a guitar and string iit up, but you can see how it feels just as-is compared to other necks.

Standard nag: fretboard radius alone means nothing without fret size and neck profile also specified.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Questions About Warmoth Compound Radius

I have 4 Warmoth-neck'd guitars, and all of em are Standard Thin, Compound Radius, 6100 frets, 1.75" nut width. They are one of the most comfortable necks you could ever play!

Unless you are doing a vintage replica, get the compound radius; feels great!

Edit: In fact, I think that if you get a straight radius, you have to go with their vintage contour, also.

 

[scottish]

Re: Questions About Warmoth Compound Radius

Personally, i hate the warmoth 10-16 radius. Feels funky to me. Im right at home on a 12" board so i see no need to change to anything else.

 

[Schappy]

Re: Questions About Warmoth Compound Radius

OK, Im starting to feel more comfortable about the compound radius. I think I might give it a shot.

Ive heard that the finish can be put on a little thick.

Should I order my neck unfinished?

I like the vintage tint. Would this be relatively easy to do on my own.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Questions About Warmoth Compound Radius

I always order mine unfinished and oil it myself. That voids the warranty. However, I've never had a problem. Caveat emptor.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Questions About Warmoth Compound Radius

Mine came unfinished and I finished it myself. That does not void the warranty. You can finish it yourself without voiding the warranty, it just has has to be an adequate finish, not left bare. Ask them what finishes will keep the warranty intact.

I wiped on 2-3 coats of MinWax poly satin on mine a couple years ago. For the longest time it had just a few coats of Watco oil on it.

After 15 years, it's still going strong. Not one problem.

 

[theodie]

Re: Questions About Warmoth Compound Radius

Edit: In fact, I think that if you get a straight radius, you have to go with their vintage contour, also.

Something tells me you are off the mark on that one. I cant swear to it though but, I am fairly certain you can get any contour with any radius.


Schappy, feel free to do a search on my opinion on this issue, Stay far away from the Warmoth compound. Get a straight radius. However, I love other companys compounds.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Questions About Warmoth Compound Radius

Something tells me you are off the mark on that one. I cant swear to it though but, I am fairly certain you can get any contour with any radius.

You may be right. It was either the radius or the vintage truss that meant you had to go with the vintage contour. Honestly, I don't remember, and I've never ordered a neck like that from Warmoth.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Questions About Warmoth Compound Radius

They have three trussrods:
1) total vintage (heel adjustment)
2) vintage modern
3) pro

IIRC total vintage is limited in neck profiles an only comes in 7.5".

%%

Finishing your neck in nitro, if it's a maple fretboard neck, isn't as easy as it sounds.

I just did that and while the back of the neck came out good I had serious problems between the frets. The frets attract the paint and there were actual holes forming on the top of the curve because the paint was floating to the sides and towards the frets. After screwing it up once I could go through the nightmare of sanding between the frets and couldn't resist not using a sanding block. Fingersanding = more holes.

Next time I order rosewood

 

[Schappy]

Re: Questions About Warmoth Compound Radius

Theodie,
Why so negative on the Warmoth compound radius?

Anyone else have a bad experience with Warmoth?

 

[RockStarNick]

Re: Questions About Warmoth Compound Radius

I've ordered 4 necks so far. All are fantastic.

You WILL need to do a final fret leveling and crowning, though. Every neck I got had one or two frets that were a tad high. But that's normal.

I ordered 3 with the Compound Radius, and 1 with a straight 12. Compound Radius, to me, is WAY better. Super comfortable to play. If you're anywhere in NJ, I'd be happy to let you try out one of my Warmoths before you buy.

 

[theodie]

Re: Questions About Warmoth Compound Radius

Theodie,
Why so negative on the Warmoth compound radius?

Anyone else have a bad experience with Warmoth?

There are a few on here that have had the same problems with their Warmoth compound. I have talked to them via PM. I am not mentioning names.



Here is the deal, the ones I have had experience with have been impossible to set up without buzzing like crazy even with huge action and after a leveling by myself on a Neck Jig. I have a few therorys as to what was a matter with them but, I dont feel like typing that much right now. Yes, I know how to set up a guitar and yes, I know it needs around a 20" radius or so at the bridge. I have worked as a tech and I have built guitars in the past. I know what I am doing. I know some have been very happy with theirs but, the ones I have had experience with have all been a P.O.S.

 

[Schappy]

Re: Questions About Warmoth Compound Radius

Id really like to get a maple neck with a tinted vintage finish.

Should I do it myself or go with Warmoth?(How easy is it?)

Ive heard some negatives about their finishes?

 

[uOpt]

Re: Questions About Warmoth Compound Radius

The problem I see is that to level a compound radius you have to use a free-floating flat sand block.

A straight 12" fretboard radius block will obviously do a better job between the different strings.

I'm almost ready to pull the trigger on my Tele neck, but it's pro construction, so what's a wimp donna do? Now I'm all confused. (not that this is difficult)

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Questions About Warmoth Compound Radius

I know this thread is specifically about Warmoth's compound radius necks and not compound radius necks in general, but I just want to interject that Suhr's standard is a 10"-14" compound radius and I'm not aware of playability or set-up problems with their necks. By the way, I am not a tech so I'm certainly not trying to argue.