Guitar/Bass parts and tools - StewMac, LMI, Warmoth, etc ...

SkuttleFunk

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I'm starting this as a dedicated thread to the multiple parts dealers available to guitar/bass builders. I know there was a similar thread started not too long ago, but it derailed into a discussion about a specific Strat build that the OP was contemplating. I'd like to keep this discussion focused on the parts suppliers and their products, and avoid it getting into a discussion about specific builds - this way we'll have a good resource for reference that members here can quickly find their supplies at

I utilize several internet and local (currently the Seattle area) resources for my bass building activities depending on what I need, who has it in stock and ready to ship, and my personal experiences with the quality of items offered combined with communication and expediency. I list these below in no specific order


Hardware/Electronics/specialty tools:

* Luthiers Mercantile International (http://www.lmii.com) - usually my first place to seek supplies from when I'm looking for something specific that I know I won't be finding at my local hardware warehouse

* StewMac (http://www.stewmac.com) - another good resource for parts, electronics, and specialty tools, but you need to do a little research is you're looking to be cost concious and budget minded on your purchases.

* Warmoth (http://www.warmoth.com) - a very dependable source for parts that fall within the Fender style of guitars/basses. the selection is limited to parts that coordinate with their body and neck offerings, but the parts offered are always of dependably high quality

* BestBassGear (http://www.bestbassgear.com) - a great resource for bass hardware/electronics including Hipshot, Aguilar, Nordstrand, Bartolini, and also for bass pickup routing templates

* Has-Sound (http://www.has-sound.com) - another great selection of electronics that you will have difficulty finding elsewhere, plus Stan will also custom build stacked pots (tell me where else you can get a stacked 25K/250K or 1M/50K ohm pot for example)

* Woodcraft (http://www.woodcraft.com) - this source is mostly for glues, finishes, and tools as they don't cater to the guitar building market


Bodies/Necks

* Regenerate Guitar Works ... oh, wait, that's me  :icon_tongue: I do make a large portion of the bodies and necks for my custom basses. I do not sell necks or bodies as individual parts. Depending on the specific requests for a customer build, I have also used parts from these companies

* Warmoth (http://www.warmoth.com) - if you're reading and/or posting on this site you probably don't need to know more  :icon_thumright:

* USA Custom Guitars (http://www.usacustomguitars.com) - a super competitor to the W shop, and another maker of incredibly nice necks and bodies. if you're looking for a graphite reinforced neck instead of one with steel reinforcing bars, you should give these guys a serious look. they also have some flexibility in neck features that W does not offer


Wood

* Gallery Hardwoods (http://www.galleryhardwoods.com) - the source for acrylized fingerboards, and also the most dependable source I know of for body, fretboard, and neck blanks and bookmatched top sets. Larry definitely sets the standard that everybody else struggles to come close to

* Cross-Cuts Hardwoods (http://www.crosscuthardwoods.com) - not always the least expensive hardwood supplier locally, but a dependable resource for 8/4 Alder amongst other things. they also have a reasonable selection of exotics

* Compton Lumber (http://www.comptonlbr.com) - across the street from Cross-Cuts, and equally reliable for the basic woods for body and neck construction

* Edensaw Hardwoods (http://www.edensaw.com) - a small shop with very interesting inventory and some hard to find body blank species


I use suppliers beyond these, but this is a good starting place for anyone who is building five or fewer instruments per year.


Which supply joints have you used in the past with great or substandard success?

all the best,

R
 
I buy most from the same places (gallery hardwood, warmoth, stewmac) and never had a problem, but I also buy from:

Guitar Parts Resource: They have some good things also some Gotoh tuners that I can't find anywhere... I've not tried yet their "aftermarket" and "economy" life, but would like, for a Ricknebacker bass bridge....

And bought and don't know if I'll buy again:

WD Parts: Had not a good deal when I tried... Bought a black Gotoh tuners, but it cosmo black and become useless...

