How to convince Warmoth in adding Gotoh Floyd rout as option?

[Cederick]

I've been mailing these guys a couple of times during the last few years and so far nothing has happened.

Perle Guitars offers this, but only on Ibanez-style bodies like RG and similar.

The only thing they have to do is to change the drill from 10mm (OFR) to 11mm (the exact same ones Warmoth uses for Tune-o-matic bushings!) and probably make the rout a little bigger. I have tried fitting a Gotoh Floyd on OFR studs on my Warmoth soloist, and the rout is too small. Also, I dont wanna use OFR studs anyway.

The Gotoh Floyd is increasingly popular from what I see, even tho it's still generally quite unknown.

They could at least be so kind and offer Gotoh stud holes on non-recessed body because they only have to change the drill size  :icon_biggrin:

 

[Verne Bunsen]

I'm thinking infiltration is your best option. They have a job posting for a CNC programmer, you should apply. Then developing new parts and implementing new options would be up to you. Let me know if you get it, I've got some requests myself!

 

[Cederick]

haha :toothy12:

But really, how many are really ordering the 2-Tek bridge anyway? That's an option but I never see any people really talk about it. Maybe it's because I actually look for people who talks about Gotoh Floyd, but I don't think I've ever stumbled across anybody talking about 2-Tek casually, maybe except on the Warmoth forum.

 

[aarontunes]

I'm thinking infiltration is your best option. They have a job posting for a CNC programmer, you should apply. Then developing new parts and implementing new options would be up to you. Let me know if you get it, I've got some requests myself!

Infiltration won't work. I learned to play, build, and repair guitars, went to school for graphic design, gained experience in marketing and advertising, spent time as a journalist, then spent 20 years honing all my skills, and finally found a way into the Warmoth inner circle, just so I could get them to drill the pilot holes for the screws on their Gotoh tuners. I've worked here for almost three years now...and it still hasn't happened. Part of me feels like my time could have been better spent.  :doh:

Seriously though...the phrase "the Gotoh Floyd is increasingly popular from what I see, even tho it's still generally quite unknown" is all I need to hear to tell you it probably won't happen anytime soon. Routing for a new bridge is not as simple as "changing the drill from 10mm (OFR) to 11mm ...and making the rout a little bigger." It's just not. Not even close. Routing for a new bridge takes programming time, and a lot of R&D to check compatibility with every other option people will want to order it with.

I know that "in theory" it may sound easy to tweak a few parameters for this bridge, but as they say: The difference between "theory" and "practice" is that in "theory" there is no difference.

 

[Wolfie351]

Can't you just go with the angled neck pocket?  Wanting a huge routed recess in a beautiful Warmoth top has always perplexed me.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

I'm thinking infiltration is your best option. They have a job posting for a CNC programmer, you should apply. Then developing new parts and implementing new options would be up to you. Let me know if you get it, I've got some requests myself!

Infiltration won't work. I learned to play, build, and repair guitars, went to school for graphic design, gained experience in marketing and advertising, spent time as a journalist, then spent 20 years honing all my skills, and finally found a way into the Warmoth inner circle, just so I could get them to drill the pilot holes for the screws on their Gotoh tuners. I've worked here for almost three years now...and it still hasn't happened. Part of me feels like my time could have been better spent.  :doh:

Seriously though...the phrase "the Gotoh Floyd is increasingly popular from what I see, even tho it's still generally quite unknown" is all I need to hear to tell you it probably won't happen anytime soon. Routing for a new bridge is not as simple as "changing the drill from 10mm (OFR) to 11mm ...and making the rout a little bigger." It's just not. Not even close. Routing for a new bridge takes programming time, and a lot of R&D to check compatibility with every other option people will want to order it with.

I know that "in theory" it may sound easy to tweak a few parameters for this bridge, but as they say: The difference between "theory" and "practice" is that in "theory" there is no difference.

From similar experience, I concur, and I've been both a Gotoh Floyd advocate, as well as a 7 string advocate for years.  It took some time for the business acumen and wisdom of my employer to break through beyond my emotional attachment to these options.  Having witnessed the Gecko re-design over a bridge option several years ago showed me first hand the cost and nearly dozen prototypes just to quality check programming accuracy, and design consistency.  I'd venture to guess that they still haven't recuperated that cost yet some 6.5 years later.

 

[aarontunes]

haha :toothy12:

But really, how many are really ordering the 2-Tek bridge anyway? That's an option but I never see any people really talk about it. Maybe it's because I actually look for people who talks about Gotoh Floyd, but I don't think I've ever stumbled across anybody talking about 2-Tek casually, maybe except on the Warmoth forum.

