I had great fun discussing the quality of warmoth with a friend of mine.

[The Norwegian Guy]

A friend of mine talked to me about buying a Ibanez J-custom.
I told him to check out warmoth, because I thought that it could be interesting for him. He was excited about finally buying a custom guitar, and I told him that the custom guitars you buy from gibson, fender, ibanez etc. isn't actually a custom. It's an allready existing model with some other features.

He was convinced that warmoth wasn't even close to have the same quality of any ibanez, and when I told him that warmoth probably was better quality than most of the models that ibanez throw out on the market - and he refused.

And the fun part of this, is that he replied "whatever" when I explained the production process at warmoth. Everything from the process of drying wood and picking out quality pieces, to the finishing process.
I also told him that I'd rather buy a guitar that's produced on request, than a guitar that's "mass produced on a conveyor belt" as I like to call it.


What do you guys think of the quality of a warmoth guitar compared to the big brands like gibson, fender, ibanez etc?

 

[Justinginn]

"It ain't a Les Paul 'less it say Gib-suhn on it"

 

[Danuda]

I don't have my Warmoth built, but personally I think that most mid range guitars or higher if property setup all can be excellent guitars.  Custom just gets you better looks not necesarily better playability.  I am sure there are some people who could tell the difference between an $800 dollar and a $3000 guitar, but if you blindfolded me I couldn't.  I think sometimes there can be a bit of cork sniffing when it comes to guitars.  If it costs more it must be way better right?

 

[The Norwegian Guy]

I think that ibanez guitars could be great guitars to play too - but when it comes to quality I'd say warmoth is better.

In my opinion, I'd say that a warmoth with the exact same specs as a 5000 USD stratocaster would be better than the actual fender.

 

[OzziePete]

I don't have my Warmoth built, but personally I think that most mid range guitars or higher if property setup all can be excellent guitars.  Custom just gets you better looks not necesarily better playability.  I am sure there are some people who could tell the difference between an $800 dollar and a $3000 guitar, but if you blindfolded me I couldn't.  I think sometimes there can be a bit of cork sniffing when it comes to guitars.  If it costs more it must be way better right?

I would have agreed with your comment about 'custom' guitars 12 months ago, but having gone through the process of getting a genuine custom acoustic guitar built for me by a  manufacturer's custom shop, I can tell you that the custom acoustic is far above anything that manufacturer puts out. Everything from the wood selection, the build quality, the neck (OMG don't get me started on the comfort of the neck it is amazing), plus the fact I have my own personal contributions put into the instrument too, means everytime I play that guitar I nearly weep! It is just about perfect as you can get a guitar to be, for me. But it cost a bomb and I had to wait 3 months or so for it to be built. It was an experience I shall never forget as the end result was so amazing, with the custom shop admin people keeping me up to date about the build via emails and also had a phone call from the luthier himself to discuss how the build went. Nowadays, to me, that is how a custom build should go.

Now to be realistic, not everyone is prepared to spend that much money and I understand that. This custom acoustic was a once only build for me and was something I felt I had to do given my circumstances. But in electric solid body guitars, the Warmoth process is 'next best thing' really.

We can select a range of wood types , finishes and routings. We can then go on and find our own pickups to install, even the switching & pot combinations. If we know enough about the combination of woods and electronics we can build the guitar we've always wanted to hear.

It is just up to us to put it together, or have someone do that for us, that is where the issue of quality control comes into question. One scratch, or a screw that breaks in the tuners, and 'we have problems, Houston'!

To me, though, when compared to fully blown custom shop build or production model from  a well known manufacturer, a solid body elctric guitar from Warmoth is a very good compromise, leaning towards a custom type build.  :icon_thumright:

 

[Strat Avenger]

It's okay to not know about something, but it's NOT okay to trash-talk something you know nothing about.

There's not a damn thing wrong with Warmoth quality. The quality of a completely assembled Warmoth is going to depend stricltly upon the skill and attention to detail of the assembler.

And while some Ibanez guitars are quite nice, 'better than Warmoth???  Now THAT's a JOKE.

*Edited for a typo

 

[OzziePete]

It's okay to now know about something, but it's NOT okay to trash-talk something you know nothing about.

There's not a damn thing wrong with Warmoth quality. The quality of a completely assembled Warmoth is going to depend stricltly upon the skill and attention to detail of the assembler.

And while some Ibanez guitars are quite nice, 'better than Warmoth???  Now THAT's a JOKE.

I see that sort of brand snobbery in a lot of areas today, not just in guitars/musical instruments. All we can do, as Warmoth guitar assemblers, is what Andreas did with his friend and discuss the issue should it arise & put our side of the story across to them to consider. But the other person has to be prepared to listen to what you have to say, and also have an open mind about the subject to at least look at other options. There are still folks who are very pro one brand and anti another/ any others - cars, clothing, computers you name it.

