I Wish...

[line6man]

If you don't like square plates though, why not just do recessed ferrules?

Dammit! I should know better. Traditional neckplates are rectangular quadrilaterals, but not squares. :doh:

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

May I ask why anyone gives a damn what the heel of a guitar body looks like?  :icon_scratch:

Personally, I don't care what it looks like as long as the neck is sturdy and I have easy access to ALL of the frets.  I think the rounded design probably makes things easier  I'm all for it.

 

[line6man]

May I ask why anyone gives a damn what the heel of a guitar body looks like?  :icon_scratch:

Why does anyone give a damn about what any other part of a guitar looks like? :icon_scratch:

 

[Patrick from Davis]

May I ask why anyone gives a damn what the heel of a guitar body looks like?  :icon_scratch:

Well, I cannot say for certain, but I would guess that Doug would be one.  If the custom neck plate, one of the most popular threads here/interesting options, is that popular, then I would guess that people find that rather mundane part of the instrument interesting.
Patrick

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

May I ask why anyone gives a damn what the heel of a guitar body looks like?  :icon_scratch:

Well, I cannot say for certain, but I would guess that Doug would be one.  If the custom neck plate, one of the most popular threads here/interesting options, is that popular, then I would guess that people find that rather mundane part of the instrument interesting.
Patrick

I'd love to have this option on my "Star" guitar.  Some of the higher frets are slightly difficult to get to, and I can see this making things a bit easier.

 

[Strat Avenger]

Fender's neckplates are hideous, I definitely would not want a Warmoth with a weird shape like that.

If you don't like square plates though, why not just do recessed ferrules?

Personally, I've never found the size/shape of a heel to be a problem, only the fret access. My thumb goes up against the heel of the body, where the heel meets the neck, and the rest of my hand floats around.

I see nothing "hideous" about them. It is quite an intelligent design, with one corner rounded off, and one screw hole moved further back. Besides; it's not a part of the guitar that is seen very much.

It looks odd to have three sharp corners, and then one totally rounded off. Especially, considering that the screws are not aligned right. The rounded corner's screw is moved downward. The bodies look odd, as well, like some sort of belt sander accident had occurred.

It's a part of the guitar that is seen quite often. I see it every time I play my guitars.

"Three corners"? There are only two, and with one rounded off and shaved down, that leaves just one corner. It seems ridiculous that one would be more concerned with  how the back of their guitar "looks" over how it feels and ergonomically performs. I could understand if it were the front of the guitar, but we are talking about a part that rests against the player's body. You think a corner "looks" better back there, and are therefore willing to sacrifice ergonomics.

Well, to each his own, but I hope that Warmoth joins the 21st century and makes it an option.

Did you not read the third paragraph of my first post? Playability should always come before aesthetics, but the shape and size of a standard neck heel has never been an issue to me in terms of ease of playability, because my palm never touches that area, so it makes no difference.

You are looking at it as if there are only two options, when there are others that satisfy both ergonomics and aesthetics. Those are the types of neck heels Warmoth should look into, but that is only my opinion, and everyone is entitled to their own opinions of how a neck heel should be done.

There are indeed three 90 degree(-ish?) corners and one rounded off corner, unless you are referring to some other plate I am not aware of?

You keep talking about the plate, which is not the issue. It's the chunk of wood that the plate is bolted to. There are only two corners with the Warmoth/vintage Fender body, and ONE corner with the Fender American Deluxe. You must either have huge hands, or you never play on the 19th-22nd frets, because otherwise there is no way the hand is not going to come into contact with that corner.  Simply eliminating the neck plate does not contour the wood where the neck attaches the body.

I like the Fender design, because it is simple, and there is no loss of strength where the neck attaches to the body. There is still a thick chunk of wood there, but with one corner shaved down and rounded off. I don't know how anyone could not think that's a good idea.

 

[Patrick from Davis]

It might be a good idea for someone, just not me.  My hand is not bothered by the wood that is there.  In fact, from the picture, the neck still comes in contact with the same amount of wood.  So the rounded corner is out of the way, but the wood in contact with the neck is still there, where my hand is.  If it works for you, that is great.  But to make broad sweeping claims as to this is a reason that a company is mired in the last century, that seems a bit much.  I don't get it.  I guess I have big hands, and I learned how to deal with the original style.  Or maybe something else.  I just don't see it as that big of a deal.
Patrick

 

[Strat Avenger]

"Three corners"? There are only two, and with one rounded off and shaved down, that leaves just one corner. It seems ridiculous that one would be more concerned with  how the back of their guitar "looks" over how it feels and ergonomically performs. I could understand if it were the front of the guitar, but we are talking about a part that rests against the player's body. You think a corner "looks" better back there, and are therefore willing to sacrifice ergonomics.

Well, to each his own, but I hope that Warmoth joins the 21st century and makes it an option.

Would that also apply to virtually all other Strat styled builders in the world?  The contoured heel and bolt pattern is incompatible with most of the Fender style instruments on the market and is only available on a handful of models.  I hate to say it, but if it was such an incredible improvement, shouldn't we expect to see more manufacturers following suit and a much greater demand?  That's the simple economics of it...

