Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: willo on November 06, 2005, 06:31:20 PM
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"Discuss"... :)
Ok, what I mean to say, is that I have been checking out the Warmoth site a few times of late, and I have to say I'm pretty impressed, I like the whole look of the thing. But what do you guys think of them?
How good is the quality of wood, for instance? And how easy is it to get the parts shipped over to the UK? Long waiting times, any other inconveniences?
One thing that also worries me is actually putting the whole thing together...I have no experience of doing that kind of thing before. Is it hard? If it is really really hard then I might hand it over to a luthier to finish off. Or is there some kind of book I could get that would show me how to assemble the project?
I'm asking cos I have an itch for a P90 equipped guitar, and Warmoth looks good value and interesting. Anyone got any general opinions on Warmoth?
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Fantastic quality of stuff, I built a guitar with their Jackson neck and Strat body. The waiting was a bit quicker than they estimated, something like 4 weeks for the neck and 2 for the body IIRC. The only real drawback is the cost you get lumbered with for importing into the UK, but that's nothing to do with Warmoth - just something to keep in mind when working out how much it will be, as you're gonna have to pay 17.5% VAT when customs get hold of it.
As for setting it up, you will need a luthier to do that anyway - I still need to get a nut cut and setup on mine, as although Warmoth installed the precut nut and frets, you still need it done to your taste by a luthier or yourself.
For painting, it's not that hard really to get a professional finish, there's the ebook we've got on Shredaholic (the Paint Your Own Guitar ad on the main page on the top right) that shows you how to get a factory finish pretty well, but there are free resources available on it too. You could go down this route with spray cans, or you could get it Warmoth finished. I did mine with cans as the finish is acrylic so doesn't stop the wood from ageing like poly does.
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Well, even with getting screwed by HM customs it still works out at awesome value for money. I'd put the tele I made up against anything with "Fender" on the headstock, even their custom shop stuff, and I got *everything* exactly how I wanted.
It's all generally very good but their necks really are a cut above. The profiles available, fret and inlay options, and compound radius combined with the double action trussrod with heel access make it very, very cool.
If you get one though it won't be long before you plan the next one though, so be careful. :wink:
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if you get one though it won't be long before you plan the next one though, so be careful. :wink:
you mean like you are?? lol!
I'm just getting a little bewildered with all the options on offer, i dont know where to begin...trying to work out if a Wilkinson trem would line up with a warmoth modified Mustang bridge and whether they could route a Jazzmaster body for it and so on. Hmmm *scratches head*
What is the packaging like when they send it over? Any chance of damages?
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I went with UPS and it took something like 2 working days to arrive, no damage at all (it was packed well, and even the box used to pack it had no scuffs or damage!), however this means I've no idea whether UPS have a good claims policy or not.
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I've only had one experience with Warmoth, and that was when I ordered by chrome OFR. For $180, they managed to get practically everything wrong! I'm probably in the minority, however, since most people rave about their quality and attention to detail. I would still get a neck or body from them if I were so inclined, however.
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if you get one though it won't be long before you plan the next one though, so be careful. :wink:
you mean like you are?? lol!
I'm just getting a little bewildered with all the options on offer, i dont know where to begin...trying to work out if a Wilkinson trem would line up with a warmoth modified Mustang bridge and whether they could route a Jazzmaster body for it and so on. Hmmm *scratches head*
What is the packaging like when they send it over? Any chance of damages?
I'd say almost none unless something really amazing bad happened. They send it in bits which enhances it's chance of survival greatly, there was a lot of the pink styrofoam bits, and some bubble wrap inside industrialish cardboard. And for what is essentially lumps of metal and wood to get damaged inside that would take something really, really unlucky and unlikely.
I think guitar amps and hollow bodies are the things you have to worry about the most since they're fragile, especially valve amps. I'm waiting on a replacement output valve thanks to FedEx in fact.
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I am planning a quick trip to the USA in February. I was thinking of maybe buying a few bits when I am there or at least having them sent to my Son and me collecting them to stick them in my case when I come home. Of course I will declare them at customs :wink:
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Where in the US will you be? If you're gonna be on the east coast, keep me posted!!!
