Who has built a Warmoth strat? Comments?

[jmv]

Re: Who has built a Warmoth strat? Comments?

I would say that this is the case with any guitar. Certain companies are better than others in this regard (Hamer being the best in my opinion,) but just because you buy an off-the-shelf-guitar doesn't mean that you're guaranteed a winner, just like building it yourself to your exact specs doesn't always guarantee that it'll be the guitar of your dreams. I'd say Warmoth's stuff is as good as or better than Fender's.

Ryan

I'm not saying that this isn't the case with other guitar companies.... but with most of them, you have the option of playing a bunch of the guitars, to find the best possible one, like i did to find my guitar. You don't have that luxury with warmoth. But you DO get the custom guitar to your specs, which is cool.

 

[hacker]

Re: Who has built a Warmoth strat? Comments?

I have two warmoth guitars and they are definitely keepers.

It is true that when you buy warmoth, you don't know exactly what you are getting, but their quality is superb. Warmoth necks rule, there was no way I couldve gotten a Fender USA neck as nice as either of my warmoths, not to mention they are the exact shape I want. Their alder and ash bodies may be similar in quality to regular USA Fender stuff, but the finished product is up there with Anderson, Suhr, etc.

 

[Stirt]

Re: Who has built a Warmoth strat? Comments?

Probably 60-80% of all the wood is good.

I think while it is a box of chocolates when you build guitars, I have come to the conclusion that it's mostly the combination of components that makes the magic happen. Almost any wood will sound great used in the right set up. I think it was Taylor a few years back that made an acoustic guitar using wood from an old shipping pallet and it sounded great.

I wouldn't be interested in a bolt-on 25.5 scale Les Paul.

My #1 that I play most of the show with is a Warmoth LP with a Warmoth conversion neck on it. That makes it into a 24 3/4" scale. I have to be honest, I have had 4 Gibson Les Pauls and this one is the best sounding Paul I've played. Not only that, but when I wanted to make a change in the neck spec, I could easily order me up a new neck and slap it on my killer body. That's a great tool option if your a gigging musician.

I was considering a SG warmoth project but then decided not to because you prolly wouldn't be able to get true SG sound with a bolt on neck.

Funny you should mention that! I just placed a Warmoth order for a black SG. One piece mahogany body, mahogany neck with black ebony fingerboard, pearloid binding down the neck, pearloid Celtic cross inlays, white pearl vintage style pickguard and matching truss rod cover. Hardware will be all chrome. Warmoth makes SGs just as thick as other bodies so instead of it being Gibson's 1 1/2" thick like a Mustang, it's 1 3/4" which looks awesome. Mo'beef for tone and sustain too! I don't know if it'll sound like an SG but then again I'm not trying to copy some sound or somebody. One thing is for sure, I know she'll rock through my Marshall stack on 11!

Gregg-

 

[rspst14]

Re: Who has built a Warmoth strat? Comments?

Greg, have you guys ever considered a set neck option? I think it would really increase the sales of your LP, SG, and VIP style guitars if you offered bodies and necks routed for a set neck, where the customer or their luthier could glue the neck in. I think a lot of people who might otherwise be interested in these body styles decide to pass because they're worried that it won't sound the same as a real Gibson, PRS, etc due to the difference in the neck joint.

I do think that there is a slight difference in tone between a bolt-on and a set neck. But based on my experience, I think it's a myth that set neck guitars sustain better than bolt-ons. A good, tight neck joint like Warmoth guitars have will result in a guitar that sustains every bit as well as one with a set neck.

Ryan

 

[Stirt]

Re: Who has built a Warmoth strat? Comments?

We won't be doing set necks because there are many tooling and labor issues in it for us, but we are looking at neck-through body designs. (You probably already know but that when the neck wood continues on through the body to the butt end and then two wings are put on both sides to complete the body.) We have an old CNC machine that can be programmed for it. It's amazing the amount of time and labor involved with such a charter. It may never come to be if the cost to reward ratio is perceived as too out of balance though. Even if we do travel down that road, it would be a couple of years before it could be officially offered so we could work out the bugs.

I agree with you on the sustain issue. Most people do not realize the amount of pressure 4 screws exert. Glue between the body and neck doesn't make them more "one" sonically, in my opinion. I feel good about the massive pressure of four screws holding two raw pieces together.

Gregg-

 

[TattooedCarrot]

Re: Who has built a Warmoth strat? Comments?

My #1 that I play most of the show with is a Warmoth LP with a Warmoth conversion neck on it. That makes it into a 24 3/4" scale.

According to Warmoth's website, and conversations I've had with sales reps at Warmoth, the 24.75 conversion necks are only availible with Fender style headstocks and not Gibson style. Is this not so?

 

[Stirt]

Re: Who has built a Warmoth strat? Comments?

For about a year we've been able to do all the tilt back style necks as conversions as well. Same price as the 25 1/2" scale necks. It's not on the website yet but we have a super cool new neck section about to launch where you'll see it.

Gregg-

 

[MattPete]

Re: Who has built a Warmoth strat? Comments?

According to Warmoth's website, and conversations I've had with sales reps at Warmoth, the 24.75 conversion necks are only availible with Fender style headstocks and not Gibson style. Is this not so?

Nah, just have to ask nicely!

This Warmoth VIP has a 24.75 scale neck. I made it during the summer of 2003. There's a 25.5 inch Warmoth strat next to it for comparison purposes:

It's Gibson scale, mahogany, and has a 13 degree angled "Warmoth" headstock:

Notice the 13-degree angled strat neck next to it!

 

[Stirt]

Re: Who has built a Warmoth strat? Comments?

Nice guitars Matt! Did you submit pictures and a blurb about them to the Warmoth Customer Gallery? We need those in there!

Gregg-