Exotic-Wood.com: Bough 3 ziricote fingerboard and 1 black korina body, asked all "the most figured rate", 1 fingerboar came "2A" and the body was white korina... also nevermore had an answer from the vendor I've talked...  :dontknow:
 
Hummm does anybody know where can I buy Gotoh Side Adjuster?  :icon_biggrin:
Never found a place who lists it...  :tard:
 
More Electronic suppliers:

Antique Electronic Supply.  Good for tube amp parts, some guitar parts, and NOS and hard to find tubes: http://www.tubesandmore.com/
The Tube Store.  Good for current production tubes, and some parts: http://thetubestore.com
Mouser.  Good general electronics supplier:  http://www.mouser.com/
DigiKey.  Good because they offer 24 hour shipping - if you're in a rush.  http://www.digikey.com/
Electrosonic.  Good for Hammond transformers in Canada.  BTW, they can deal on the phone - ask for a better price.  http://www.e-sonic.com
Q-Components.  Good for loudspeakers in Canada. They stock the entire eminence line. http://www.loudspeakers.ca/
 
http://www.luthiersupply.com/index.html Pearl and inlay supplies pretty neat inlays I have used a bunch of their stuff

http://www.gilmerwood.com/  Exotic wood

http://www.morganwood.com/catalog/index.cfm?CFID=5434370&CFTOKEN=76777961 Veneer and other wood products

http://www.lrbaggs.com/ 

http://www.constantines.com/ good supplier of wood inlays and stuff like that

http://www.allparts.com/ It has been a long time since I used them but they used to be pretty good....

http://english.redspecialparts.com/ If you are interested in Dr. Brian May's Red special or building one of your own, this page is a must read...

http://www.jackofroses.com/Home.html  This guy makes some parts to replicate those on Jerry Garcia's guitars.  I never used his stuff but from what I understand it is top notch
 
http://www.monteallums.com/
Copper Pickguard shields (and some pedal mods)

http://www.rsguitarworks.net/cms/
Electronics

http://www.callahamguitars.com/
Strat and Tele hardware

http://www.darrenriley.com/main.html
Fender parts

http://home.insightbb.com/~blackriderguitars/
Gretsch parts and other vintage parts.
 
NonsenseTele said:
I've not tried yet their "aftermarket" and "economy" life, but would like, for a Ricknebacker bass bridge....

Think it's the same bridge that AllParts sells... Does anybody have a clue about how good/bad it is??
And Rick pickups??? Where can I find?
 
NonsenseTele said:
NonsenseTele said:
I've not tried yet their "aftermarket" and "economy" life, but would like, for a Ricknebacker bass bridge....

Think it's the same bridge that AllParts sells... Does anybody have a clue about how good/bad it is??
And Rick pickups??? Where can I find?

Among other things, I just happen to have three rickenbacker pickups that I've been thinking of unloading.  I've got a toaster, a hi-gain, and a humbucker.  BTW, these are guitar pickups not bass pickups...
 
:sad1:
I was looking after the bass one... the humbucker and toaster has pole pieces appearing? do you think this can be changed for bass pickups by a builder (like Nordstrand or Bare Knuckle)??

(well, if it sounds too dumb, you'll know that electronic parts is my Achilles heel :laughing7:)
 
NonsenseTele said:
:sad1:
I was looking after the bass one... the humbucker and toaster has pole pieces appearing? do you think this can be changed for bass pickups by a builder (like Nordstrand or Bare Knuckle)??

(well, if it sounds too dumb, you'll know that electronic parts is my Achilles heel :laughing7:)

er, yea you're right - the toaster and the humbucker don't have exposed pole pieces, but the toaster does have 6 magnets.  The humbucker has a bar magnet, so that might work.

hmmmm.  Not sure if it's worth it to have the toaster re-done as a bass pickup.
 
Looks like the PBass project turned into a mean Rickenbacker bass
icon_twisted.gif

The cousin is in trouble with $$$, sorry for her but she might learn it doesn't fall from heaven...

So gotta find pickups to rewind (or original ones) and bridge :sad1: let's see what happens
 
I like Sigler Music for basic, normal-people pickups, and selected Ebay places. Though I buy Bill Lawrence pickups right from him if he's got what I want, why buy Fender, Gibson or Duncan pickups he designed anyway for extra money, when you can get his latest, fresh juicy ones for cheap? Guitar Fetish, Long Island Guitar Parts, Choppers Music, The STRATosphere etc. have all the same basic Fender, Schaller and Asian parts as Allparts & WD Music, sometimes at quite a discount, but you have to know what you want. I'll be buying some parts for the next Tele from either Angela Instruments or HDCustom Guitar Supply, depending on who has the exact things I want. I tend to be pretty exact on what I want, by the time I'm through the weeks of (ecstatic?) agonizing....

http://www.billlawrence.com/
 
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