Warmoth Project #2

[ICTGoober]

What prompted you to go with a scalloped neck? It's so..... Eighties....

 

[Mincer]

What prompted you to go with a scalloped neck? It's so..... Eighties....

Used one for 25 years. Feels a lot more natural. Also, the players I were listening to (john McLaughlin & Ritchie Blackmore) used them and when I finally tried one, it made sense to me.

 

[Lucius Paisley]

Used one for 25 years. Feels a lot more natural. Also, the players I were listening to (john McLaughlin & Ritchie Blackmore) used them and when I finally tried one, it made sense to me.

Are they easier to play, or does it just seem that way because of the illusion of less pressure to hold notes, I imagine it takes a lighter touch than standard boards.

 

[Mincer]

For me, they are easier. You press until the string just contacts the top of the fret and stop, unlike on a non-scalloped guitar, some people press until they feel wood. It is great for bending, too, as there is no hump in the middle of the fretboard to run into, and the strings have no way to slide under your finger accidently. I don't think it is for everyone, but as soon as I started using one, I was convinced what it could do for me.

 

[Clint 55]

I like the feel of scalloped a lot. To me it's all benefit. All you feel is string and it trains your fingers to automatically get the string right in the proper area of you fingertip for control. You don't end up just smashing your fingers down on string and board. I'd get them if they weren't more expensive haha.

 

[GuitarStv]

That neck and pickups look pretty awesome. Let us know how you get on with the truetone jack. I've been very interested in them, but haven't been able to convince myself they're worth the regular retail price!

 

[Mincer]

Yeah, I am interested in how it will work. It looks pretty solid. How it will last, well, I don't know yet. I like that it was available in black though!

 

[Mincer]

LSR Nut & Hipshot open gear locking tuners installed. The headstock will eventually have a black metallic Warmoth logo on it.

 

[PFDarkside]

Have you used the Hipshot locking tuners before? I’m considering them for my build as well.

 

[Mincer]

Have you used the Hipshot locking tuners before? I’m considering them for my build as well.

A student's guitar had them. These may be the lightest locking tuners I've tried- they are open-geared, so there isn't a metal shell around them. I also like the funky tuner shape, too.

 

[ICTGoober]

Hipshot tuners are excellent. Very popular replacement for old Yamaha basses. Their stock diecast tuning machines are notoriously heavy, and a set of Hipshots made a huge difference in weight relief.

 

[ErikH]

I finished sanding last night. 1 hour with 2000 grit, and then Birchwood Casey Gun Stock wax. You wipe it on with a paper towel, let it sit for 10 minutes, and wipe it off. The neck feels like glass now without that 'sticky' feeling of plastic finishes.
I do a similar procedure on my Music Man neck every year: sand with 600 and 1000 grit, clean with Murphy's Oil Soap, and then the Gun Stock Wax.

Today I will most likely get to the installation of the LSR nut, and the tuners. The holes for the nut are already drilled, and the tuners don't need additional holes.

This morning I took my Warmoth build w/ a roasted maple neck and sanded the back of the neck with 800, then 1000, then 1500. I didn't sand as long as you did but it didn't take much to make it feel smooth as glass. It felt great when I got it but I should've sanded it then. It feels so much better now. About as good as my 20+ year-old and played Warmoth neck on the old frankenstrat. It was never sanded, just played a lot over the years.

 

[Mincer]

Well, playing might achieve the same thing! All the sanding I did did not remove a lot of wood, but it certainly is crazy smooth now.

As far as the project goes, I got a case in the mail. It is a Gator Transit Series gig bag. The neck is sitting in the bag by itself, as the project is waiting for the body to be finished and shipped.

 

[Clint 55]

Why not round the fret ends while the neck is sitting around? You could do a few frets a day and have it done in a week!

 

[ErikH]

Those are killer bags. I have one of those for my Sub Ray4 bass.

 

[Mincer]

Why not round the fret ends while the neck is sitting around? You could do a few frets a day and have it done in a week!

I don't have the files for SS frets, and honestly, they are amazingly smooth. I can't see how they'd get better. If it bothers me, I will let one of my luthier friends have a crack at it.

 

[Dave Locher]

I put a set of those tuners on my partscaster, only I went with plastic tulip buttons. (Super light!) They are very smooth and precise.

 

[Mincer]

Yeah, I had tried another guitar with them, and was sold. With tuners, I like them light, staggered, with a higher ratio. These also have a cool mounting that can either use a set screw or not.

 

[Artie]

Read about it, then came across someone I knew selling it in a lot of parts. It is black, so it will match the hardware. I don't know if it is any better than a Switchcraft, as I've never directly compared. But it is a seriously industrial piece of hardware.

I'm guessing you mean Pure Tone. I've used them in a couple guitars now, and in a couple customers guitars. They're ok, but I think I'm going back to good ole Switchcraft's. I doubt the Pure Tone's have any sonic advantage, but they just feel clunky. On a guitar where the jack is mounted to the pickguard, I actually brace the pickguard with my other hand when I unplug the cable, because it feels like it wants to pull the screws out. On most guitars, this wouldn't be a problem. But I just like the "feel" of the Switchcrafts better. YMMV.

 

[Mincer]

Yeah, time will tell. I thought I'd try. This will be a side jack, and I considered a Switchraft/ElectroSocket combo, but I didn't have the means to countersink it.