I love you so much warmoth!

[rapfohl09]

I dont know if anyone else is on the email list, but Warmoth has finally brought out the warhead as a standard option!


I personally CANNOT wait to get one!

 

[Kei]

thanks for the info..

just knew bout it..

 

[Damon]

I like it. Been thinking all along that if my guitars aren't going to be Fenders, why should they look like Fenders (on the headstock, at least). I think the warhead shape does a good job of evoking the basic Strat look while still being different. I'll likely use it for all my future builds that aren't going to be angled headstocks.

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

I haven't seen that headstock until now, and I'm just not feelin' it.  It isn't the ugliest headstock I've ever seen (that category's reserved for Music Man, EVH, and Parker), but it's certainly not one I'd option out on any of my guitars.

I view that shape to be very "shape-sensitive" to whatever the shape the body is.  With the right body, I think it could look okay.

 

[Firebird211]

I actually like this headstock on Sorta-casters.  I kind of wanted to have mine made with one, but the traditional fender has more room on the headstock.

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

I actually like this headstock on Sorta-casters.  I kind of wanted to have mine made with one, but the traditional fender has more room on the headstock.

I really liked the "Jackson-style" headstock that Warmoth offered, but since the guitar isn't a Jackson, I didn't want a "Jackson" headstock on it.  The same went for the PRS-style and Fender-style headstocks.

In the end, I didn't want people who saw my guitar saying, "Hey, nice Fender, is that a custom," or "That must be a custom-made Jackson!"  Both would be very nice compliments, but, you know...

 

[Firebird211]

I actually like this headstock on Sorta-casters.  I kind of wanted to have mine made with one, but the traditional fender has more room on the headstock.

I really liked the "Jackson-style" headstock that Warmoth offered, but since the guitar isn't a Jackson, I didn't want a "Jackson" headstock on it.  The same went for the PRS-style and Fender-style headstocks.

In the end, I didn't want people who saw my guitar saying, "Hey, nice Fender, is that a custom," or "That must be a custom-made Jackson!"  Both would be very nice compliments, but, you know...

Yeah, I know what you mean.  I did mine in a way to pay homage to Fender without the logo, but anyone in their right mind would know that it isn't a Fender and originally my creation.  There is no avoiding all the infernal questions that comes with having a custom guitar. :blob7:

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

I actually like this headstock on Sorta-casters.  I kind of wanted to have mine made with one, but the traditional fender has more room on the headstock.

I really liked the "Jackson-style" headstock that Warmoth offered, but since the guitar isn't a Jackson, I didn't want a "Jackson" headstock on it.  The same went for the PRS-style and Fender-style headstocks.

In the end, I didn't want people who saw my guitar saying, "Hey, nice Fender, is that a custom," or "That must be a custom-made Jackson!"  Both would be very nice compliments, but, you know...

Yeah, I know what you mean.  I did mine in a way to pay homage to Fender without the logo, but anyone in their right mind would know that it isn't a Fender and originally my creation.  There is no avoiding all the infernal questions that comes with having a custom guitar. :blob7:

A buddy of mine has a very severe distaste for Fender guitars in general.  He doesn't like the way they feel, play, sound, etc.  He simply just...hates them.  I can appreciate that, because there are brands like that I share a particular distaste for, such as Schecter, Laguna, Gibson, Jackson, and Charvel.  Even though these companies make some nice instruments, I've just simply never "connected" with them, regardless of model.

Anyway, I brought my Warmoth to his place for a jam (we're now collaborating on some stuff...), and the first thing he said to me was, "Sweet looking guitar, but, I absolutely hate it.  It plays like a Fender."  Given that I had never mentioned to him that Warmoth guitars were made to Fender specs, I found his comment rather amusing, and just laughed, "Funny you say that, because Warmoth guitars are made to Fender specs."  He said, "SEE, I TOLD YOU, IT PLAYS LIKE A FENDER!  FENDERS BELONG ON CARS!"   :laughing8:

Personally, I love it when people ask questions about the guitar.  I've had people ask me everything from, "Is that a new B.C. Rich model," to "Is that a PRS?  The signature on the headstock looks like PRS!"  While my sig does have a "loopy" style to it, I don't think it looks the same as that on a PRS, but I can see the similarities and why someone would think that.  When I tell them it's a "Warmoth," I get a puzzled look, and a, "I've never heard of them.  Who makes them?"  Usually after I mention who Warmoth is and what they do, I get a semi-negative reaction; the, "Ah, it's a kit guitar" comment.  :tard:  People can call it what they will, and that's fine, because I'm pretty sure my guitar will play circles around anything 95% of those particular people have in their arsenals, and I'm pretty certain it looks cooler than what those same 95% of those people have in their arsenals, too.   :cool01:

 

[stubhead]

It's kind of funny, in that Fenders are "kit guitars" too, with parts from wherever Fender could make them most cheaply and assembled by everyone from Chinese prison labor-camp inmates to Mexican Mexicans to American illegal Mexicans to, a very few, born-here actual Americans... you just screw them together, with the added feature that real Fender employees are surely under tremendous time pressure to pack along as many units per hour as possible. The fact that Hendrix/Holly/SRV/Jonhson et alia played kit guitars is often under-reported. But no longer.... :toothy12:

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

It's kind of funny, in that Fenders are "kit guitars" too, with parts from wherever Fender could make them most cheaply and assembled by everyone from Chinese prison labor-camp inmates to Mexican Mexicans to American illegal Mexicans to, a very few, born-here actual Americans... you just screw them together, with the added feature that real Fender employees are surely under tremendous time pressure to pack along as many units per hour as possible. The fact that Hendrix/Holly/SRV/Jonhson et alia played kit guitars is often under-reported. But no longer.... :toothy12:

What I've always found interesting is that the only neck-through Fender I've personally EVER seen was the Squier Stagemaster.  I've never seen a neck-through Strat, Tele, Jag, Stang, etc. in my entire life.  The "sound whores" are always yammering on about how the neck-through guitars sound better, blah blah blah, but if such a case was true, or there was such a large difference in sound quality, Fender would have been on top of that game a long time ago.

I mean, arguably, ANY "bolt-on" guitar could be construed as a "kit."  What's the difference between Fender's maple and Warmoth's maple, or Fender's alder from B.C. Rich's alder, and so forth and so on.  The only explanation that I can come up with would be, "Well, maybe Fender's maple trees are a higher quality than those of Brand X," but, that just sounds stupid.  :tard:

I guess at the end of the day, a Warmoth guitar isn't any different than an actual Fender guitar, etc.  As far as I'm concerned, a maple tree is a maple tree, there's no "high quality maple tree" or "low quality maple tree."

 

[Firebird211]

I noticed a lot of guitar techs know of Warmoth and speak very highly of their quality.  Most unknowing people do draw a blank when you say  "it's a Warmoth".  A comment from a fellow guitar enthusiast that amused me was "sharp partscaster".  Before I told him what it was from a pic he seen of it he asked me if it was a trans blue MIM.  I had to think for a second "does it really look like Fender made it?", then I said "no, Made in USA from Warmoth and everything else build by me"  More amusing is the guy's name is Leo, and he likes Gibsons. :icon_scratch:  I don't get what would make people think Fender's suck so bad because so many guitar companies copied the crap out out the Stratocaster.  So many guitar legends tore things up with a strat.  I just wanted mine to be the real deal and look the part while having several advantages over a standard Fender.  I do have a Schecter C-1 custom as well (through-neck), and it did take a little time to get used to the feel.  It feels kind of like a Les Paul crossed with a strat, but more comfortable than it sounds.

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

I noticed a lot of guitar techs know of Warmoth and speak very highly of their quality.  Most unknowing people do draw a blank when you say  "it's a Warmoth".  A comment from a fellow guitar enthusiast that amused me was "sharp partscaster".  Before I told him what it was from a pic he seen of it he asked me if it was a trans blue MIM.  I had to think for a second "does it really look like Fender made it?", then I said "no, Made in USA from Warmoth and everything else build by me"  More amusing is the guy's name is Leo, and he likes Gibsons. :icon_scratch:  I don't get what would make people think Fender's suck so bad because so many guitar companies copied the crap out out the Stratocaster.  So many guitar legends tore things up with a strat.  I just wanted mine to be the real deal and look the part while having several advantages over a standard Fender.  I do have a Schecter C-1 custom as well (through-neck), and it did take a little time to get used to the feel.  It feels kind of like a Les Paul crossed with a strat, but more comfortable than it sounds.

Well, I can tell you from personal experience that I've come across VERY FEW Fenders that suck.  My wife got me a Squier "Affinity" bass gig pack for Xmas this past year, and while it played okay from the box, after I had a very minor setup performed on it, and got the action lowered, it plays very nicely.

About 3 weeks go, I stopped at Guitar Center, and got to play an "Affinity" back to back with an American Jazz, and truth be told, there was NOT a $1200 difference in tone or playability between the two.  Sure, the American J presented very well, with nice maples, and jumbo frets, and felt more "substantial" than the "Affinity," but the feel of the bass itself was very similar.  In fact, I found the "Affinity" to be more comfortable, though the American J did have less fret buzz, probably because of the jumbo frets.

I've been to music stores and have seen $700 Epiphone LPs with sloppy fretwork, blobby finishes around the neck joints, poorly cut nuts, sharp frets, etc., yet I don't even find these issues (most of the time) on the cheapest of Fenders.

I'm not going to turn this into a "bash the brand" contest here, but I've played $199 Strats that play better than some guitars costing twice and even three times as much.

IMO, Fender quality is a cut above everyone else's, regardless of the price point.

Regarding Schecter, a buddy of mine has a neck-through "V," and it's awful.  I just hate it.  I can't tell you why I hate it, I just do.  My guitar teacher also "borrows" guitars off the walls at the store where I take lessons, and he had a Damien Elite last week that buzzed more than a hornets' nest. 

 

[JaySwear]

YES! Damn, looks like my superstrat idea is back on now...