A fair point, and something I've wondered about myself. It happened before my time, so I can't shed any light on how it came about.

 

[Cederick]

Infiltration won't work. I learned to play, build, and repair guitars, went to school for graphic design, gained experience in marketing and advertising, spent time as a journalist, then spent 20 years honing all my skills, and finally found a way into the Warmoth inner circle, just so I could get them to drill the pilot holes for the screws on their Gotoh tuners. I've worked here for almost three years now...and it still hasn't happened. Part of me feels like my time could have been better spent.  :doh:

Seriously though...the phrase "the Gotoh Floyd is increasingly popular from what I see, even tho it's still generally quite unknown" is all I need to hear to tell you it probably won't happen anytime soon. Routing for a new bridge is not as simple as "changing the drill from 10mm (OFR) to 11mm ...and making the rout a little bigger." It's just not. Not even close. Routing for a new bridge takes programming time, and a lot of R&D to check compatibility with every other option people will want to order it with.

I know that "in theory" it may sound easy to tweak a few parameters for this bridge, but as they say: The difference between "theory" and "practice" is that in "theory" there is no difference.

Yeah I can understand there's a lot of programming involved, but on a NON-RECESSED it's exactly the same (stud spacing and back rout) except that it's a 11mm drill instead of 10mm drill. of course, I have no knowledge in CNC CAD programming, but it makes no sense a simple drill change would be hard to program... But then I could just get a 6-point vintage rout and drill a couple of 11mm holes myself. With a Gotoh Floyd it's not critical to get the exact 74mm stud spacing since one of the knife edges are straight.

Can't you just go with the angled neck pocket?  Wanting a huge routed recess in a beautiful Warmoth top has always perplexed me.

I am a solid finish guy alpine white, graffiti yellow etc etc.
I'm not too much into exotic tops and stuff.

The angled pocket makes the Floyd "too high" and still floating. If I want a non-recessed, I want it flat aginst the body in a dive only setup.

From similar experience, I concur, and I've been both a Gotoh Floyd advocate, as well as a 7 string advocate for years.  It took some time for the business acumen and wisdom of my employer to break through beyond my emotional attachment to these options.  Having witnessed the Gecko re-design over a bridge option several years ago showed me first hand the cost and nearly dozen prototypes just to quality check programming accuracy, and design consistency.  I'd venture to guess that they still haven't recuperated that cost yet some 6.5 years later.

Haha, if you're an Gotoh Floyd advocate, I'm that crazy "The End Is Near" man yelling at people to start using Gotoh Floyds  :laughing11:

Haha I'm sure of that. It's cool that Warmoth has that Gecko bass to steer off from the regular Fender styles but yeah they could have had a Gotoh Floyd option and I would be all over Warmoth all day (if I had the money) hahah

 

[stratamania]

I'd like the option of a Gotoh Floyd too if it became available.

 

[Cederick]

I'd like the option of a Gotoh Floyd too if it became available.

ccasion14:

 

[pabloman]

It just seems Warmoth doesn't want to reprogram for anything. Making the tweaks for a Gotoh Floyd will not require reinvention of guitar bodies. Look at what could have been avoided if they offered a Hannes route. Offering the routes means Warmoth could also offer the parts. They would make money there too. I don't buy the R&D/prototyping excuse. At least not for what they are selling it for. The neck pickup/cutaway clearance issue on the Regal could have gotten a little more attention. The angled neck pocket stuff seems like it could use a tweak as well. There's guys dropping serious coin and ending up dissatisfied based on following Warmoth guidelines. Warmoth customers run the gamut. You've got the dyed in the wool vintage guys and you've got the progressive guys going toe to toe. Warmoth has come a long way and now offer completely original designs that are very forward thinking yet you can only use 60 year old tremolo designs or the "newer" 30 year old designs. I really do understand the need to cater to the bread and butter money makers. You have to find the balance. I can only imagine the nightmare the Gibson thing caused. W came out kickin with new tweaks and fresh designs in an impressive timeline. Because of this you can't tell me it's just too difficult or not worth it. I don't know. It is what it is I guess. Ultimately we are free to choose our vendors.