 

[tangent]

The quality of a warmoth depends on the person setting it up.. so for someone who doesn't know what they are doing then <insert brand here> is probably better than their warmoth (assuming they built it themselves)

custom acoustic is somewhat different case than electrics since the wood and construction methods make a vastly bigger difference in acoustic guitars (not saying that they don't make a difference on electric but the effect is much more pronounced in acoustic guitars.. there is a world of difference between a high end acoustic like collings and any mass market acoustic)

 

[The Norwegian Guy]

I agree with you ozzie pete. I do love my musicman and my gibsons.
First of all: My warmoth sounds better than my les paul to me.
Second of all: I have the ability to be proud of making my own custom guitar after my own specs, with great quality.

I don't "throw trash" on his ibanez guitars - I only explained to him why I was convinced that a warmot with the same specs as his ibanez (if warmoth produced ibanez bodies) would be a higher quality instrument.
I explained the "production on demand/request, and bulk production" vs: the mass production - and how every body and neck got that extra bit of love at warmoth while being produced.

He totally freaked on me and told me that John Petrucci, Paul Gilbert, Satriani and a couple of other guys played Ibanez guitars.
That's a weak argument in my opinion.

 

[OzziePete]

I agree with you ozzie pete. I do love my musicman and my gibsons.
First of all: My warmoth sounds better than my les paul to me.
Second of all: I have the ability to be proud of making my own custom guitar after my own specs, with great quality.

I don't "throw trash" on his ibanez guitars - I only explained to him why I was convinced that a warmot with the same specs as his ibanez (if warmoth produced ibanez bodies) would be a higher quality instrument.
I explained the "production on demand/request, and bulk production" vs: the mass production - and how every body and neck got that extra bit of love at warmoth while being produced.

He totally freaked on me and told me that John Petrucci, Paul Gilbert, Satriani and a couple of other guys played Ibanez guitars.
That's a weak argument in my opinion.

John Petrucci, Paul Gilbert, Satriani and co. would have their instruments 'walked through' the production process by Ibanez (to keep tolerances tight), at the very least, if not fully made by their custom/artist shop as a replica to their 'signature' models. (Depending upon the artist's personal demands and whether the production 'signature' model is what they exactly play themselves)

 

[The Norwegian Guy]

I know. He also said that the signature models a normal person could buy, is THE EXACT same guitar as paul gilbert plays.

Well, I doubt!

 

[OzziePete]

I know. He also said that the signature models a normal person could buy, is THE EXACT same guitar as paul gilbert plays.

Well, I doubt!

Depends on Paul Gilbert himself really. He may like the signature model and can play the production model well enough and thinks , well it is easier to grab one of these around the world than ring up Ibanez and say "I need another, how soon can you get one to me in South America?"

I do know of one very well known guitar player who has an endorsed model for a manufacturer, who does pick them up from the factory, straight off the production line, but it isn't Ibanez. True story. He also picks up other production models from them when he needs them.

 

[JaySwear]

to be fair, Ibanez's J-Custom guitars are AWESOME. i've owned a couple. definitely tops or close to it as far as the overall craftsmanship you get for the money. BUT comparing those to warmoth parts isn't really fair. as awesome as all of warmoth's parts are (every one i've seen!) it's still all dependent on who puts it together.

basically, if i had to buy an off the line and already assembled guitar ibanez's j-craft team is pretty high on my list. not counting the fact that i already know their wizard neck isn't for me, just hypothetically. but if it's whatever i want? definitely warmoth!

oh, and i've also heard that gilbert plays stock guitars... i remember seeing a thread from a guy who bought one of his Fireman guitars and then sent him an email about how much he loved everything about it. gilbert actually emailed him back with a pretty detailed description of what pickups were in it and why. now THATS a cool artist willing to email back like that.

 

[OzziePete]

to be fair, Ibanez's J-Custom guitars are AWESOME. i've owned a couple. definitely tops or close to it as far as the overall craftsmanship you get for the money. BUT comparing those to warmoth parts isn't really fair. as awesome as all of warmoth's parts are (every one i've seen!) it's still all dependent on who puts it together.

basically, if i had to buy an off the line and already assembled guitar ibanez's j-craft team is pretty high on my list. not counting the fact that i already know their wizard neck isn't for me, just hypothetically. but if it's whatever i want? definitely warmoth!

oh, and i've also heard that gilbert plays stock guitars... i remember seeing a thread from a guy who bought one of his Fireman guitars and then sent him an email about how much he loved everything about it. gilbert actually emailed him back with a pretty detailed description of what pickups were in it and why. now THATS a cool artist willing to email back like that.

