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Vintage threads from the first ten years

Warmoth Neck

9/9/1999 5:53 AM
Jeff	Warmoth Neck Anyone know of any other place to get a Strat neck with a compound radius? I'm looking for the vintage 7/14 up to 12' Warmoth only offers one size. Thanks, Jeff

9/9/1999 2:44 PM
Doc	A friend of mine bought a replacement neck from WD about 6 months ago, which I installed on his '62 reissue strat at his request. He was looking for a neck which had a profile like the "SRV" signature strat. Fender wouldn't sell him one (he even works for a music store that is a Fender dealer), but that's no surprise based on their "we hold all the aces" attitude toward their loyal customer base. He then talked to WD, asked if they would make him a neck with a compound radius like the SRV. They said they have recently gotten many such requests, and had built a small run of necks (maybe a half dozen) like that and happen to have one left. They also said that due to the popularity, they were thinking about offering it as a standard catalog item. So, he bought the neck and loves the profile. It was exactly what he wanted. Now my complaints. The neck (had a rosewood fingerboard) was nicely finished in mildly tinted lacquer, fingerboard properly masked prior to spraying. The neck comes without a nut. The nut groove is flat-bottomed, not arched, so you can't use a fender nut. You have to make one from from out of other blank material. The peghead was the vintage style small head, with pre-drilled pilot holes for the tuners. The holes, however, were smaller than required for the vintage tuner bushings. Couldn't they find the right size drill? I had to carefully ream the holes to install his vintage tuners. When placed over a real fender neck, the headstock outline did not fall within the outline of the real one, and the tuner holes were not located exactly where they should have been. This isn't that noticeable when you look at the guitar by itself, but it really pisses me off because WD "boasts" that they are the only authorized supplier of exact replacement necks for fender guitars. Can't they copy the outline correctly?? I also had to dress the corners of the ends of the frets, something you need to do on all but the most expensive fender guitars. So, in answer to you actual question, I think you can get one from WD, although I wouldn't swear the radius started near the tight 7". It may have started at about 9". I forget what the neck cost. Working in a store, he was able to get it for 1/2 list. When you have to pay WD's list (for any of their parts) it hurts. (For instance, their "vintage tremelo" costs 50% more than the list price of the real Fender unit. Man, are they hungry.)

9/9/1999 2:44 PM

Doc

A friend of mine bought a replacement neck from WD about 6 months ago, which I installed on his '62 reissue strat at his request.

He was looking for a neck which had a profile like the "SRV" signature strat. Fender wouldn't sell him one (he even works for a music store that is a Fender dealer), but that's no surprise based on their "we hold all the aces" attitude toward their loyal customer base.

He then talked to WD, asked if they would make him a neck with a compound radius like the SRV. They said they have recently gotten many such requests, and had built a small run of necks (maybe a half dozen) like that and happen to have one left. They also said that due to the popularity, they were thinking about offering it as a standard catalog item. So, he bought the neck and loves the profile. It was exactly what he wanted.

Now my complaints. The neck (had a rosewood fingerboard) was nicely finished in mildly tinted lacquer, fingerboard properly masked prior to spraying. The neck comes without a nut. The nut groove is flat-bottomed, not arched, so you can't use a fender nut. You have to make one from from out of other blank material. The peghead was the vintage style small head, with pre-drilled pilot holes for the tuners. The holes, however, were smaller than required for the vintage tuner bushings. Couldn't they find the right size drill? I had to carefully ream the holes to install his vintage tuners. When placed over a real fender neck, the headstock outline did not fall within the outline of the real one, and the tuner holes were not located exactly where they should have been. This isn't that noticeable when you look at the guitar by itself, but it really pisses me off because WD "boasts" that they are the only authorized supplier of exact replacement necks for fender guitars. Can't they copy the outline correctly?? I also had to dress the corners of the ends of the frets, something you need to do on all but the most expensive fender guitars.

So, in answer to you actual question, I think you can get one from WD, although I wouldn't swear the radius started near the tight 7". It may have started at about 9". I forget what the neck cost. Working in a store, he was able to get it for 1/2 list. When you have to pay WD's list (for any of their parts) it hurts. (For instance, their "vintage tremelo" costs 50% more than the list price of the real Fender unit. Man, are they hungry.)

9/9/1999 3:45 PM
Jim S.	If you're going for a compound radius, I think something like 10" (or even 12") to 15" makes more sense. I really like having the fingerboard be nearly flat up in the higher registers.

9/11/1999 12:53 PM
MJ Harnish	Have you contacted Warmoth about making a custom neck? My understanding is that they do custom work as well. MJ

9/13/1999 5:26 AM
pgambon	I stopped making Fender type necks after I bought a Warmoth Vintage construction modern features neck. It's too perfect! feels comfy close to the nut, you can bend all day without notes bottoming out. These guys did their homework, don't try to reinvent the wheel.

9/13/1999 6:30 AM
Jeff	I emailed them about a custom radius and they said no. I think their compund radius necks are fine but I miss the comfort factor of the 7 1/4 'til about the 7th fret, starting at 10' is just too wide. Jeff

9/14/1999 4:55 AM
pgambon	fair enough. I just like warmoth because the neck sizes work for me and the workmanship is immpecable. I rate WD one or two notches down the ladder. You might try Chandler. Their 62 neck was great! good luck!

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