First build total newb.

[dgg]

I am getting close to making my first order (body and neck) I am planning a diamond back build with single volume and single bridge humbucker. Plan to use heavier gauge strings for C standard and drop C stuff. anyone see any glaring issues with my tentative option selections? I really appreciate any help and patience. ONe question i have is about the nut, What does XL refer to? The height of the nut or is that for wider necks?


Diamond Back body

Construction-Solid
Core Wood-Mahogany
Right / Left Handed-Right-Handed
Control Cavity-Rear Rout (Standard)
Neck Pickup Rout-None
Middle Pickup RoutNone
Bridge Pickup Rout-Humbucker
Controls-Volume 1
Jack Rout-3/4" (19mm)
Side Jack Hole
Bridge Rout Type-Hardtail
Bridge Rout-Hipshot Hardtail
BridgeMounting Holes-Standard 4-Bolt
Neck Pocket Shape-Strat®
Body Contours-Custom Contoured Heel
Battery Box-None
Paint Category-Solid
Top Color-Black
Back Color-Black
Satin or Gloss-Satin

Warmoth Neck

Construction-Modern Tiltback
Shaft Wood-Wenge
Fretboard Wood-Ebony (Black)
Nut Width1-11/16" (43mm) - Modern Medium
Right / Left Handed-Right-Handed Reverse
Neck Back Profile-Standard Thin
Fretboard Radius10" - 16" Compound
Number of Frets-22
Scallops-None
Binding-None
Fret Size & Material-SS6150 - Wide & Tall (Stainless)
Tuner Hole Size-Schaller/Modern Fender/Sperzel (25/64")
Inlay Shape-None
Side Dots-White Side Dots
String Nut-Standard Nut - Black Corian
Mounting HolesStandard 4-Bolt
Neck Heel ShapeStrat® Shape

Thanks everyone for all the information I've already picked up from reading through this forum.

 

[Strat Avenger]

I'd recommend a 7/8" ouptut jack hole.

 

[dgg]

Thank you.

 

[Hodgo]

Tusq XL is the name of the material. It will not be any larger than a standard nut.

Looks like a nice shreddy / metal build.

 

[dgg]

Tusq XL is the name of the material. It will not be any larger than a standard nut.

Looks like a nice shreddy / metal build.

appreciate the info. Thats the plan for this one, keep heavy strings on it for drop C chugging..

 

[Hodgo]

appreciate the info. Thats the plan for this one, keep heavy strings on it for drop C chugging..

Consider a baritone conversion neck!

 

[dgg]

I forgot to add that i will attempt to complete this build (and all that follow lol) with every part sourced and made in the USA. may be a challenge on some things, but thats the plan at least.

 

[Hodgo]

Easy enough, but expensive. Warmoth wood, several pickup makers to choose from. Callaham, Rutters, Armadillo or Glendale hardware. Switchcraft jack/switch, Sperzel tuners… not sure about pots.

 

[dgg]

Easy enough, but expensive. Warmoth wood, several pickup makers to choose from. Callaham, Rutters, Armadillo or Glendale hardware. Switchcraft jack/switch, Sperzel tuners… not sure about pots.

Wenge is sources in Africa if I'm not mistaken, but I love the way it looks and I'm going for an all black or very dark theme. And from what I've seen in the pics it's absolutely beautiful.

 

[rockandroller]

Lots of USA products have sources around the world.. the magnets in your USA pickups may contain trace minerals mined on several different continents, same for some of the metal alloys. So I wouldn't fuss about the Wenge. I bet a lot of Warmoth maple comes from Canada...

 

[dgg]

I saw on a youtube of a diamondback build that a riser plate is needed when using a hipshot hardtail on the diamondback body? anyone know if this in fact the case? i have located some on reverb for pretty cheap so its not a deal breaker by any means just starting a early parts list and thinking things through. Cheers everyone.