 

[Cederick]

It just seems Warmoth doesn't want to reprogram for anything. Making the tweaks for a Gotoh Floyd will not require reinvention of guitar bodies. Look at what could have been avoided if they offered a Hannes route. Offering the routes means Warmoth could also offer the parts. They would make money there too. I don't buy the R&D/prototyping excuse. At least not for what they are selling it for. The neck pickup/cutaway clearance issue on the Regal could have gotten a little more attention. The angled neck pocket stuff seems like it could use a tweak as well. There's guys dropping serious coin and ending up dissatisfied based on following Warmoth guidelines. Warmoth customers run the gamut. You've got the dyed in the wool vintage guys and you've got the progressive guys going toe to toe. Warmoth has come a long way and now offer completely original designs that are very forward thinking yet you can only use 60 year old tremolo designs or the "newer" 30 year old designs. I really do understand the need to cater to the bread and butter money makers. You have to find the balance. I can only imagine the nightmare the Gibson thing caused. W came out kickin with new tweaks and fresh designs in an impressive timeline. Because of this you can't tell me it's just too difficult or not worth it. I don't know. It is what it is I guess. Ultimately we are free to choose our vendors.

That actually makes sense!

Programming a Gotoh Floyd rout would be piece of cake compared to all those new bodies and stuff they offered after the Gibson events.

And if somebody says it's just "tweaks" of the old SGs, LPs and so; the Gotoh Floyd rout is an even less minor tweak on the OFR rout. Hehehe!!!

 

[mayfly]

It just seems Warmoth doesn't want to reprogram for anything. Making the tweaks for a Gotoh Floyd will not require reinvention of guitar bodies. Look at what could have been avoided if they offered a Hannes route. Offering the routes means Warmoth could also offer the parts. They would make money there too. I don't buy the R&D/prototyping excuse. At least not for what they are selling it for. The neck pickup/cutaway clearance issue on the Regal could have gotten a little more attention. The angled neck pocket stuff seems like it could use a tweak as well. There's guys dropping serious coin and ending up dissatisfied based on following Warmoth guidelines. Warmoth customers run the gamut. You've got the dyed in the wool vintage guys and you've got the progressive guys going toe to toe. Warmoth has come a long way and now offer completely original designs that are very forward thinking yet you can only use 60 year old tremolo designs or the "newer" 30 year old designs. I really do understand the need to cater to the bread and butter money makers. You have to find the balance. I can only imagine the nightmare the Gibson thing caused. W came out kickin with new tweaks and fresh designs in an impressive timeline. Because of this you can't tell me it's just too difficult or not worth it. I don't know. It is what it is I guess. Ultimately we are free to choose our vendors.

That actually makes sense!

Programming a Gotoh Floyd rout would be piece of cake compared to all those new bodies and stuff they offered after the Gibson events.

And if somebody says it's just "tweaks" of the old SGs, LPs and so; the Gotoh Floyd rout is an even less minor tweak on the OFR rout. Hehehe!!!

Well gentlemen,  I think you now just need to get a CNC machine, program it up for all the body styles with this bridge, and git'er done!  Just think - you can offer a service to not just all warmoth customers, but perhaps all body manufacturers.    Sounds like a win to me. 

 

[pabloman]

Or we could just buy Warmoth and then MAKE them do it.

 

[Cagey]

Well gentlemen,  I think you now just need to get a CNC machine, program it up for all the body styles with this bridge, and git'er done!  Just think - you can offer a service to not just all warmoth customers, but perhaps all body manufacturers.    Sounds like a win to me. 

Hehe! Y'know... you shouldn't give away such priceless ideas so readily  :laughing7:

 

[Cederick]

Or we could just buy Warmoth and then MAKE them do it.

Yeah, let's start a crowdfunding!

"Help us out to buy WARMOTH because they don't offer Gotoh Floyd option"  :toothy12:

Well gentlemen,  I think you now just need to get a CNC machine, program it up for all the body styles with this bridge, and git'er done!  Just think - you can offer a service to not just all warmoth customers, but perhaps all body manufacturers.    Sounds like a win to me. 

:doh:

I actually have a friend who's been working with CNC and of course he made sure to build himself a guitar when he had that job:

So... If I could make him program a Gotoh Floyd option, could he then send it to Warmoth and they just add it?

Don't get me wrong he did a million mistakes (just look at that bloody thing: he forgot to make a proper nut shelf, the fret slots are way too shallow among other things... Hahaha!)... But really, if somebody could make a .CAD file and send to Warmoth, could they just do it then?

 

[mayfly]

It would be a better idea to get your buddy to add the bridge route on an un-routed body. 

 

[Cederick]

I could probably do that myself half-decently, I've done it a few times before with routhers and drill stands.

But I would love to just order a body and neck and then only screw them together, the fun stuff, without having to worry about ruining the stuff.

 

[Cagey]

Some of us live for the difficult problems. Just screwing parts together is puppy chow, bordering on the tedious  :icon_biggrin:

 

[amigarobbo]

Or we could just buy Warmoth and then MAKE them do it.

"It's a thought"