les paul dc style warmoth??

[Muse_lover]

Hi, I;m on quite a  tight budget and want to make an lp dc pro style warmtoh. any tips on how to keep the cost down low??? thanks!!!  

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Flat top with no laminate top, DIY finish, and one pickup.  However, Carved Top with a heavily figured Maple Top with Warmoth finish is still cheaper than a Gibson.

What did you have in mind by keeping the costs down?

 

[Death by Uberschall]

We really need to know what you're willing to spend on it before we can steer you in any direction.  :icon_thumright:

 

[tfarny]

Agreed. In my experience: $600 is the cheapest you can possibly make a warmoth using good quality parts - pickups etc. $1000 puts you in a much sweeter spot. $1500 gets you anything you want except the top figured pieces. When you consider a les paul studio or american standard strat goes for about a grand new, those are great prices, but if your budget is $400 get an epiphone off of craigslist, a fret job and a pickup or two.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Warmoths are only cheap when compared to the big names' flagship models.  Don't just look at the price of an unfinished neck and body and think it's a finished, playable guitar at that price.

 

[SlingBass]

Agreed. In my experience: $600 is the cheapest you can possibly make a warmoth using good quality parts - pickups etc. $1000 puts you in a much sweeter spot. $1500 gets you anything you want except the top figured pieces. When you consider a les paul studio or american standard strat goes for about a grand new, those are great prices, but if your budget is $400 get an epiphone off of craigslist, a fret job and a pickup or two.

True...true...but IF you go the later route - replace switches and pots, too 

 

[tfarny]

and the $600 is DIY finish, cheapest available showcase body / neck, and mid-level (but very good) parts - Gotoh/Duncan, not Callaham/bare knuckle. Helps if you have a few pieces already laying about, too, or if you can scavenge pickups off a current axe that you like.

 

[erogenousjones17]

and the $600 is DIY finish, cheapest available showcase body / neck, and mid-level (but very good) parts - Gotoh/Duncan, not Callaham/bare knuckle. Helps if you have a few pieces already laying about, too, or if you can scavenge pickups off a current axe that you like.

Yup. My first warmoth cost about $750 CDN. Flat-top LPS, DIY paintjob, basic mahogany/rosewood neck (also DIY finish), Gotoh Hardware, Duncan pickups. That's probably about as cheap as you can get. Still a top-quality instrument I'd say, even if my paint job is somewhat amateurish once you get up close.

 

[Muse_lover]

I'm willing to spend an absolute maximum of $1,200, pickups n all. but I also want it to be quite unique.

 

[blue313]

A fresh factory second just hit the showcase.

http://www.warmoth.com/Showcase/ShowcaseItem.aspx?Body=2&Path=Body&i=lpscp35

 

[Muse_lover]

*slobbers profusely* shame it's floyd rose:I would have got it otherwise :' (

 

[Patrick]

hahaha Warmoth's issues with Phrygian made them point out the littlest errors on the showcase body  :laughing7: :laughing7:

 

[Muse_lover]

Is unfinished maple ok?? I'm splashing out on the body, need to cut costs drastically.

 

[Patrick]

if you play an unfinished (hard finish) maple neck, your warranty is void. you have 30 days to D.I.Y. which can help reduce costs if you trust yourself.  :icon_biggrin:
its a good experience though

 

[Nando Vallart]

Is unfinished maple ok?? I'm splashing out on the body, need to cut costs drastically.

No, it's not... My experience is that it gets green because of your sweat, like lime...
Warmoth says that it will tend to twist/bend, so they don't warranty if you don't get it finished or finish it by yourself...

 

[The Dali]

You can usually score a finished maple Warmoth neck on ebay for less than $200.  Of course, it depends on what you want for a headstock.

 

[tfarny]

Finishing a maple neck is actually the easiest finishing job you can take on - a few coats of wipe-on poly or tru oil, all the materials available at the hardware store, and a few weeks to let it cure. Multiple detailed instructions are available here or elsewhere. Personally, I would not buy a neck off of ebay unless it were exactly what I already wanted spec-wise, and a great deal - the neck is where you want to get it just right, you can bolt it to a toilet seat if  you want to and have a great playing guitar.
Bodies off of ebay, sure why not.

 

[Patrick]

but tru-oil finishes aren't covered under the Warmoth warranty

 

[m4rk0]

but tru-oil finishes aren't covered under the Warmoth warranty

I'm fairly sure they do  ??? :icon_scratch:

 

[Patrick]

All our necks are dipped in an oil based penetrating sealer which is compatible with virtually all secondary finishes. This provides enhanced stability; however, it is not adequate protection for playing. We strongly recommend you apply a hard finish to all Maple, Mahogany, and Koa necks. Oils do not validate our warranty requirements. We understand the attraction of raw or lightly oiled necks. They feel fast and are not sticky. Unfortunately, they are much more susceptible to moisture related warping and twisting.

i got that from the warmoth section on neck finishes