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I've only had one experience with Warmoth, and that was when I ordered by chrome OFR. For $180, they managed to get practically everything wrong! I'm probably in the minority, however, since most people rave about their quality and attention to detail. I would still get a neck or body from them if I were so inclined, however.
I've had even worse experiences with warmoth.
lost my order for a pickguard and a few misc. parts Twice!
then hasseled me when I canceled and order for a neck. they siad I owed them money for something that was never part of the agreement/order.
Good thing I know a few things about the law ;)
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I am going to Ohio Ben- visiting my Son. He lives in Columbus. The flights I have looked at all involve a change but the change is either DC or Detroit- shame it can't be either JFK or Newark- but maybe it can- I will check it out.
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You could also get a kit guitar from StewMac. Dealt with them a couple of times, the customer service is good. There aren't as many choises in fancy woods and inlays though.
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I'm thinking about getting an Iceman body with Matte black finish, white binding, 24 fret strat neck with custom peghead, and silver hardware.
Yeah. The solid color finishes aren't that much, and I'm getting a satin finish on the neck, it feels much better. It will probably ring up around $900. I'll probably put a Warpig or MM in the bridge and something pretty in the neck. Like a VH4.
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I'm totally with you on the satin necks, if I found a guitar with a gloss neck it'd have to sound pretty damn special, and it'd be brillo tome for the neck laquer too! :twisted:
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This is a Bare Knuckes loaded Warmoth I made a while ago now. It's got a Nailbomb at the bridge, Irish Tour Middle, and an Alnico Miracle Man neck. 95% of my new recording is this guitar. I'll get some sound clips on as soon as I get the mixes back. It's a great sounding piece of kit![/img]
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now that looks nice!
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Very nice axe :twisted: :twisted:
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That's very nice. Gorgeous flame top. The see thru pickguard really makes the guitar stand out from the crowd.
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i love the wood! shame about the pickguard... - seeing the electronics spoils the "organic" look of the natural coloured maple IMO. I'd have a wooden pickguard (rosewood)
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andy, how much did it cost you all in all to do that beautiful axe? How do you rate it?
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The body and neck, neckplate, tuners, screws, etc, came to $666 (I thought this was a good sign..haha) inc shipping, which was £375, import tax was an additional £80. I would say in total around £750/£800 to build. The custom made pickguard wasn't cheap, nor was the original floyd trem. I originally ordered the build with a Laminate top basswood body, but it sounded reall muddy, so I sold that body to a friend of mine and ordered an Alder with wild maple laminate which is pictured, and sounds much better. The body has 4 thin coats of clear laquer to seal, then wire wooled flat for a matt appearance. I didn't want to kill the tone with loads of finish. I changed a couple of pickups too before I was happy. The neck has an oil rubbed finish and plays great. I built it as a road dog to save my main guitars, but this turned into my main guitar. You can't buy a guitar like it off the peg, and it does everything I want out of a guitar. Not everyones cup of tea, but I built it to be functional, not look like a piece of furniture.
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Did you finish it yourself or did you have a luthier help you out? If you did it yourself are you experienced at doing that sort of thing or was it trial and error? Any tips?
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I had a friend of mine wire the pickguard for me, the rest I put together myself. It went together pretty well really. You just gotta take your time and make sure everythings bolted on straight or in place before you start hammering or drilling away. The neck was really good to start with and didn't need any fret dressing or anything. Just a quick fret polish was enough. I wanted the trem to sit flush to the body with no recess. This was the only headache part I encountered really. I had to make a shim to pack the trem a little as it was sitting too far back, and the neck pocket needed a little packing too. Other than that, it was just settling the neck in and tweaking the truss rod and giving it a final setup. I'd go ahead and build one. It's a good learning curve. I actually ordered a duplicate guitar from Warmoth, but they had some problems with the order and lost it. I couldn't wait any longer so I eventually cancelled it. The only negative encounter with Warmoth I had.
