First ever order! How to spec the smallest-bodied, shortest-scale build possible

[jdb123]

Hey gang, long time lurker/reader, first time poster. I'm about to receive an offer for a new job, so I'm thinking I should treat myself to my first ever Warmoth order!

My main electric is a super tiny headless, an Island Instruments Espeto:

What I love about that instrument is its super compact size and light weight, small single cut body shape (patterned after the Harmony H44), and the very short scale length (Byrdland scale to be exact, 23.5"). It has a pine body, dramatic flamed maple top, oak neck, and mesquite fretboard (which has darkened considerably since I got it). It's loaded with Mojo Pickups UK electronics.

So, for a complimentary Warmoth build, I'm considering one of the 7/8ths sized bodies and pairing them with one of the 24" scale necks to get close to my preferred small body/short scale length thing. The 7/8 T-style body is easily my first choice, but I've read some people say it ends up being neck heavy/dive-y (with the 7/8 warhead neck, mind you) compared to the 7/8 S-style body. I think a stouter body wood choice could help this, but I am looking to get it chambered and go for a jazzy Tele sort of thing and load it with some Seth Lovers.

I got the idea for this instrument from Stefan Schottmueller's Television guitar model:

If I wanted to go full jazzy and only keep a neck pickup, is there any workaround for the index hole fill situation? Like, if I were to order the body chambered with a laminate top, must the laminate top get the index hole too (from a Warmoth production perspective)? I'm interested in pairing a spruce top with the chambered body to get nice and resonant, acoustical. I know Warmoth can fill the index hole with the same top wood but I'm always bothered by the despite their best efforts, obvious grain mismatch. I'd love to be able to avoid it, but it seems like the only solution is to get a bridge pickup and be done with it...

So to recap, my goal is to spec a T-style build that's as small bodied and short scaled as possible, with a chambered body, short 24" scale neck, and 1 or 2 humbuckers. Any advice or ideas are much appreciated!

 

[Hodgo]

Super cool concept.

Hit up sales@warmoth.com for more info on the index hole - they’re lovely people.

Alternatively put a little gem in there like a troll doll belly button?

 

[rauchman]

Very cool project......some thoughts

Using their 24" or 7/8ths' 24 fret neck, I'd think the length of the neck would be the same
Not sure how body size/length would be vs the T shape, but the 7/8ths' neck will work on a Mustang / Jaquar body also

Tis ashame W doesn't make 7/8th's body blanks. I'd buy one in a heartbeat.

 

[Tretgeraet]

First of all: Neck-PU-only is not my thing at all... but so is jazz for the most part. In that matter, what @Hodgo just wrote; they are indeed lovely!

Secondly: I would have suggested the 7/8s with a Jaguar/Mustang neck as well, and while I have no personal experience with the 7/8 T, as you say it only seems logical, that the neck heaviness depends on the neck choices and body wood.

However: Chambered is not hollow! As far as I understand, the chambering Warmoth offers was developed to reduce the most weight with the least sonic difference, which might be something different than you expect.

 

[Tretgeraet]

Tis ashame W doesn't make 7/8th's body blanks. I'd buy one in a heartbeat.

Actually I think they do, look here:

https://unofficialwarmoth.com/threads/7-8th-p90-plank-of-possibility.40402/#post-514239

 

[jdb123]

Hit up sales@warmoth.com for more info on the index hole - they’re lovely people.

Yeah I got in touch with Spike last September and they said:

Unfortunately, there is no “workaround” for the bridge pickup index hole on the bodies. Now, for $15 we can put in a Mother of Pearl or Abalone dot or, we can dowel the hole with similar wood(s).

I've seen how their fill job looks and I don't particularly like it, so it seems like a bridge pickup is my only option here.

 

[jdb123]

Very cool project......some thoughts

Using their 24" or 7/8ths' 24 fret neck, I'd think the length of the neck would be the same
Not sure how body size/length would be vs the T shape, but the 7/8ths' neck will work on a Mustang / Jaquar body also

I'm under the impression that the 7/8 Warhead neck is 24.75" scale length, whereas the Jaguar/Mustang necks are 24"

 

[Tretgeraet]

I'm under the impression that the 7/8 Warhead neck is 24.75" scale length, whereas the Jaguar/Mustang necks are 24"

That is correct.

It's true however, that the standard 25.5" necks and the 24.75" 7/8 Warhead necks use the same neck blanks, but with different fret distances.

And while I'm not a 100% sure, I also think the 24.75" gibson scale conversion necks use the same blanks as the 24" scale Jaguar/Mustang necks.

 

[jdb123]

However: Chambered is not hollow! As far as I understand, the chambering Warmoth offers was developed to reduce the most weight with the least sonic difference, which might be something different than you expect.

Good call. I had been looking at the Thinline tele bodies recently as well so a refresher on the distinction was in order.