Thinking of building a new Strat using Warmoth custom Body..

[PhloridaMan]

What's everyones experience with Warmoth Bodies? I am wanting to build a Custom Hot Rod strat using one of their bodies through the body builder... Didn't know if they are really worth the money they charge or not...

Here are my thoughts on the build...

Mahogany Body with Quilted Maple Top and Brown Dye burst (almost looks like tobacco burst with quilt) and black back
Rear Routed with Single SD JB or PG Humbucker and Single Volume (coil tap no tone knob)
American Strat style Wilkinson fixed bridge
eBay sourced Fender Strat neck (preferably with a fat headstock) with maple fret board and Schaller tuning pegs

I really like doing these myself... I did similar with a pawn shop find MIM strat I found for $250 last year... Most have seen it, but this is how it ended up...

Any opinions on Warmoth quality, body material etc would be awesome...

 

[singtall]

i have a warmoth quilt top strat body that totally rocks! very worth the money. the fit and finish are second to none.

 

[stratotone]

Great stuff. My only gripes are the control cavity covers are kinda big and at least the older bodies they painted were susceptible to UV fading. Friend had an AMAZING flame top guitar and within a few years it looked bleached. To be fair, I have a PRS that did the same thing. I would think Warmoth has better UV/fade protection on their paintjobs now, but I'd ask when I ordered to be sure.

 

[Badronald]

Find a used American Stratocaster on CL for $500-$550, throw pickup of choice at the bridge.
Lock down the trem and save a lot of time and money.

 

[Johnny LaRue]

a pic of my Warmoth strat(its not an ESP,lol) mahogany body, flame maple cap, it's my #1. I would try to buy from the showcase, it's a little cheaper and you get it allot faster.

 

[PhloridaMan]

Find a used American Stratocaster on CL for $500-$550, throw pickup of choice at the bridge.
Lock down the trem and save a lot of time and money.

I want one without a pickguard and just a single humbucker plus the finish of my choice... finding used and finding the RIGHT guitar to use as a donor will probably yield a G&L Cantrell signature model which comes in HIDEOUS colors and not with the fixed bridge as I like.

 

[dr.underhill]

if you are outsourcing the neck thru ebay give Eden a try. they built me a tele neck, maple with non-inlaid rosewood board and can repro any headstock syle you want. they're very reasonable, good turnaround time, and i have been very happy with the product.

 

[GuidanceOfSin]

I just did my first...turned out great, even better than I hoped. I had a guy on the W forums put it together for me. He did an excellent job. His sn is Cagey and I'd highly recommend him if someone needs work. He's done tons of W builds for other people and knows his shit. Also did some custom things for me as well. Not sure I've posted it over here yet so here goes...








I have some other photos but didn't want to photobomb the thread.

 

[Death by Uberschall]

These four Warmoths are mine. All finishes and fret work were done by Warmoth, I assembled them. I can't say enough great things about Warmoth. I'm planning to build number five next year if that tells you anything.

 

[PhloridaMan]

If for some ungodly reason you ever are in a pinch and decide to sell Keanu... LET ME KNOW! That is an amazing axe. Nice work on all 4 of those.

I definitely feel comfortable going with Warmoth stuff now.

Once I finish my "road worn" strat I think I am gonna order the Warmoth body. the quality of the finish looks outstanding!!!

 

[shgshg]

I got an alder body from the Showcase a while back and if I look carefully at the finish I can see that the body is AT LEAST five pieces glued together.

Five pieces, yeah nah.

 

[Pushead]

They do nice work, but realize that their resale value is usually pretty poor.

 

[PhloridaMan]

I don't normally sell gear so I am not exactly worried about resale value... I want a REALLY nice guitar that I can say I designed and built, without paying the price of the Fender custom shop... I still can't even believe I like Fenders as much as I do after selling my first one when I was 15 because it "wasn't comfortable" boy was I naive... haha!

 

[Death by Uberschall]

If for some ungodly reason you ever are in a pinch and decide to sell Keanu... LET ME KNOW! That is an amazing axe. Nice work on all 4 of those.

I definitely feel comfortable going with Warmoth stuff now.

Once I finish my "road worn" strat I think I am gonna order the Warmoth body. the quality of the finish looks outstanding!!!

It would have to be a "deathbed" kind of pinch.

I forgot to mention, all four are mahogany bodies with different tops and necks.

Check out their forum, lots of help there.

http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php

 

[PhloridaMan]

If for some ungodly reason you ever are in a pinch and decide to sell Keanu... LET ME KNOW! That is an amazing axe. Nice work on all 4 of those.

I definitely feel comfortable going with Warmoth stuff now.

Once I finish my "road worn" strat I think I am gonna order the Warmoth body. the quality of the finish looks outstanding!!!

It would have to be a "deathbed" kind of pinch.

I forgot to mention, all four are mahogany bodies with different tops and necks.

Make sure I am in your will LMFAO!

Anyway, I will probably use an actual fender production neck just to make people look at the guitar and wonder unless they know it's not a real fender...

The only thing I am torn on is Floyd Rose or Fixed bridge... I've never really used a floyd (im not a lead player) but I would like to start to learn...

 

[Death by Uberschall]

If for some ungodly reason you ever are in a pinch and decide to sell Keanu... LET ME KNOW! That is an amazing axe. Nice work on all 4 of those.

I definitely feel comfortable going with Warmoth stuff now.

Once I finish my "road worn" strat I think I am gonna order the Warmoth body. the quality of the finish looks outstanding!!!

It would have to be a "deathbed" kind of pinch.

I forgot to mention, all four are mahogany bodies with different tops and necks.

Make sure I am in your will LMFAO!

Anyway, I will probably use an actual fender production neck just to make people look at the guitar and wonder unless they know it's not a real fender...

The only thing I am torn on is Floyd Rose or Fixed bridge... I've never really used a floyd (im not a lead player) but I would like to start to learn...

Check out their forum, lots of help there.

http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php

 

[eljodon]

I have several Warmoth necks and guitars.I just ordered a new one with a chambered body and a beautiful blue burst finish and black on the back.I own PRS,Les Pauls,etc and my main guitars are the Warmoth. The main I reason I love them is because I can order a neck with the specs that I like. All my Warmoth necks have stainless Steel frets(6110) and I have 2 necks with scalloped finger board plus the one I just ordered.

 

[Atropos_Project]

Check out their forum, lots of help there.

Nice builds sir.

How do you like that countersunk TOM setup? Any problems with it, tuning or otherwise?

 

[Anonymous]

As I've said earlier, they're really nice and unexpensive if you plan on finishing them yourself, which is really easy with a dye and wipe-on finish

 

[Death by Uberschall]

Check out their forum, lots of help there.

Nice builds sir.

How do you like that countersunk TOM setup? Any problems with it, tuning or otherwise?

Stable as can be, no problems at all. I used the Tone Pros bridge with the locking screws.