That's absolutely not true. I know because I have compared them. The bolt pattern is totally compatible, except that one hole is relocated. I know it won't work with the Warmoth "Pro" truss rod, but should work fine with the Vintage Modern.

And to answer your first question...YES.

I don't think most players know about it, and people typically don't question things they never thoughts of.  A contoured heel is no different of an improvement than locking tuners. You can still have the vintage styling with some added improvements.

 

[line6man]

Fender's neckplates are hideous, I definitely would not want a Warmoth with a weird shape like that.

If you don't like square plates though, why not just do recessed ferrules?

Personally, I've never found the size/shape of a heel to be a problem, only the fret access. My thumb goes up against the heel of the body, where the heel meets the neck, and the rest of my hand floats around.

I see nothing "hideous" about them. It is quite an intelligent design, with one corner rounded off, and one screw hole moved further back. Besides; it's not a part of the guitar that is seen very much.

It looks odd to have three sharp corners, and then one totally rounded off. Especially, considering that the screws are not aligned right. The rounded corner's screw is moved downward. The bodies look odd, as well, like some sort of belt sander accident had occurred.

It's a part of the guitar that is seen quite often. I see it every time I play my guitars.

"Three corners"? There are only two, and with one rounded off and shaved down, that leaves just one corner. It seems ridiculous that one would be more concerned with  how the back of their guitar "looks" over how it feels and ergonomically performs. I could understand if it were the front of the guitar, but we are talking about a part that rests against the player's body. You think a corner "looks" better back there, and are therefore willing to sacrifice ergonomics.

Well, to each his own, but I hope that Warmoth joins the 21st century and makes it an option.

Did you not read the third paragraph of my first post? Playability should always come before aesthetics, but the shape and size of a standard neck heel has never been an issue to me in terms of ease of playability, because my palm never touches that area, so it makes no difference.

You are looking at it as if there are only two options, when there are others that satisfy both ergonomics and aesthetics. Those are the types of neck heels Warmoth should look into, but that is only my opinion, and everyone is entitled to their own opinions of how a neck heel should be done.

There are indeed three 90 degree(-ish?) corners and one rounded off corner, unless you are referring to some other plate I am not aware of?

You keep talking about the plate, which is not the issue. It's the chunk of wood that the plate is bolted to. There are only two corners with the Warmoth/vintage Fender body, and ONE corner with the Fender American Deluxe. You must either have huge hands, or you never play on the 19th-22nd frets, because otherwise there is no way the hand is not going to come into contact with that corner.  Simply eliminating the neck plate does not contour the wood where the neck attaches the body.

I like the Fender design, because it is simple, and there is no loss of strength where the neck attaches to the body. There is still a thick chunk of wood there, but with one corner shaved down and rounded off. I don't know how anyone could not think that's a good idea.

Both the plate and the odd shaped heel are ugly. It's better to reshape the entire heel and use ferrules instead of a neck plate.
A neckplate only allows the wood to sit flat, when you could contour the area if need be.

When I play, my thumb goes on the top of the heel where the neck meets the body, and my palm is completely away from the heel. I really don't understand how anyone's palm could touch the heel, unless their thumb was on the neckplate or something.
My palm only touches the treble side of the neck.

 

[line6man]

That's absolutely not true. I know because I have compared them. The bolt pattern is totally compatible, except that one hole is relocated. I know it won't work with the Warmoth "Pro" truss rod, but should work fine with the Vintage Modern.

So you suggest that Warmoth start offering a heel design on their bodies that is only compatible with the Vintage Modern necks, when the Pro construction necks represent the greater percentage of their sales, and, most people who want to break out of the traditional with a contoured heel would be more inclined to go with a Pro neck? I can't see that being a big seller.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

I made a similar point earlier with the Warmoth Pro neck.

 

[swarfrat]

I wish...

that people would put subject lines that tell you what a thread was about.

 

[Strat Avenger]

I wish...

that people would put subject lines that tell you what a thread was about.

It's about guitars, since this is a guitar forum. And since it didn't cost you anything to open the thread and see the specifics.

 

[AutoBat]

I wish...

that people would put subject lines that tell you what a thread was about.

It's about guitars, since this is a guitar forum. And since it didn't cost you anything to open the thread and see the specifics.

Doesn't stop it from being annoying.
If you're viewing this on a mobile device without an unlimited plan, it might cost you to see specifics.

 

[Strat Avenger]

That's absolutely not true. I know because I have compared them. The bolt pattern is totally compatible, except that one hole is relocated. I know it won't work with the Warmoth "Pro" truss rod, but should work fine with the Vintage Modern.

So you suggest that Warmoth start offering a heel design on their bodies that is only compatible with the Vintage Modern necks, when the Pro construction necks represent the greater percentage of their sales, and, most people who want to break out of the traditional with a contoured heel would be more inclined to go with a Pro neck? I can't see that being a big seller.

Dude, all I'm asking for is an option. You speak as if I want Warmoth to discontinue the traditional heel shape.

As for the "Pro" neck; not everyone prefers that design. I have seen complaints of the heavier truss rod resulting in what is perceived as a "dead"-sounding neck. It's not like Warmoth would lose anything by offering the option I suggested, unless Fender won't allow it, or they make the licensing cost prohibitive.