Looking to replace mid 90’s ESP custom neck-Help needed

[adiaz]

Hello! I’m getting last minute research together prior to ordering my replacement neck. I went ahead and measured the 3 areas listed on the site to assure fit.

Neck pocket length is listed as 3” or 76mm. I measured 77mm. This was manufactured in Japan.

Neck pocket width is listed as 2 3/16” or 56mm. I measured 56mm.

Ok here’s the tricky one for me; the neck pocket depth is listed as 5/8” or 16mm. I also see on the “side view” that the distance between the top of the guitar body and the “rear” of the fretboard end shelf is listed as 1/8” or 3mm. When I add the 16mm depth and the 3mm clearance I get 19mm which is the same amount I’m measuring on my neck stock bottom/rear up to the rear side of the fretboard end shelf.

From my perspective this looks like a good fit. If not or if I missed something, please point it out as I’d like to know before I place this order.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[stratamania]

Welcome to the forum,

Based on the measurements you have given it appears your neck is close to traditional Fender specs which the Warmoth dimensions are based upon so should be a reasonable fit.

Have you also looked at the pattern for mounting screws to see if they also are similar?

 

[adiaz]

Have you also looked at the pattern for mounting screws to see if they also are similar?

There is the one “odd” located screw location which is unique to ESP which brings the top left screw closer to the top right screw. I will be ordering the neck without pre-drilled mounting holes. The other three holes are to Fender spec as I own a Stew Mac surrogate neck jig and the ESP’s three screw hole locations line up fine.

 

[adiaz]

The only measurement that may be off 1 or 2 mm is the neck pocket but I figure I can place a shim in it if it’s necessary. I measured 19mm from bottom of neck pocket to top of rear fretboard shelf which is the total measurement Warmoth shows in their side view(16mm neck pocket + 3mm gap between guitar body and rear side of fretboard shelf overhang). That seems dead on to me.

 

[stratamania]

Another thing to check is if you are planning on ordering a Modern construction neck is the position of the screws. For example a Fender contoured heel is incompatible.

See this link.

https://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Necks/faq2.aspx#Incompatible

 

[adiaz]

Another thing to check is if you are planning on ordering a Modern construction neck is the position of the screws. For example a Fender contoured heel is incompatible.

See this link.

https://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Necks/faq2.aspx#Incompatible

As shown in photo the upper left mounting hole is purposely closer to right upper mounting hole. No where near that side adjustment hole.

 

[adiaz]

Here’s the pic.

 

[stratamania]

Your images are not visible but as long as you have enough data to make an informed decision that is what is more important.

 

[adiaz]

Your images are not visible but as long as you have enough data to make an informed decision that is what is more important.

Thanks! Not sure why pic isn’t uploading. It’s a jpg. Oh well

 

[adiaz]

Here it is....I’m wondering if it’s just easier to order the neck pre-drilled and just drill the new hole position??

 

[mayfly]

I dunno - looks pretty close to where the stock hole would be - might have to dowel and re-drill it* if you order with the screw holes.





* - but that's not a big deal.

 

[adiaz]

My guitar body has the “rounded” strat pocket. I would like to order a Tele style replacement neck with the “straight” fretboard end and the “rounded” strat heel. Can this be ordered thru Warmoth??

 

[adiaz]

I dunno - looks pretty close to where the stock hole would be - might have to dowel and re-drill it* if you order with the screw holes.





* - but that's not a big deal.

Here’s the ESP neck mounting plate sitting directly over a Fender mounting plate. Holes lineup fine(except for the top left holes). I wonder if it’s safe to order the predrilled neck? I would only need to drill the hole closer to the right side which looks plenty far away from the Fender spec left predrilled hole.

 

[PhilHill]

I dunno - looks pretty close to where the stock hole would be - might have to dowel and re-drill it* if you order with the screw holes.





* - but that's not a big deal.

Here’s the ESP neck mounting plate sitting directly over a Fender mounting plate. Holes lineup fine(except for the top left holes). I wonder if it’s safe to order the predrilled neck? I would only need to drill the hole closer to the right side which looks plenty far away from the Fender spec left predrilled hole.

From the looks of it, your only potential trouble spot would be whether or not the offset hole will clear the truss rod. You would have to establish center line of the Fender bolt pattern and see how far the offset hole would be clear of it. Depends on the diameter of Warmoth's truss rods. Which, unfortunately I don't know offhand.  :headbang:

 

[adiaz]

I dunno - looks pretty close to where the stock hole would be - might have to dowel and re-drill it* if you order with the screw holes.





