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Anyone do this before, someone mentioned in my other thread that it can be done so I started this one. I prefer warmoth bodies and I prefer USACG necks, so if they fit together snugly with no issues I may do that. Anyone try this?


Originally Posted by XeromusAnyone do this before, someone mentioned in my other thread that it can be done so I started this one. I prefer warmoth bodies and I prefer USACG necks, so if they fit together snugly with no issues I may do that. Anyone try this?

Like I said on the other Warmoth thread, better get the Warmoth body first before trying to match up a USACG neck to it...the pocket sizes vary all over the place.


Originally Posted by TaZMaNiOLike I said on the other Warmoth thread, better get the Warmoth body first before trying to match up a USACG neck to it...the pocket sizes vary all over the place.

I heard the contrary, that warmoth neck pockets are more exacting than fenders and necks usually fit nice and snug.

well since i own a bunch of fenders and one warmoth i can say this...in terms of neck pocket fit b/t fender/fender and warmoth/warmoth...the warmoth pocket does not only look better (neater routing) but it is much more snug than a typical fender. granted i have some fenders with a great fit but the warmoth is a real nice snug fit. i can't tell you about usacg though since i never used them.

-Mike


Originally Posted by XeromusI heard the contrary, that warmoth neck pockets are more exacting than fenders and necks usually fit nice and snug.

This is correct. I would not hesitate to mix parts from the two companies. I'd be more worried about using either with a Fender part, as I tried that and the fit was horrible thanks to Fender's inconsistency. Warmoth neck pockets are not quot;all over the placequot; in terms of consistency. I posted this exact question a while back, no one seemed to know for sure. So I asked over on Harmony Central and many people told me that they'd done it and it worked out perfectly.

They both make great parts, it's all a matter of what you want. Each company offers features that the other doesn't. USACG has more choices for neck shapes, and they don't charge extra for any of them. They will also make you a custom neck with any thickness for a small upcharge. They build their necks with a slight fallaway in the upper frets, which means you're less likely to have buzzing problems. They also roll the fretboard edges, something Warmoth won't do. USACG is more of a custom shop than Warmoth is in my opinion, as they can do just about anything if you're willing to pay for it.

On the other hand, USACG doesn't offer a double expanding truss rod, something that's important to me because I live in a climate in which I experience all four seasons to their fullest. I know some people love the vintage truss rod design, and that's available at both places. USACG doesn't offer the truss rod side adjuster like Warmoth does, which is too bad because it makes for infinitely fewer headaches during the initial setup. They do offer a headstock adjustment option, but it looks out of place on certain neck styles. If you want exotic woods, Warmoth is a better choice. USACG only stocks the basic woods. They'll build you a neck out of anything you want, but you have to provide the wood yourself. This might not be a big deal to some people, but I wouldn't know a good piece of wood from a bad piece. I can play a guitar and tell if the wood is nice and resonant, but I can't look at a blank and tell. I'd also have no way of knowing if the wood I was buying was properly dried and if it would be nice and stable. At least with Warmoth I know they'll find me a good piece of wenge, goncalo, etc.

As for bodies, I think both places are pretty similar. I actually prefer Warmoth in this case, as they have a bigger selection and slightly better prices. USACG really jacks up the price if you want a one piece body, and their finishes are much more expensive because they don't have an in-house facility, they send their stuff out to Roxy. Warmoth also has their showcase, which is nice if you want to see something before you buy it, or if you don't need a ton of custom options and you want to save some money. If you want your stuff quicker, I'd go with USACG. Tommy quoted me 3-6 weeks for a body built from scratch and finished by Roxy. Warmoth quoted me 8 weeks.

Ryan

I talked to my guitar teacher who also build/repairs instruments and he told me about the fatal flaw of warmoth's side adjust nut and how it can weaken the entire truss rod. I'm not sold anymore on the double expanding truss rod. I live in the same climate as you and I don't have much of a problem. I think USACG will put in graphite stabilizing rods also won't they?

Yes, they'll put in stabilizers.

FWIW, I stuck a USACG neck on a Fender body with no problems at all, great fit. I'd imagine a Warmoth body would be the same.


