Warmoth virgin

[Ian Price]

I spent a few hours today in a guitar shop and it has now finally dawned on me that I am not, and never will be, a humbucker or gibson (or gibson style) player. Basically I find many necks to thick, even the gibson slim taper, and find humbuckers too powerful (I'm sure I could have picked a more descriptive word). I tried a lot of strats and teles and got on with pretty much all of them.

To cut a long story short I have been looking on the warmoth site. The different options are pretty mind boggling.  The reason I may be going down the warmoth path is that I won't be able to afford the Custom Shop Strat that I really want so thought I would at least settle for my own spec'd guitar.

I'm sure there are others on here that have used warmoth so what I'm looking for is some info on

How quick they are to deliver
How reliable/customer friendly they are
Is it really as easy as screwing all parts together or is there an art to it?
I assume I would be able to pull a decent strat together for around £750.00.

Lots of q's from me, apologies!

[MrBump]

I think that you're just asked every question about Warmoth that I was pondering...

[Ted 'N' Leo]

I think that you're just asked every question about Warmoth that I was pondering...

+1

GET OUT OF MY HEAD IAN PRICE!!

[kellar]

Eagerly awaiting answers to all of those questions.

[Ian Price]

Me too! I fear that if Warmoth are good it become addictive!

[kellar]

I am already passed the point of addicted. I have spent the last hour debating over neck radius options alone. The options are endless!

[MrBump]

The thing is, on the face of it, Warmoth is such an obvious choice for bolt on neck guitars.

How hard can it be?

[rohlfo]

not. (warning: wild guess! But surely, they must use computers to get it all right and to match up!?)
Otherwise I do also think £750 is enough cash for a decent guitar. I build mine pretty much from scr@p and have cost 4/500-ish for material.

[Philly Q]

How quick they are to deliver

Very quick, if you order from the Showcase.  If you want a custom order it'll take a few weeks, I believe.

How reliable/customer friendly they are

Totally reliable, and they respond quickly to emails.   I personally haven't dealt with them by phone, but I understand they're very helpful indeed.

Is it really as easy as screwing all parts together or is there an art to it?

You'll still have to drill a few holes - for the scratchplate and backplate, jack socket and tuners.  If you buy a neck with a pre-installed nut, it'll be perfectly playable but from what I've seen it might be even better after a little attention to the frets and setup.

I assume I would be able to pull a decent strat together for around £750.00.

Depends on the options you choose, but don't forget to factor in shipping charges, VAT and import duty.  And the terrible exchange rate at the moment!

[tomjackson]

Everybody seems to go for Warmoth and I'm sure they are very good (the website certainly looks great), but I myself for ease went for Allparts as they have a UK branch.  I spoke to the guy on the phone a few times and he was very helpful, so if they have the options you require I think they would be the best choice.  Delivery 2 days and top quality stuff....

Attached picture is a 2 piece Swamp Ash body and maple neck finished in Nitro, the weight is perfect, just wish I had the funds to complete.  Unfortunately my electrics money has been spent on a new cot and double push chair :(

[gwEm]

How quick they are to deliver

Very quick, if you order from the Showcase.  If you want a custom order it'll take a few weeks, I believe.

About 8 weeks at the moment

How reliable/customer friendly they are

Totally reliable, and they respond quickly to emails.   I personally haven't dealt with them by phone, but I understand they're very helpful indeed.

They are very friendly and helpful by phone

[Roobubba]

Our Bassist got a Warmoth. I have to say it's a stunning bass. Really good 5 string, heavy (sounding, and by weight) as **** (well, it would have to be, right?). I think that's a Wenge neck he's got on it, too. He found the whole this so good he's gassing for another.

Personally, I think I prefer the custom route ;) (but then I'm a one-guitar guy anyway)

Roo

[FernandoDuarte]

As said by PhillyQ:
They are completely reliable and easy to deal...

You'll have to work a little, that is not big deal if you're familiarized with tools... If not, better ask for a luthier to put parts together... pretty much the things PhillyQ said...

I recomend, have a body and a body+neck and all are top parts... many guys that played with vintage and custom shop Fenders said Warmoth is at least as good for a part of the money you would pay...

[PhilKing]

Just to agree with everything everyone else has said about Warmoth.  I have built at least 10 guitars from Warmoth parts and I have never had a problem with them.  If you see something in the showroom (or in the clearance specials - birds eye maple strat neck for $129 one time!), then they will go and get it and describe it to you.  Just to give you an idea I have built the following:
50's tele - Swamp Ash body, maple neck
VIP 8 String Bass
PRS Style body (not made anymore at the request of Mr Smith!), Rosewood neck -MM's and a Roland Synth
Strat hardtail - SRV contour on anagre/pau ferro neck
Ibanez Body with bloodwood/ebony neck
70's Strat with SRV wenge/bloodwood neck
Mockingbird with wenge/ebony neck
Swamp Ash strat with Wolfgang aframosa neck
Swamp Ash tele with Clapton goncalo alves/kingwood neck
Super Strat - maple neck
VIP - alder - maple reverse hockey stick headstock
Tele - Maple/Ebony reverse Jackson headstock

In addition I have had a couple of luthier friends fit set necks on 2 Warmoth bodies, a double cutaway LP junior and an all mahogany LP standard, and I have a really nice rear routed swamp ash/flamed redwood strat body with a neck that I had a friend rough carve and fret, and I finished (then sent to Jonathan to have him half scallop and refret it!).

go for it!!

[WezV]

I like warmth a lot, what they do, they do very well.

time can vary but generally the estimates on the website are generous.

i enjoy speaking to them on the phone and they have sent me what i asked for so i cannot comment on customer service when there is a problem as i havnt had one with them

but i will say its never as simple as lego. if you get neck, body, bridge and tuners from them there is a good chance it will fit together.... but i always say there are no garantees on this... there is no such thing as standard fit.  as soon as you start constructing things from scratch or from parts you start to notice how much standard parts can vary.  the simple answer is to get all you need and check it fits... if you buy from the same supplier like warmoth and tell them what you are doing they will tell you what wont work