* - but that's not a big deal.

Here’s the ESP neck mounting plate sitting directly over a Fender mounting plate. Holes lineup fine(except for the top left holes). I wonder if it’s safe to order the predrilled neck? I would only need to drill the hole closer to the right side which looks plenty far away from the Fender spec left predrilled hole.

From the looks of it, your only potential trouble spot would be whether or not the offset hole will clear the truss rod. You would have to establish center line of the Fender bolt pattern and see how far the offset hole would be clear of it. Depends on the diameter of Warmoth's truss rods. Which, unfortunately I don't know offhand.  :headbang:

Thanks!! Does anyone have these measurements??

 

[adiaz]

Oh I forgot to mention, the neck screws that come with my ESP, two are shorter(top) than the other two(bottom). This is due to the slight angle of the back of the body where neck plate/screws go. The screws do go in straight though.

 

[rauchman]

Hola,

I've done 2 Warmoth bodies where I either modded the Warmoth contoured heel ( used a Modern / Vintage neck and used a Fender Deluxe / Elite neck plate) or made my own (also used a Modern / Vintage neck and used ferules instead of a neck plate).  In both cases, I used a pre drilled neck, and in both cases I have the original hole visible from the back of the guitar.  Need to go back and fill it somehow as it is a bit unsightly.

You should be ok with the measurements you're using off of the neck plate pic you posted.  Just did a google search for the truss rod dimensions and it looks to be about 1/4"  wide (the end piece is listed as 7mm).  Go safe and measure 3/8" for the truss rod width itself.

For the position of the modified screw hole, you should be ok with both the Modern / Vintage and Modern construction truss rods.  If you were to bring the modified screw hole closer to the body (like the Fender Elite / Deluxe), you'll run into problems with the Modern construction, but since it's just slightly shifted toward the centerline of the neck, no worries.

 

[adiaz]

Hola,

I've done 2 Warmoth bodies where I either modded the Warmoth contoured heel ( used a Modern / Vintage neck and used a Fender Deluxe / Elite neck plate) or made my own (also used a Modern / Vintage neck and used ferules instead of a neck plate).  In both cases, I used a pre drilled neck, and in both cases I have the original hole visible from the back of the guitar.  Need to go back and fill it somehow as it is a bit unsightly.

You should be ok with the measurements you're using off of the neck plate pic you posted.  Just did a google search for the truss rod dimensions and it looks to be about 1/4"  wide (the end piece is listed as 7mm).  Go safe and measure 3/8" for the truss rod width itself.

For the position of the modified screw hole, you should be ok with both the Modern / Vintage and Modern construction truss rods.  If you were to bring the modified screw hole closer to the body (like the Fender Elite / Deluxe), you'll run into problems with the Modern construction, but since it's just slightly shifted toward the centerline of the neck, no worries.

Thanks for all that info! The back side behind the neck pocket actually flares out on the ESP body so it would cover/hide the pre-drilled hole on the upper left side. I’ll definitely measure that 3/8” off center to see if that screw hole is clear of the truss rod location. Thanks again!

 

[mayfly]

wow - sounds like it will all work out really well!

Please post about your progress once you've got the parts in front of you.

 

[rauchman]

Hola,

I've done 2 Warmoth bodies where I either modded the Warmoth contoured heel ( used a Modern / Vintage neck and used a Fender Deluxe / Elite neck plate) or made my own (also used a Modern / Vintage neck and used ferules instead of a neck plate).  In both cases, I used a pre drilled neck, and in both cases I have the original hole visible from the back of the guitar.  Need to go back and fill it somehow as it is a bit unsightly.

You should be ok with the measurements you're using off of the neck plate pic you posted.  Just did a google search for the truss rod dimensions and it looks to be about 1/4"  wide (the end piece is listed as 7mm).  Go safe and measure 3/8" for the truss rod width itself.

For the position of the modified screw hole, you should be ok with both the Modern / Vintage and Modern construction truss rods.  If you were to bring the modified screw hole closer to the body (like the Fender Elite / Deluxe), you'll run into problems with the Modern construction, but since it's just slightly shifted toward the centerline of the neck, no worries.

Thanks for all that info! The back side behind the neck pocket actually flares out on the ESP body so it would cover/hide the pre-drilled hole on the upper left side. I’ll definitely measure that 3/8” off center to see if that screw hole is clear of the truss rod location. Thanks again!

Not too dissimilar from how Fender does it on the Deluxe pattern, of course positioning is different.  Good luck and let us know how you progress