Is building a complete Warmoth parts guitar still relevant for many?

[Strat Avenger]

I resent the term "partscaster". It's snobbery. ALL electric guitars are made with PARTS. All of them.
I also couldn't care less about resale value. I like guitars custom built to my personal preference for me to own and play.
If I want to invest in something to sell for a profit later, there's gold, silver, BitCoin, and a host of other commodities.

 

[Spud]

I reaent the term "partscaster". It's snobbery. ALL electric guitars are made with PARTS. All of them.
I also couldn't care less about resale value. I like guitars custom built to my personal preference for me to own and play.
If I want to invest in something to sell for a profit later, there's gold, silver, BitCoin, and a host of other commodities.

YA! You tell em Strat Avenger!

 

[Spud]

Exactly! A. Who's playing it.

B. Hairdoo creativity

 

[rauchman]

Since building 3 Warmoths from unfinished bodies/necks, I have zero desire for an off the shelf bolt on neck guitar. With the W, I can really tailor the guitar from the perspective of guitar nerd, and get as close to exactly what I want as possible.

If W made models for set neck and/or neck through, I'd probably be ordering from them for this also.

 

[NedRyerson]

Since building 3 Warmoths from unfinished bodies/necks, I have zero desire for an off the shelf bolt on neck guitar. With the W, I can really tailor the guitar from the perspective of guitar nerd, and get as close to exactly what I want as possible.

If W made models for set neck and/or neck through, I'd probably be ordering from them for this also.

I used to think that until this past weekend. Then I bought the Nita Strauss signature JIVA10 from Ibanez. While it is a bolt-on, it has things I can't do or WM doesn't offer.

Of course, I still have two WM projects still on-going sooooooo.....

 

[mayfly]

I used to think that until this past weekend. Then I bought the Nita Strauss signature JIVA10 from Ibanez. While it is a bolt-on, it has things I can't do or WM doesn't offer.

Of course, I still have two WM projects still on-going sooooooo.....

Hey! Nita is da Bomb. What sort of things on her signature guitar are unique? Just curious...

 

[rauchman]

I used to think that until this past weekend. Then I bought the Nita Strauss signature JIVA10 from Ibanez. While it is a bolt-on, it has things I can't do or WM doesn't offer.

Of course, I still have two WM projects still on-going sooooooo.....

I actually saw her play at a small local venue a few years ago. She definitely has the performance down, with metal ballerina twirls and what not....not to mention, a great player, and easy on the eyes.

I used to have some flavor of Ibby "S" model, which is very similar to Nita's guitar. I hear ya on certain elements on that guitar that W doesn't do, like binding on a 24 fret neck 25.5" scale, or the unique jack port on the body. Personally, I wasn't a huge fan of that guitar as it was "too small" and it was on that guitar that I realized, I wasn't a huge fan of a Wizard profile. I wound up giving that guitar to my God son. Another example is Charvel's D24's, where the neck doesn't have much of the 24 fret overhang that comes from fitting to the standard Fender neck pocket.

Having said that, for me, I can't say these are make or break elements in a purchase decision. With a router in hand, I can get 90+% of the way to whatever I want for a bolt on build using Fender dimension based starting points, with the last % being those factors that would really have me weighing if I really want those attributes. If so, then off to the local guitar store to shop, but I haven't found myself doing that. For me, the main modification I do, is a Fender type Ultra/Elite neck heel to all the W's I've built. Unfortunately, this precludes using W's Modern straight headstock, but a Tiltback Modern or a Vintage / Modern will work for that.

I'm kinda at the point now of wanting to start from a body blank.

 

[13motoman]

If it wasn't relevant would it take 18-24 weeks to get your parts?? I say that in jest, not mad, just shows me there are a lot of people still using them. I recently ordered my parts for my first Warmoth guitar. The wait is killin me! I didn't do it for the resale, it won't be worth much, just for the fact its fun to put together something I wanted. Not a unique perspective I'm sure.

 

[aoresteen]

My 7th Warmoth body arrived yesterday - a Strat body in Sunburst finish. It is drop dead gorgeous. Flawless. My local tech builds fantastic '62 Strat necks - I'm inline to get the next one. Can't wait for the marriage

Painted Warmoth bodies are the best value out there. I do not mind the 16-18 week wait - just plan ahead.

 

[ScottDR]

Ok so I'll chime in here. I recently decided to buy a newer Fender Duo-Sonic because I had a '65 Mustang back in the day.... I searched for months for a white hardtail with the red pickguard to no avail. Then, a fellow player I know suggested I buy a Chinese kit. Doing a web search turned up Warmoth and I was overjoyed, I could order exactly what I wanted! Putting her together right now. Yes, it's a little pricey, but it's exactly what I wanted, and not Chinese. I'm building a guitar that looks just like my old girl without all the shortcomings of the original. I'm thrilled! I've already decided to order a Velocity (or maybe a 7/8 Tele) body and neck in the near future! Oh, and I received the Mustang body and neck just 2-months after placing the order! When I'm finished with the Mustang, I'll have more money in it than either of my Les Pauls cost me, but so what????

 

[mycroftxxx]

If you are the DIY type and want a very customizable guitar, Warmoth parts are at the top end of quality and price. That being said, you will essentially have a 'partscaster' that in the end may cost you as much or more than a similar branded guitar such as Fender etc. If resale value is important to you I would go now with a brand name of similar qualities.

I don’t necessarily disagree with what I’ve quoted from your original post, but my situation (which seems to be similar to other posters in this thread) is that I don’t care about resale value; I’m looking for a guitar that is customized to what I want, to a much, much greater degree than I can get anywhere but a custom shop. I’m also looking for high quality. Two years ago, I assembled a Tele from a Warmoth custom body (a topnotch bound body with quilt maple and an amber dye finish) and Warmoth custom neck (roasted flame maple); the quality of those two pieces was excellent and provided me with the foundation for an excellent guitar, with all of the electronics and hardware exactly how I wanted it, at a total price less than half of what it would have cost at the Fender Custom Shop and less than a third of what it would have cost from Suhr. Plus it would have been probably an 18+ month wait from either, three times longer than when I placed the order from Warmoth until I had a finished guitar. There are things that Warmoth does a journeyman’s job on instead of a master craftsman’s work - frets and maybe the nut are probably the main “good but not superb” items - but I confess I’ve never had an issue with either on my Tele. And…I had a pile of fun putting the darned thing together!

So this year I’m doing a super Strat hot-rodded blues guitar (some parts already on order), and it’s the same story - no way I can get the particular eclectic mix of stuff I want anywhere but a custom shop or Warmoth (I don’t have the woodworking skills, paint gear, etc., to go total DIY). So Warmoth it is for the body and neck, and various places for the hardware and electronics. It’s not cheap but it will be way cheaper than, say, FCS or Suhr, and I’ll have it all done by June or so (assuming 16 weeks for the body is accurate). And I’m looking forward to putting my stamp on my unique guitar. And that’s good enough for me.