Warmoth LP - Tell me all about them

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UberMetalDood

New member
I just ordered a complete build for a strat, and depending on the outcome, I might order an LP (Regal) style set. As far as I can tell, they are bolt-on necks, and you have to buy the "24 3/4 conversion" model to get the Gibson LP scale. My question is does anyone own both Gibson LP's and Warmoth LP's? What can you tell me about the difference, similarities, or do they sound the same? I priced out an entire build but it came out to about $1650 which is what I could buy a new LP Traditional Pro for, so I'm wondering if it's even worth going through the trouble.
 
Re: Warmoth LP - Tell me all about them

Warmoth has always seemed promising, and the neck I have from them (granted it is a telecaster neck) is great. Never had any experience with Warmoth LP stuff though, sorry.

Something already tells me Gibson-bashing to eventually find its way into this thread though, so be prepared haha.
 
Re: Warmoth LP - Tell me all about them

I'd just get the Gibson for that price. Resale at the least will be three times as high
 
Re: Warmoth LP - Tell me all about them

this topic has been here before and I've said this before as well. Warmoth vs Gibson is no comparison. Sure it's a singlecut but warmoth's guitars (or parts if you will) are better. better finish, better woods, better fretwork. I used to have 12 Gibsons. now I have 30 warmoth 'les pauls'. I sold all my Gibsons which includes some great 1970s LP's, a '05 Class 5, an '03 CS Alpine White custom and others. If those guitars would've been better, I'd be a miserable fool to have sold them all. If warmoth would suck, I'd never have gone with number 2, not to mention 3, 4, 5 etc etc. My to-go LP is a warmoth. If you know how to screw in a pickup, change tuners, change pots, you can assemble a warmoth LP. it's super-easy. If you want it even better, get a straight edge, use double sided tape, glue on grit 600 and give the frets a run-over. polish them up with grit 1200, 2500 and then with polish compound and you've got a neck that would give any gibson a run for their money. You don't buy a warmoth with the idea of selling it. EVER.
 
Re: Warmoth LP - Tell me all about them

I'm on the front end building just a few Warmoth models, but so far the parts arriving and ease of assembly are very good. I'm not sure how the Warmoth Regal or Royale models compare to a Gibson (shape comparison, etc) and know that Warmoth is prevented from selling what they used to call "Les Paul" models/kits. Anyone try out the Regal or Royale Warmoth models yet? They are fairly new. Thanks!
 
Re: Warmoth LP - Tell me all about them

I have a Warmoth LP (from 2005 when they were using Gibson shapes). It's great, but I'd only recommend you get one if ALL of these are true:

1. You have very specific requirements that aren't met by Gibson, Epiphone, ESP, PRS, or any other set neck single cut
2. You're ok with a bolt-on (honestly, it's not a big deal - their neck pockets are very tight)
3. You're ok with terrible resale value
4. You're confident you'll be able to put it together properly, or you're willing to pay someone to do it for you

I've only had great experiences with Warmoth parts, and their wood is second to none, so there should be no concerns in terms of quality. I don't think they're better than a good Gibson (key word being "good"), but they're at least in that ballpark, and when all's said and done you'll likely have spent less. As I said though, you have to be certain you're ok with the four points I posted above.
 
Re: Warmoth LP - Tell me all about them

Every picture I see of Warmoth LPs, the tailpiece seems to be further away from the bridge than on a regular LP. Am I crazy, or is the spacing different?
 
Re: Warmoth LP - Tell me all about them

GuitarStv said:
Am I crazy...?
Click to expand...

I thought we all already knew the answer to that question :p

I just compared my Tokai to my Warmoth LP and I do believe you're right. It's not a big change but it is there.

As far as the Gibson/Warmoth comparision goes, I'd point you at RD's response. The build quality of all the Warmoth guitars I've put together (I have 3 now) has been excellent. It's really a question of whether that's what you want, not whether the end result is comparable with any other good quality guitar. If it turns out that you don't like what you end up with, it's 99% certain you picked the wrong things to start with.
 
Re: Warmoth LP - Tell me all about them

Last I checked Gibson had issued legal threats and they stopped offering LP shaped bodies.
 
Re: Warmoth LP - Tell me all about them

^ er....surely you can tell what shape its closest to. And the shape difference between the two is minor.
 
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Re: Warmoth LP - Tell me all about them

Very close shapes, that's why I was wondering what the difference might intended to be. Regal and Royale.....even the names are somewhat similar. Which one is closest to a Les Paul?
 
Re: Warmoth LP - Tell me all about them

Warmoth rubs me the wrong way. They are terribly overpriced, and they are not even a true "custom" shop, in that they cannot (or do not, more accurately) really stray from the capabilities of their CNC machines. How hard is it to do something that involves a tiny bit of manual, out-of-the-oridinary labor for a customer that is actually ready, willing, and able to pay their exorbitant prices? They call themselves a custom shop. Yet they will deny your ass every time on simple special requests IME. ****.

Standard-issue Warmoth rant out of the way, $1650 for a bolt-neck, no-name Les Paul just seems a bit crazy to me. You will get a better guitar at a better price that will actually appreciate in value if you just spend that money on a late '80's to late '90's Gibson Les Paul. IMO, they were making Les Pauls as good then as they ever did. Get them now before they get sucked into the "vintage" vortex that will magically double their prices in the next ten years.

That said, I fully understand the appeal of a build project. But, if you're thinking about spending big bux on a custom LP build, I'd really think about going this route instead: http://www.musikraft.com/product-info.php?pid224.html. Musikraft are tops in my book.
 
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Re: Warmoth LP - Tell me all about them

If want a true LP shape, go to Precision Guitar Kits. They're even set neck.
 
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