Originally Posted by XeromusI talked to my guitar teacher who also build/repairs instruments and he told me about the fatal flaw of warmoth's side adjust nut and how it can weaken the entire truss rod. I'm not sold anymore on the double expanding truss rod. I live in the same climate as you and I don't have much of a problem. I think USACG will put in graphite stabilizing rods also won't they?

I'd be interested in knowing why he feels that it could weaken the truss rod? Just to clarify, the main adjustment is still done at the heel. You tighten it until the neck is flat without any strings on it. Once you string it up, the tension from the strings will pull a little relief into the neck. From there, you can use the side adjustment nut to fine tune the truss rod. It's a much better idea than removing the neck, adjusting the rod, putting the neck back on, checking the relief, then repeating over and over again until it's correct. But admittedly, I don't know exactly how the device functions. Hopefully Greg will chime in, he usually takes the time to respond to most of the Warmoth threads that pop up.

Ryan


Originally Posted by XeromusI heard the contrary, that warmoth neck pockets are more exacting than fenders and necks usually fit nice and snug.

I don't know about Fenders never really owned one BUT I bought a Warmoth showcase swamp-ash Soloist body to go with an excellent Kramer neck that was stuck on a stupid basswood body amp; there was such a big gap to the pocket I could stick 2 business cards on each side of the neck with it in the Warmoth pocket.

I sent it right back and bought a used ESP body of EBay that fit snug as a rug, BTW the neck measured exactly 2 3/16quot;.

I've also read on other forums people complaining about Warmoth pockets being screwy, so I know it isn't just me.

All of my Warmoth's have had very snug pockets when using Warmoth necks.

Could it have been that the Kramer neck was too narrow? What vintage was the Kramer?


Originally Posted by MattPeteAll of my Warmoth's have had very snug pockets when using Warmoth necks.

Could it have been that the Kramer neck was too narrow? What vintage was the Kramer?

Nope, when I took it to my set-up guy he told me the Warmoth was almost 1/64quot; over-size to their own spec.

The neck was off an 80s bolt-on Kramer Baretta...


Originally Posted by TaZMaNiOI don't know about Fenders never really owned one BUT I bought a Warmoth showcase swamp-ash Soloist body to go with an excellent Kramer neck that was stuck on a stupid basswood body amp; there was such a big gap to the pocket I could stick 2 business cards on each side of the neck with it in the Warmoth pocket.

I sent it right back and bought a used ESP body of EBay that fit snug as a rug, BTW the neck measured exactly 2 3/16quot;.

I've also read on other forums people complaining about Warmoth pockets being screwy, so I know it isn't just me.

I can almost guarantee it was the Kramer neck, and not the Warmoth body. Warmoth and USACG parts work well with one another. Fender, along with many other manufacturers who use Fender neck specs, do not have the tight tolerances that Warmoth and USACG have. I tried to use a Warmoth neck with a Fender body, and the fit was terrible. There was a huge gap on both sides of the neck pocket. At first, I thought Warmoth was at fault. But after asking around a lot, I heard the same thing over and over again from Fender players...quot;that's just how Fenders are, many of them do no have tight coupling between the neck and body.quot;

So I sold the Fender body and got a Warmoth body, and the fit was perfect. I'm guessing that people who complain about loose neck/body joints have tried to mix Warmoth parts with those of cheaper manufacturers who routinely cut corners and do not use strict tolerances.

Now that's not to say that every once in a great while you won't find a problem with Warmoth parts not matching up well with each other, but I'd be willing to bet it's very rare. CNC is super accurate when properly programmed...if you stick with all Warmoth parts, all USACG parts, or a mix of the two, you should be fine. Throw other manufacturers parts into the mix and who knows how it will work.

Ryan

You know I would imagine that USA Custom does a fairly large amount of business buiding necks to go on warmoth bodies. Think about it, USA custom will make you pretty much what ever kind of neck you want where as warmoth is more limited. A lot of people probably have warmoth bodies already that they like, but they want a new neck that only USA Custom can offer. Or like in your case they want a body in the Warmoth showcase (or one already finished, different shape, etc..), but they still want the neck only USA custom's offer.