From what I have seen of Ibanez products over the years, they seem to put out good, reasonable and well priced models for the most part. I have played a Gilbert signature model and it did impress, also a Steve Vai model. But generally those era of Ibanez guitars happened after I started playing, and it's not the sound I am looking for in guitars and I am used to a thicker neck profile. I tend to go for an older sounding style of guitar, the high gain pickup and Floyd style isn't me. But I like the fact that Ibanez have gone from being 'those guys' who were involved in that monumental legal case about copying guitars and made their own original designs and attracted top guitar players to endorsemenst, and have held their patronage for the long term too. It says something about a company that can go from being branded pirates to having a steady stable of well known endorsees with products that are their original design and have their own tone.

But Warmoth is more in tune with where I am at as a  player these days, as I know that I cannot get what I want from production models and have enough knowledge about guitars to be able to stipulate what I want.

 

[Strat Avenger]

That's funny, because the celebrities who play Ibanez guitars have their guitars custom-built. Steve Vai's "JEM" guitars are custom-built for him by what are called "ghost builders". Ibanez then mass produces replicas for sale to the public.  I guarantee you that the Ibanez guitars built by celebrities are custom-built and given very special attention to detail. Joe Satriani does not walk into a Guitar Center and buy a JS model off the rack.

 

[The Norwegian Guy]

That's funny, because the celebrities who play Ibanez guitars have their guitars custom-built. Steve Vai's "JEM" guitars are custom-built for him by what are called "ghost builders". Ibanez then mass produces replicas for sale to the public.  I guarantee you that the Ibanez guitars built by celebrities are custom-built and given very special attention to detail. Joe Satriani does not walk into a Guitar Center and buy a JS model off the rack.

I support this one.

Off course they also play the mass produced ones, but that's probably occasionaly

 

[OzziePete]

That's funny, because the celebrities who play Ibanez guitars have their guitars custom-built. Steve Vai's "JEM" guitars are custom-built for him by what are called "ghost builders". Ibanez then mass produces replicas for sale to the public.  I guarantee you that the Ibanez guitars built by celebrities are custom-built and given very special attention to detail. Joe Satriani does not walk into a Guitar Center and buy a JS model off the rack.

You have to be careful generalising this issue. I know of one endorsed player for a manufacturer who does get his guitars straight off the main production line, no BS. JaySwear indicates that Paul Gilbert may be another who plays his own signature models. The motivation for someone having an endorsed model may be that sometimes they can feel they can fly to other countires without their personal guitars and just go to a store and select some of their own signature models for use in that country. Saves on luggage costs with airlines. Joe Satriani would never 'buy' an Ibanez guitar, he's done enough for them to carry his own 'free purchase for whatever the MAN wants' voucher from Ibanez!

 

[The Norwegian Guy]

But when on tour, having a whole stage on a couple of semi trucks, they'd have their own geetars for sure.

 

[clewnii]

I know. He also said that the signature models a normal person could buy, is THE EXACT same guitar as paul gilbert plays.

Well, I doubt!

Well thats not true at all. The Ibanezes used by those "90's Guitar Gods" you mentioned were made in the USA by Mike Lipe (and maybe a few others?). HAND MADE, the way he still does it, without CNC and all that evil techno stuff

Hand made with "hand" selected woods.

The only thing IBANEZ about them were some of the hardware, the shape and the logo...  errrr Right?

Today I GUESS their top sig models are made in Japan (?)  and they are NOT cheap, Gilberts reverse Iceman called the "Fireman" anyone?

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ibanez-Paul-Gilbert-PGMFRM1-Fireman-Signature-Electric-Guitar?sku=581423

 

[Strat Avenger]

That's funny, because the celebrities who play Ibanez guitars have their guitars custom-built. Steve Vai's "JEM" guitars are custom-built for him by what are called "ghost builders". Ibanez then mass produces replicas for sale to the public.  I guarantee you that the Ibanez guitars built by celebrities are custom-built and given very special attention to detail. Joe Satriani does not walk into a Guitar Center and buy a JS model off the rack.

You have to be careful generalising this issue. I know of one endorsed player for a manufacturer who does get his guitars straight off the main production line, no BS. JaySwear indicates that Paul Gilbert may be another who plays his own signature models. The motivation for someone having an endorsed model may be that sometimes they can feel they can fly to other countires without their personal guitars and just go to a store and select some of their own signature models for use in that country. Saves on luggage costs with airlines. Joe Satriani would never 'buy' an Ibanez guitar, he's done enough for them to carry his own 'free purchase for whatever the MAN wants' voucher from Ibanez!

You are correct in what you are saying. I certainly cannot speak for all celebrity endorses. I know that Vai's JEMs were custom made for him. 'Same with George Lynch's ESP guitars.  My whole point was that the guitars these people play have had special attention to detail over those that are hanging on the racks at the local music stores.

I have an Ibanez guitar, and it's great, but my Warmoth is better.