 

[Hodgo]

I saw on a youtube of a diamondback build that a riser plate is needed when using a hipshot hardtail on the diamondback body? anyone know if this in fact the case? i have located some on reverb for pretty cheap so its not a deal breaker by any means just starting a early parts list and thinking things through. Cheers everyone.

I can’t think of a reason why that would be true, unless the body had an angled neck pocket. Warmoth has their geometry nailed.

 

[dgg]

I can’t think of a reason why that would be true, unless the body had an angled neck pocket. Warmoth has their geometry nailed.

I actually gave them a call and they told me the exact same thing. Plan to go over my options one more time this evening and make the order.

 

[NedRyerson]

I made two B-standard tuning guitars on 25.5" scale and used Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky 12-56 on them. One is a reverse Arcade for the extra length, but that doesn't really matter as my other one is a 3x3 headstock config.

The one with the reverse Arcade is also a single HB (Seymour Duncan Nazgûl), but has both volume and tone, with the volume being a push-pull coil split.

 

[dgg]

Are Sperzel locking tuners 3+3 (closed) in black still available to buy new? I filled out the order form on the sperzel website but haven't heard back. Maybe it just takes a bit. I see a few sets on eBay used just not sure if I should grab one of those sets or if they show up in stock periodically.

Hope everyone is doing well.

 

[Hodgo]

Are Sperzel locking tuners 3+3 (closed) in black still available to buy new? I filled out the order form on the sperzel website but haven't heard back. Maybe it just takes a bit. I see a few sets on eBay used just not sure if I should grab one of those sets or if they show up in stock periodically.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Call them. They are still (somehow) in business, but they don’t really respond to the form.

 

[dgg]

Call them. They are still (somehow) in business, but they don’t really respond to the form.

I ordered some schallers from warmoth. Thanks for the info.

 

[NedRyerson]

Sperzel seems like one of those companies run by people way older than me who've never really understood this whole "Internet" thing (I'm 52). Their online form is useless as I'm still waiting on a response from 6 years ago

Narrator voice: he's not really waiting, though. That was just a dramatic exaggeration.

 

[Hodgo]

Sperzel seems like one of those companies run by people way older than me who've never really understood this whole "Internet" thing (I'm 52). Their online form is useless as I'm still waiting on a response from 6 years ago

Narrator voice: he's not really waiting, though. That was just a dramatic exaggeration.

Honestly some of the best companies are the ones with the Web 1.0 websites that would prefer you fax them a handwritten order.

 

[dgg]

Change of plans- the initial plan was to build the single humbucker in the bridge position for a drop C guitar I detailed earlier in this thread. Well short story is, I did a little set up work, slightly filed a couple nut slots on my Adam Jones LP standard and it is pretty much the riff monster I envisioned my first warmoth to be.
I have already caught the Warmoth bug and a build is going down regardless lol so I pulled the trigger on a neck last night (details below)

I am leaning towards a Meadowhawk body and mainly debating colors at this point to match the dark roasted maple neck. Pewter? Metallic cinder red? Metallic charcoal frost? Probably will stick to a solid color, satin finish. I still plan to use black hardware.

Vortex Guitar Neck
Construction
Tiltback Gibson® Scale Conversion
Shaft Wood
Roasted Flame Maple
Shaft Wood Upgrade
High Grade
Fretboard Wood
Roasted Flame Maple
Nut Width
1.650" (42mm) - Vintage Medium
Right / Left Handed
Right-Handed
Neck Back Profile
Standard Thin
Fretboard Radius
10" - 16" Compound
Number of Frets
22
Fret Size & Material
SS6150 - Wide & Tall (Stainless)
Tuner Hole Size
Schaller/Modern Fender/Sperzel (25/64")
Inlay Shape
Standard Dots
Inlay Material
Black
Side Dots
Black Side Dots
String Nut
Standard Nut - GraphTech Black TUSQ XL
Mounting Holes
Standard 4-Bolt
Neck Heel Shape
Strat® Shape
Finish
Clear Satin Nitro