 

[stubhead]

I like Schecters a lot, their fretwork and QC are outstanding for the $500 - $800 range. I like 7-strings and I just don't think the "wizard" profile has enough meat (wood-meat) in it to get the best possible tones.... After I built my Warmoth 7 I sold a Japanese Ibanez, but Warmoth necks are still on the thin side for me and there's no boatneck option. :icon_scratch: Warmoth could probably sell a pile of seven-strings if they made them with a big neck option and maybe a 26.5" scale option, but the argument is they don't sell many sevens, so why bother. Ummm, maybe if you made something that all the posters at the seven-string forum WANT, like the anti-Ibanez...

Then I found the Schecters, a Korean C-7 Plus and the batty Damien 7 which are both fine guitars. Because of simple historical accident (so far), 7-strings tend to be either total shreddy/spiky or big fat jazz guitars - like nobody else could use a low B? This C-7+is a real sweety, about as unshreddy as any seven I've seen:

Buzzing notes are a setup issue, as is why one Jazz bass would play different from another. Ummm, if you're going to put together Warmoths, learning set-ups is coming your way real soon.

 

[10maxpower01]

This C-7+is a real sweety, about as unshreddy as any seven I've seen

Meh, I'd shred on that. If it's a good guitar then play it. I played in a Refused cover band and had flowers on vines for the inlays, all gold hardware with trans green finish. No one thought we were less punk because of my guitar, it's all in how it plays.

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

I like Schecters a lot, their fretwork and QC are outstanding for the $500 - $800 range. I like 7-strings and I just don't think the "wizard" profile has enough meat (wood-meat) in it to get the best possible tones.... After I built my Warmoth 7 I sold a Japanese Ibanez, but Warmoth necks are still on the thin side for me and there's no boatneck option. :icon_scratch: Warmoth could probably sell a pile of seven-strings if they made them with a big neck option and maybe a 26.5" scale option, but the argument is they don't sell many sevens, so why bother. Ummm, maybe if you made something that all the posters at the seven-string forum WANT, like the anti-Ibanez...

Then I found the Schecters, a Korean C-7 Plus and the batty Damien 7 which are both fine guitars. Because of simple historical accident (so far), 7-strings tend to be either total shreddy/spiky or big fat jazz guitars - like nobody else could use a low B? This C-7+is a real sweety, about as unshreddy as any seven I've seen:

Buzzing notes are a setup issue, as is why one Jazz bass would play different from another. Ummm, if you're going to put together Warmoths, learning set-ups is coming your way real soon.

Gonna have to disagree with you regarding the buzzing issues.  While some buzzing is certainly caused by a setup issue, such as action that is too low, some guitars just don't cut it.  I'm not saying that every Schecter Damien Elite has buzzing frets, but this particular one had more than a few, not to mention a few dead frets on the lower strings...

 

[Firebird211]

I would have to say that my Schecter C-1 custom came with some fret rattle, but any guitar I pick up with low action does the same thing.  I must have a heavy hand.  I have moved the action up to a mid/high level and now the guitar is up for anything.  I love my Warmoth, but if I got jumped in a dark alley, it's the Schecter I would rather be swinging, and it would survive.

 

[Jusatele]

I find it funny someone does not like the way a Fender plays, seeing how the Strat is probably the most sold guitar out there because it plays so nicely. Between sales of Fenders and the knock offs of the guitar it seems to have been proven to be a HUGE success.
And about neck through Fenders, Living less than 20 miles from the Custom Shop, I have seen so many neck thru Fenders come out of there I thought it was a common option, guess we just spoiled out here. After all we kind of yawn at a lot of the custom shop stuff, but then there is a lot of stuff coming out the back door of that shop.

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

I find it funny someone does not like the way a Fender plays, seeing how the Strat is probably the most sold guitar out there because it plays so nicely. Between sales of Fenders and the knock offs of the guitar it seems to have been proven to be a HUGE success.
And about neck through Fenders, Living less than 20 miles from the Custom Shop, I have seen so many neck thru Fenders come out of there I thought it was a common option, guess we just spoiled out here. After all we kind of yawn at a lot of the custom shop stuff, but then there is a lot of stuff coming out the back door of that shop.

I've seen Fender's custom shop stuff in photos, but never in person, and honestly, it just doesn't seem to have the same effect on me as say, a B.C. Rich Custom Shop guitar.  :icon_scratch:  There's just something about them that's different, but unidentifiable, but when you see one, you know it.

I didn't even know Fender made neck-through guitars.  Are they custom shop orders only?

 

[Jusatele]

I was at a friends the other day and he had his Custom Shop Tele neck thru out, nice Axe. Now here is the catch, At one time the Custom Shop was where you went to get a Super Uber Fender built how you wanted it built, Just about any option willingly applied. But it has morphed into a boutique limited run shop that puts out specials to be sold by GC and Musicians Friend. And somewhere in that they got swell headed. You can still go and order your Super Uber Axe from them and get it. They have some of the best luthiers in the country there. However a large part of the production of the shop should not come from there, as it is badged Custom Shop just to drive sales but is instead special runs not of the quality of the CS.
A case of corporate greed watering down a good thing for high profits