Fender Neck Question

[Ozopart]

I am looking at a vintage Tele body on the Warmoth site. My question is does Warmoth offer any type of neck that is similar in overall finish, etc. to the necks on the Fender Vintage II Tele's? When I bought my AV II 51 Tele recently, I also played a AV II 63 Tele. I loved the neck, but would like to do a Warmoth build with a neck like that, but from Warmoth, not an actual Fender neck. And, if Warmoth does do something like that, would it end up costing as much as the Fender, which is $799.99? Thanks!

 

[ragamuffin]

Unless I'm missing something, the Vintage II Tele neck looks like a standard tele neck with a "vintage tint" gloss finish

 

[Ozopart]

Unless I'm missing something, the Vintage II Tele neck looks like a standard tele neck with a "vintage tint" gloss finish

The Fender description says: radius round-laminated fingerboard. Not sure what radius round means, but on my AV II 51 it fgeels more rounded at the sides/edges. That is one of the things I like about it. It feels more rounded/softer to the touch than my other Warmoth necks.

 

[Hodgo]

The Fender description says: radius round-laminated fingerboard. Not sure what radius round means, but on my AV II 51 it fgeels more rounded at the sides/edges. That is one of the things I like about it. It feels more rounded/softer to the touch than my other Warmoth necks.

Starting mid 1962, Fenders did not have a slab of wood for the fingerboard on 2pc necks - the fingerboard was a curved veneer. It doesn’t change anything other than being accurate to 1963.

What you’re feeling is a “rolled” fingerboard edge. If you get a Warmoth neck with an unfinished board (pretty much anything other than maple) you can roll the edges however much you like by taking a razor blade and scraping the fretboard edges down a little. Helps them feel worn in.

 

[stratamania]

The 60s Fenders did not have a slab of wood for the fingerboard on 2pc necks - the fingerboard was a curved veneer. It doesn’t change anything other than being 60s accurate.

The veneer rosewood boards were only from about mid-62 for a couple of years. Certainly, not throughout the 60s.

 

[Hodgo]

The veneer rosewood boards were only from about mid-62 for a couple of years. Certainly, not throughout the 60s.

Fair point, updated my post.

 

[Hagwood]

What you’re feeling is a “rolled” fingerboard edge. If you get a Warmoth neck with an unfinished board (pretty much anything other than maple) you can roll the edges however much you like by taking a razor blade and scraping the fretboard edges down a little. Helps them feel worn in.

The rolled edges definitely make a big difference. I do mine at the same time as polishing and dressing the fret edges. I finish them off with a fine micromesh pad to a super smooth feel.

 

[aarontunes]

The rolled edges definitely make a big difference. I do mine at the same time as polishing and dressing the fret edges. I finish them off with a fine micromesh pad to a super smooth feel.

Same here.

 

[Ozopart]

Same here.

So if I understand correctly, you can't get it delivered from Warmoth with the rolled edges, you need to do that yourself? If so, probably above my skill set.

 

[aarontunes]

So if I understand correctly, you can't get it delivered from Warmoth with the rolled edges, you need to do that yourself? If so, probably above my skill set.

That's correct.

However, rolling fretboard edges is one of the easiest things for a "layperson" to do. You just can't do it if there is finish already on the fretboard (maple/maple, et al).

 

[Ozopart]

That's correct.

However, rolling fretboard edges is one of the easiest things for a "layperson" to do. You just can't do it if there is finish already on the fretboard (maple/maple, et al).

Thanks. So it would be best to order it unfinished then?

 

[aarontunes]

Thanks. So it would be best to order it unfinished then?

That's too big of a blanket statement to say yes or no.

A Maple/Maple neck definitely has to be unfinished. You would roll the edges, then spray the finish on. Anything with a dark fretboard like Rosewood or Ebony could be finished, because the finish doesn't come on to the fretboard. There are lots of other wood combos that never need to be finished at all, like Roasted Maple, or most of the exotic woods.

So the answer is: it depends.

 

[Rick]

Another thing to consider ... It's like Picasso, some people like (or need) fretboards rolled, some don't. I'm in the don't camp. I guess my theory goes to string bending, and if the edges are improperly rolled ... oops .... the strings fret out. YMMV. If the fret ends are nicely dressed I'm good. Something to consider if your hands aren't too delicate.