Ladies and Germs, what's the current consensus on Warmoth (or other parts) these days?

paisleywookiee

paisleywookiee

Goatlord
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So, I've had three complete Warmoth builds, and a couple Warmoth-necked Strats. All of them have been awesome, but the latest one is from 2019. I was speccing out a new one, but my pal at the shop said that he doesn't feel the quality is as good as it used to be. Granted, this is still based on anecdotal account from what's come through the shop.

What are your thoughts? I'm super in love with the Meadowhawk headstock, on a Dinky-style body.

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I haven’t seen anything that would suggest a drop in quality. You really have to look past the abominations built by the clueless out of parts picked 100% on looks alone. Whenever I hear people being disparaging about Warmoth it always turns out to be down to what others have done “to” Warmoth parts . Buy with confidence.
 
Musikraft are great too but I think they are aiming at different markets. Warmoth at custom one offs and Musikraft repros and custom replicas.
 
I have nothing but solid experiences with Warmoth necks. I've maybe bought 8 or 9 necks from them? A few were builds for other people.
Fretwork is always very, very good. Most would be playable as is, although I go the extra mile to make them perfect.
 
DrewJD82 said:
My Musikraft neck was flawless when it showed up, perfectly leveled and polished frets. That was the part I was the most nervous about.
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They actually don’t level or polish frets they are just installed using a press that leaves them very close to dead level and then the fingerboard edge process smooths the ends quite well too. It looks like a level and polishing but not actually.
 
Eagle said:
They actually don’t level or polish frets they are just installed using a press that leaves them very close to dead level and then the fingerboard edge process smooths the ends quite well too. It looks like a level and polishing but not actually.
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The dude who owns Parklane told me he was doing their fret work for a long time, right up until after the pandemic. I think it’d be pretty miraculous to just have the frets pressed into a fingerboard and have the guitar come out fully playable without a single flaw or fret out anywhere and if that’s the case, I’m just buying a fret press and going to fuckin’ town on my necks.
 
DrewJD82 said:
The dude who owns Parklane told me he was doing their fret work for a long time, right up until after the pandemic. I think it’d be pretty miraculous to just have the frets pressed into a fingerboard and have the guitar come out fully playable without a single flaw or fret out anywhere and if that’s the case, I’m just buying a fret press and going to fuckin’ town on my necks.
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That is how they do it . It’s actually easy to install frets in a new clean slot perfectly level fingerboard and end up pretty close to dead level. Also the ability to press them consistently the same helps.
 
paisleywookiee said:
I really wish someone would make a high quality Ibanez replacement neck. I've got a 2002 MIJ RG that needs a new neck, and it's difficult finding anyone that can/will do it.
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Pearle guitars does some good Ibanez necks but it likely won’t be cheap. I’d be scouring the audition sites for a cheap RG470/350 or whatever has the right neck on it, I snagged my 470 for $60!
 
DrewJD82 said:
Pearle guitars does some good Ibanez necks but it likely won’t be cheap. I’d be scouring the audition sites for a cheap RG470/350 or whatever has the right neck on it, I snagged my 470 for $60!
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I was hoping for a company that could do a little rounder/thicker. The flat and skinny wizard just hurts my hands, these days. But this particular guitar holds great sentimental value to me. Maybe Pearle can do that.
 
paisleywookiee said:
I was hoping for a company that could do a little rounder/thicker. The flat and skinny wizard just hurts my hands, these days. But this particular guitar holds great sentimental value to me. Maybe Pearle can do that.
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I’m pretty sure he had all the profiles for the various Wizards and JEM necks over the years. The regular Wizard is too thin for me these days, but the Wizard III is pretty similar to the 90’s JEM necks and that’s got some meat that doesn’t cramp my hand.
 
paisleywookiee said:
I was hoping for a company that could do a little rounder/thicker. The flat and skinny wizard just hurts my hands, these days. But this particular guitar holds great sentimental value to me. Maybe Pearle can do that.
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The Warmoth '59 profile would be a good choice if you want just thick enough with rounded shoulders. Very comfortable with good meat on it.
 
FuzzyAce said:
The Warmoth '59 profile would be a good choice if you want just thick enough with rounded shoulders. Very comfortable with good meat on it.
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Yeah definitely looking at that one for my next build. I've got the standard thin on my Tele, and it's pretty good. But I'd like something a little thicker. I wish they did something like the PRS DGT profile.
 
Did you try Sim's Custom Refinishing? A friend of mine had them make a custom neck for his RG. Been a few years but I know he liked it. Worth a shot to talk to them.
 
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