Metropoulos Forum

Could I get some opinions about Warmoth, i have heard good things and bad things about this company and i would like to hear yours

The last neck I bought from Warmoth had an ugly black knot on the face of the peghead. I argued with the quality control guy about the huge block lettering on their website advertising that their necks have no kinks, knots, or any irregularities in the wood. He could have cared less. Never again.

The other thing I would suggest is to stay away from the 10-16 compound radius. I built a guitar with a floyd rose where the bridge is set to a 10 inch radius. So I have strings with a 10 inch radius sitting on top of a 16 inch raduis fretboard at one end of the neck which doesn't really work out the best. If you have an adjustable radius brigde you might make out a little better. I think the general rule is not to exceed 3-4 inches of radius change for the fretboard.

When I have the scratch I am gonna try these guys next time.

http://www.usacustomguitars.com/

My warmoth strat neck is the best playing and looking strat neck Ive seen or played on a strat ever. Compound radius plays and sets up perfectly and even without a fret dressing. I think youll find a neck that plays great on one guitar will not work well with another. Its the nature of instruments I think. I never looked into usa custom because someone told me they were the worst. Now I want to try them for the next strat since people are saying theyre amazing necks. Again its just the nature of these things. According to warmoths site you should be able to send back a neck that you dont liek for any reason. Id be mad if they gave me a hard time about it.

In my experience the quality and fit of Warmoth parts has been fantastic, the parts are of a higher quality than the American Series Fender guitars. The only downside I'd say is the way they tend to charge for things that should really be free ($10 to not drill the neck holes for example), and the computer cut nuts aren't as good as those done by a luthier. However if you get a graphite computer cut nut, that's not a problem as the nut adjusts itself after a bit of use.

They have always made professional products for not an unreasonable price and led the way with the compound radius necks,they make excellent products.I have never bought any,but I had their catalogue at on time.
Yngwie308

From what I understand, the guys at usa custom are guys that left warmoth and started their own shop so they could do things the way they felt it should be done. Apparently warmoth was getting a little too corporate for them.

What bad things have you heard about usa custom? Was it one guy's bad experience like mine or something more?

RattleCat wrote:From what I understand, the guys at usa custom are guys that left warmoth and started their own shop so they could do things the way they felt it should be done. Apparently warmoth was getting a little too corporate for them.

What bad things have you heard about usa custom? Was it one guy's bad experience like mine or something more?

Exactly. Just a guy on another forum who was badmouhting them similar to what you said abtou Warmoth. Its just one of those things. Its all Ive heard of them so for a long time I never checked em out. I always had that in mind but now Ive heard nothing but great things. The neck contours are supposedly more true to vintage strats as well. You cant please everyone. But your hard time with returning the neck is out of place with everyone Ive heard who build warmoth guitars. Id probably be pissed as well. Your supposed to be able to return any part you just plain dont like unless its highly customized.

Yea it was highly customized. Asymetrical neck back, stainless frets, and pearl inlays in a maple fretboard. I can tell I got a neck that was one of their returns because you can see the little gouges they made digging out the old black dots to put in the pearl ones I ordered. They absolutely would not accept the neck under warranty for the knot because that would have refunded all of my custom options. Custom options would be difficult to resell. I found out the hard way what cookie cutter means. They knew they were sending a crap neck out. They saw me coming a mile away.

I built up a LPdc from Warmoth that kicked my Gibson LP to backup duty!
I wouldn't order misc. parts from them though. Their shipping policy for parts sucks to Canada atleast.
Stew

stoo wrote:I built up a LPdc from Warmoth that kicked my Gibson LP to backup duty!
I wouldn't order misc. parts from them though. Their shipping policy for parts sucks to Canada atleast.
Stew

I actually would like to ask you about that. How did it sound? How did the neck pocket feel being bolt on?

Billy Batz wrote:

stoo wrote:I built up a LPdc from Warmoth that kicked my Gibson LP to backup duty!
I wouldn't order misc. parts from them though. Their shipping policy for parts sucks to Canada atleast.
Stew

I actually would like to ask you about that. How did it sound? How did the neck pocket feel being bolt on?

Hi Billy.
Even being a bolt on, the thickness is still slightly less than the Gibson. Keep in mind that the Gibson is a '75 Deluxe, not one of the best year/models. The Warmoth has way more sustain, way more touch sensativety and over all tone. Mind you it has S.Duncan '59s compared to the Dimarzio SD on the LP. Plus it's way lighter (it's been routed).I was so impressed with the Warmoth that I'd say it was resposable for getting me back into playing after soo many years away!!
Stew