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....and no, this was my first build. Before this my experience was changing strings and tweaking the truss rod now and then. Give me a screwdriver and I'll poke my eye out!!
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:D That does look cool !!!
Is it a bolt on or glued neck ?
:D 8)
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£375 to ship a guitar? :o thats mental. I ordered a bass from www.music123.com and it was shipped flawlessly to me within a week for £30!
I want to build a strat more and more everyone posts theirs on here dammit!
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i think he means "the neck body etc and shipping came to $666, which correlates to your english money as £375"
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My shipping came to $70 or so, so it's not that bad. It's VAT and customs that gets you I guess, but even then it's not as much as I first thought.
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Hi guys,
My name's Dan and i've been learning from this forum for a while now, but i feel that given my experience in this matter, now is the time to compose my first post. Please bear with me because it's turned into a bit of a monster.
I'm into project guitars in a big way. I've ordered parts for no fewer than 4 guitars from warmoth, and although the first two projects came out great, their quality of service has gone to ground within the last few years. Whereas i used to recieve full, comprehensive answers from their sales staff, my last two orders left a bitter taste in my mouth. My inquiries were answered with short (sometimes insultingly so) responses, and when everything arrived at my door, it became apparent that many mistakes had been made. At risk of sounding like a moaner, these were the specific problem areas:
The neck pocket on a jazz bass body was too small (or the heel of the neck too big), and after sufficient sanding to ensure a tight fit, the paint around the neck pocket was left brittle and unprotected, and inevitably chipped away. I think either the body or neck (or both) were finished far too thickly. Both the neck and the body were supplied and finished by warmoth.
On the other guitar, in this case an expensive "VIP" model (PRS style carvetop) they hadn't routed the neccessary angle in the neck pocket, despite the fact that i'd specified and paid for the work to be done. As a result, the TOM bridge was unuseable until I shimmed the neck to fit (which took me ages).
On the same guitar, warmoth had incorrectly routed the tuner ream, and I had to bore it out myself with a pillar drill, scratching the headstock - again, this was particularly specified in my order form, and the tuners were supplied by warmoth. Neither of the necks were fretted tidily and both required a professional fret level after construction.
Aside from the mistakes that were made, there are some aspects of the standard "warmoth pro" neck's design which are less than favourable from a tonal standpoint (although, obviously, tonal considerations are relative). I've found the double action trussrod to have a detrimental effect on the instruments tonality and balance, given its weight, and i've found that my projects with the double truss rod have fared worse as a result of environmental factors than a standard single action rod. With a single rod, you remove excess weight and end up with a lighter, more resonant neck as a result. Also, you should be aware that all warmoth necks have an unusually thick fretboard.
Another word of caution - if you appreciate tone, do not buy pre finished solid colour bodies from warmoth's showcase, since many are made from unacceptably many pieces of wood and they will DRAIN YOUR TONE!!
My reccomendation is that you check out www.usacustomguitars.com for your body and neck. They route their pieces precisely and use select tonewoods - you can even specify the weight of the body, how many pieces it's constructed of, where the joins are... and their customer support is second to none. Send Tommy of USACG an email and you can expect a full response the next working day, written with enthusiasm for your needs and your project. Some of their prices are slightly above what warmoth charges, but with these necks you get your choice of any straight fretboard radius (or a choice of either a 7" - 9" or 10" - 16" compound), any nut width, routed for any bridge and, best of all, complete choice of backshapes and no upcharge! In addition, if anybody has any questions related to project guitars, please drop in to USA custom gate at http://pub123.ezboard.com/fguitarsbyfenderfrm20
I want to make it clear that I am not in any way affiliated with USACG... Just a fan and a contributing member to their forum. I actually had some great warmoth projects, and the quality is good if they get it all right. I'm also a BKP fan: my Brown Sugar tele set blew me away and i have high expectations for a set of apaches i have, soon to be in a new USA custom guitar. I'll be sure to post pics when it's all done.
Sorry for the length of this post, and thanks for reading if you've got thus far! Cheers,
Dan