Suggestion - Build or Buy

[treyhaislip]

Wanting some opinions/suggestions. I'm currently playing through a Fender Bassbreaker 007 with a Cannabis Rex Speaker and Mad Professor Stone Grey & Silver Springs pedal–for small gigs it is powerful enough to stay in the mix and for bigger gigs I just mic it. I mainly play Teles and really like the tone I currently have. In between practices I broke my strings and needed a guitar quickly for my next jam session (fully intending on going back to the Teles once my strings came in.)

My cousin let me borrow his old USA Hamer Special with P90s (upgraded with Fralins.) The guitar sounds phenomenal and the bandmates really liked the tone. On some of the songs, it sounds better than my Teles.

So here is my issue–the Old Hamer DCs/Specials are $1,000+ and I don't like the color of any of them (some yellow-green or red.) Fralin P90s would add another $2-300.

I prefer to build my own (really just to meet my specific specs...not really saving money in the grand scheme of things) but I have no experience with a set-neck.

Thoughts on building a Warmoth 7/8 Tele using the same woods, scale, bridge, pickups, etc vs. attempting to build a set-neck without any experience building one or just buying one knowing I really don't like the looks?

Do you think the bolt-on neck would make that big of a difference?

 

[Jack_TriPpEr]

I would bet that most of the difference you heard btw your Tele and the Hamer could be achieved with any decent quality guitar that has the same key specs as the Hamer, i.e. set neck, 24.75" neck scale, and 2 P90 pickups. So I don't think you need to limit yourself to just that exact model of Hamer.

 

[Jack_TriPpEr]

And I wouldn't insist on finding a guitar like that, that already had P90s. Since thar limits your choices. You can easily buy something w humbuckers and replace those with P90s.

 

[treyhaislip]

I would bet that most of the difference you heard btw your Tele and the Hamer could be achieved with any decent quality guitar that has the same key specs as the Hamer, i.e. set neck, 24.75" neck scale, and 2 P90 pickups. So I don't think you need to limit yourself to just that exact model of Hamer.

And I wouldn't insist on finding a guitar like that, that already had P90s. Since that limits your choices. You can easily buy something w humbuckers and replace those with P90s.

Thank you for the suggestion! I've been eying some Gibson Studios with P90s (don't care for fancy binding and all.)

I do like stuff like Phat Cats but they do not sound/respond the same a real P90 does, IMO.

 

[TVFV]

Have you looked at Reverend Guitars? They have several models with P90's.

 

[treyhaislip]

Have you looked at Reverend Guitars? They have several models with P90's.

Yeah, for some reason they all look "odd" to me. I've actually never played one–never seen one available at any Big or Little guitar store around me.

If I bought a P90 guitar, I would be swapping the pickups out for Fralins anyway–kinda where the build came in. The used market has so little supply right now, no P90s at my closest guitar store.

 

[larryguitar]

I'd think an inexpensive LP JR 'kit' would be a good way to test the waters on that tone. I did a PGK kit (before I scratch-built a JR) and it went together fairly easily.

Larry

 

[treyhaislip]

I'd think an inexpensive LP JR 'kit' would be a good way to test the waters on that tone. I did a PGK kit (before I scratch-built a JR) and it went together fairly easily.

Larry

Thank you for the suggestion! Those look really good!

 

[Mincer]

If you were to build a Warmoth, you'd get an amazing guitar, none the less. It won't save any money, and the resale won't be good, but you'd get exactly what you want. And, if you get exactly what you want, you probably wouldn't need to resell it.
Another option is going for a used Hamer and having it re-finished. It would probably cost less than a Warmoth. I would suggest to first start playing guitars with similar specs to the one you really like. Some other options might open up.

 

[CaptainWhizz]

Starting with one of these and refinishing might be a good base? It would be a hybrid between a Tele and the DC jr style?

https://glguitars.com/product/asat-junior-ii/

There’s the Fender Jim Adkins, but I think that’s thinline.

As you were talking about making a Tele-style, I figure that’s what you’re more interested in?

 

[playas]

I like Mincer's idea of looking for a Hamer and refinishing it if you can't find one you like the look of.

I have two usa models and love them. I think they are more reliably well made than many other similarly priced brands on the 2nd hand market, but keep an eye out in any case.

How long would it take you to have a finished playable guitar?

If you give yourself the same time to keep looking at the second-hand market you may come across something that you like without even a refin.
On the other hand, you'll probably get a lot out of a build if you're willing to put the time in to do it really well...and will have it exactly to your specs.

 

[Aceman]

I recently sold Gene/BTMN BACK his double cut Hamer. I did not like it. Sounded find. I was just not hanging with the DC factor.

But, based on everything, I say build. Get what you exactly what you want. The Hamer search could be long and expensive too.

 

[jeremy]

i have three hamer usa guitars and each one is great. you can get a cheap dc and put fralins in it and be probably 80% of the way there. i like mincers idea of getting a hamer and refinishing it. the ones ive played had duncan p90s stock. if you go warmoth i really dont believe youll end up with anything better than the hamer though you do get choice in neck shape

 

[alex1fly]

Depends on how you want to spend your time, yeah? Building vs buying/modding are two very different processes. However if you want to get as close as possible to the experience of your friend's Hamer, you probably need to go audition guitars in person. IME the "feel" can get lost in the specs.

However if you're comfortable building bolt-ons, maybe that's the best way to go! Neck joints do affect the tone but not so much that you couldn't make up with other parts of your signal chain, particularly in a band mix.

 

[ehdwuld]

a dab of Titebond turns a bolt on into a Set neck

 

[treyhaislip]

Thank you all for the awesome advice and suggestions!

I pulled the trigger on Reverb only have the transaction fall through twice (turned out to be my bank's fraud protection that required I call despite answering "yes" to the text message about fraud.)

Decided to go with Warmoth instead...that way I get all of the specs I care about (stainless steel frets, fretboard radius, color, etc.) Will be doing a 7/8 Warhead Tele project for the same scale and bridge type. Was able to score a good price on a set of Fralin P90s...key differences will be an Ebony board (instead of Rosewood I presume) and a Bolt-On Neck instead of Set.

Thank you guys again, I sincerely appreciate all of the input!

 

[Mincer]

Congrats on the Warmoth, then (I have a body coming)! Warmoth just put out a video explaining that things are taking longer, so expect about 12 weeks or so.

 

[treyhaislip]

Congrats on the Warmoth, then (I have a body coming)! Warmoth just put out a video explaining that things are taking longer, so expect about 12 weeks or so.

Thanks!

I saw where they were behind already—the body and neck I ordered will be unfinished so that will at least save some time.

 

[Mincer]

Thanks!

I saw where they were behind already—the body and neck I ordered will be unfinished so that will at least save some time.

Oh that should save a lot of time!

 

[Artie]

Hey Trey. Cool project. It'll be interesting to see how this turns out. But, sorry for the dumb question, what do you mean by 7/8 Tele? Do you mean a Tele that's 1/8th smaller than standard?