A very basic question

[Hawkeye]

At first I thought that Warmoth was providing the means to custom order a completed guitar. However, the farther I get into the ordering process, I'm starting to think that I'm only buying the parts and I have to do the assembly myself. Is that correct?

I love the idea of being able to specify every minute detail, but, I am quite concerned that I lack the talent to perform the assembly myself.

I would appreciate any clarity that anyone could bring to this

 

[stratamania]

You are correct Warmoth doesn't provide assembly services.

Some on the forum have had local techs put their guitars together and one or two forum members also offer this as a service.

But if you decide to have a go yourself and ask for advice this is the right place to be.

And welcome to the forum.

 

[Hawkeye]

Thanks so much for the quick response stratamania !!!

While browsing here and other places on the Internet, I hear nothing but raves about the quality of the parts and how "easily" things fit together. Yet, there are so many basics to electric guitars that I don't know. If we were talking about acoustics guitars, I have a much better grasp. Right now I'm struggling with a MIM Strat that has pickup issues. I don't know if should be adjusting the 6 screws or leaving them alone. (Not that you need to respond to that question) However, I'm wondering would you know of a tutorial that I could read before embarking on this adventure?

I'm excited about trying to build a guitar, yet I have painful memories of the clock I tried to repair when I was a kid. Let's just say I'm reminded of that debacle every Thanksgiving and Christmas

 

[stratamania]

Here you go.

http://unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=22445.0

And the videos aren't mine but I made a playlist with them in order.

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL683D12867EF68F3D



And for the MIM Strat



http://www.fender.com/en-GB/support/articles/stratocaster-setup-guide/

 

[MikeW]

Welcome to the adventure.

Yes,  the parts you're getting from Warmoth are so well manufactured that assembly is pretty straight forward. You do need the right tools, and a very healthy dose of patience, but with that and a sense of adventure, you'll be very very pleased with what you get in the end. If you're comfortable around acoustic guitars, then it's not too far of a step to get to electrics.

Good Luck and don't be afraid to ask questions. There are tons of good answers here on the board and most members are more than ready to answer any questions you've got.

And never forget the UW motto: Without pics, it never happened!

 

[Hawkeye]

Hey, you guys are great!! Thanks so much I'm off to read and watch!

Needless to say, I'll be back. (Fair warning)  :laughing7:

 

[Jet-Jaguar]

I'd say that putting together a Warmoth guitar is a lot easier than putting together a clock. And if you do decide to take it to a tech, you can just do the jobs you feel comfortable with, and have the tech do the rest.  For example, if you're just comfortable drilling, you could do the strap buttons, the pickguard, the tuners (I have a tech do the tuners myself, because I like Sperzel locking tuners, and the techs I know do them much more accurately than I do) and the tremolo claw.

And then the tech could do the pickup wiring (which is easy or difficult, depending on your soldering skills and on how complex you want the wiring to be) and the setup.

 

[Hbom]

Needless to say, I'll be back. (Fair warning)  :laughing7:

Fair warning.   
Hanging around here can lead to Guitar Assembly Addiction

GAA can lead to a full closet and an empty pocket book.

But welcome aboard. Glad to have  you here.

:rock-on:

 

[SustainerPlayer]

   
Hanging around here can lead to Guitar Assembly Addiction

GAA can lead to a full closet and an empty pocket book.

Can? CAN? What do you mean by can?  :icon_scratch:

:icon_biggrin:

 

[Jumble Jumble]

It's just legalese, so he doesn't get sued if someone dies before their second build and therefore can be said to have technically not acquired GAA.

 

[Hawkeye]

Thanks so much for the links and advice! Tried to reply yesterday with my iPad, but after writing an Epistle, it wouldn't post. So, unfortunately you all get the short version of my thank you. Thank you!!!

I have much to read and learn before I start down this path.

Hbom and SustainerPlayer, you are waaaay too late for the GAS warning. Though personal experience I have found there are three levels of this madness.

The first is when you don't know how many guitars you actually own. My count is north of 30 if you include ukulele's, banjo's, mandolins, lap steels, and violins, but I'm not exactly sure.

The second is when you don't know where all your instruments are. (If a kid has an interest and no instrument, I'll loan em one. I teach Disable Vets to play and a few have been loaned out there. I also buy and sell a lot and sometimes not sure where a wayward instrument has migrated. So, I'm always happily surprised when someone returns an instrument that I forgot I owned. I also travel a lot for work, so I've got guitars stashed in offices and hotels all over the country. I always tell the hotel manager, "Of course people can borrow it and play it."

The last is when you make up reasons to buy "just one more", when in reality you don't need the one you have, much less one more! i.e. Oh look! A Blue Guitar!!! I don't own a Blue Guitar! I must have it. Upon closer examination said Blue Guitar has the string action of a Dobro. Has the sustain of cardboard and is missing two tuning pegs and three frets. But, I buy it anyway because I can fix the problems and...well...it's Blue!!

 

[KaiserSoze]

As a fumbling idiot with no prior woodworking, electronics, sink-fixing, or finishing experience, I can tell you that it's no huge thing.  I am a player and could set up my own instruments but never went any further until that mahogany strat body showed up in the showcase….
Anyway, I've built three guitars totally to my own specs and did all the finishing, assembling, wiring and setup work and couldn't be happier.  I messed up a couple minor things on the first one but they all turned out to be really cool guitars for me.  My Ash strat is everything I ever wanted in a single coil guitar.
Just ask questions, watch some YouTube, ask questions, and ask questions.  Keep it simple.  Shop and ask questions.  Buy your body and neck from Warmoth, plan which bridge you want, and step into the highly opinionated world of pickups and have fun.  Don't rush anything, and ask questions.  Also, you don't have to spend a ton to have a great playing and sounding instrument.  Thats my experience anyway.