MIM Strat neck, being replaced..

[ozyonum]

So i had this MIM strat and although it had a perfect action maple neck it had an interesting defect.

As if someone marked the fret positions with an ink pen, i had marks near each fret on both sides under the lacquer. I finally thought "It's enough bearing this for 10 years" and ended up sanding the finish off for each fret one by one, creating an even worse problem of inconsistency and could not even get rid of those nasty marks either..

To make the long story short, my old Fender neck needs a complete sanding / re fretting job now and i figured easiest solution to my problem is a new Warmoth neck. It arrives hopefully next week..

Lessons learned: Don't keep sanding papers in easy reach in case you act with impulse.  :doh:

 

[Strat Avenger]

It will be a better guitar with the new neck.

 

[reluctant-builder]

Nice!

I'm deliberating on buying a new neck for my MiM Strat, but I'm waiting first to get my hands on a compound radius fretboard.

I ordered one on hype alone for my Jazzmaster build (it hasn't come yet), but before I buy a second, I want to see if I'll actually like it more than my 9.5" Strat neck, which plays pretty well despite some defects (which beg for the replacement neck).

 

[Strat Avenger]

Nice!

I'm deliberating on buying a new neck for my MiM Strat, but I'm waiting first to get my hands on a compound radius fretboard.

I ordered one on hype alone for my Jazzmaster build (it hasn't come yet), but before I buy a second, I want to see if I'll actually like it more than my 9.5" Strat neck, which plays pretty well despite some defects (which beg for the replacement neck).

You won't even notice it. All you'll notice is that leads are easier, and bends sustain better and don't choke out. Chords from the 1st to the 7th fret will "feel" just like your 9.5" radius.

 

[Assumer]

You will love it.  Put one on my MIM and it is a new and better guitar.

 

[ozyonum]

My neck has arrived; i have installed and set it up.

It will be a better guitar with the new neck.

Indeed it is much better guitar now, both looks and plays awesome. I wanted to keep the body untouched because i love blue agave color and since Fender took it off the color charts it's kind of unique as well.
Except the body and the bridge everything has been replaced over time piece by piece and new Warmoth neck was an excellent finishing touch to the renovation.

For those who are considering to replace their Fender necks with Warmoth:

- It's a perfect fit, surprisingly much tighter better than original neck 
- I have ordered Gotoh vintage tuners together, installing original Fender tuners would be a pain in the neck - at least for me. They work great, guitar stays put in tune.
- I have to say workmanship on the nut and frets are excellent, classic Warmoth quality as expected.
- Neck i have ordered has 22 frets and 10-16" Compound radius compared to 9.5" radius Fender standard (MIM) 21 fret neck, it plays better in my personal opinion. 
- I really like the vintage tinted nitro satin finish, no sticky feeling and fast.

 

[reluctant-builder]

Cool. I'm glad it worked out so well.

I almost fired on my new neck for my MiM Strat, but I've decided to cool my heels and wait until my Jazzmaster body and neck arrive, assemble it, and then open my checkbook back up. But that's today. I may buy it tomorrow, if it suits my whimsy...

 

[Disco Scottie]

Looks killer. I have a MIM in the exact same color, I think it's a 2004. The neck on it is fine, but I know much better it would be with a W bolted on. Eventually...