First Build - Nomad-Warhead

[Dragonaut]

Hi everyone, first time on the forum here.

Finally taking the plunge and going to assemble and finish my own guitar. Definitely taking the easier route the first time and went for a neck that doesn't require a finish job. My kids are going to help me with the body, so it will either turn out great or be an utter trainwreck.... (I'm going to trace the body and make them work out designs first before anyone gets near this thing, so that should mitigate some of the risk.)

Anyway, Warmoth has started me off well with a nice looking body and an amazing neck, so hopefully it only gets better from here.

Neck: Modern Construction Warhead, '59 Roundback Profile, Brazilian Ebony Neck, Unique Choice Macassar Ebony Fretboard, SS 6150 Frets

Body: Mahogany Nomad HxH Routed for Floyd Rose

Still need to decide on a pickup. Even though I had it routed for two, going to just do bridge pickup for now.

 

[aarontunes]

Nice!

I have a mahogany Nomad body, and went with safe choice of putting a JB in the bridge. I think it sounds great.

 

[BigSteve22]

Look'n good there, Dragonaut! Welcome to the asylum!  :toothy12:

 

[DangerousR6]

 

[amon]

[quote author=Dragonaut] Still need to decide on a pickup. [/quote]
Duncan JB is always a solid choice, but tell us what you're going for — not only in sound, but also aesthetics and price — and we can offer suggestions.

 

[Dragonaut]

Thanks for the welcomes and suggestions. My plan is to tune this guitar to Eb and use it for Alice in Chains, Van Halen and other comparable stuff in that tuning and where some tremolo happens, so while I don't necessarily want to run off and get a Duncan '78 or EVH Frankenbucker (whatever they call Ed's signature pickup), would be looking for something in that higher-output vintage hard rock tone range. Don't really have a set budget for a pickup or the guitar in general, but I would say I'd go up to around $175 or so for the right one.

Obviously, never done this before but I feel like the correct thing to do here is finish the build, string it up and see how it sounds acoustically before getting the pickup.

 

[rgand]

Welcome, Dragonaut. That'll be a fine guitar. Nice choices all around. As to pickups, there are only about 500 good ones out there to choose from. You may want to pick some pickup as a possibility then go on youtube and watch as many demo videos as you can. It helps to get a rough idea what they can sound like.

Oh, yeah. getting a neck that doesn't need a finish is a good way to get addicted. I absolutely love my unfinished necks and will probably never get another one that requires it.

 

[Dragonaut]

Looked at a bunch of different clips and decided to give the Bare Knuckle Black Dog a whirl. We'll see how it goes.....

 

[musicispeace]

Bare Knuckle is a fine choice and their customer service is superb. If I recall they use international registered mail so you need to sign at delivery. (or go wandering down to the post office to do so if they miss you at home)

 

[Dragonaut]

Bare Knuckle is a fine choice and their customer service is superb. If I recall they use international registered mail so you need to sign at delivery. (or go wandering down to the post office to do so if they miss you at home)

Ha ha, yeah, I got a nice email confirming I really wanted a 53mm spacing with 1/2" base legs. I always appreciate when a vendor tries to protect me from myself.....

For the record, I did want that, but glad they checked.