Musiclander ... there can be only one

[tfarny]

It only looks huge because the body is so tiny. It's probably smaller than a CBS strat head.

 

[Corey P.]

And that pic is with with a 24" neck - so add 1.5 inches to the neck and a double truss rod and you are talking a candidate for neck dive or at least possibly a visually unbalanced guitar, if that matters.

Fair points, and the body is definitely disproportionately smaller than the headstock vs. most typical guitars.  Again, to me that's part of the appeal.  Given that Warmoth's Musiclander is 25.5" scale, do you think their body is potentially 1/8 larger than a vintage-correct one?

It only looks huge because the body is so tiny. It's probably smaller than a CBS strat head.

This.

 

[reluctant-builder]

Fair points, and the body is definitely disproportionately smaller than the headstock vs. most typical guitars.  Again, to me that's part of the appeal.  Given that Warmoth's Musiclander is 25.5" scale, do you think their body is potentially 1/8 larger than a vintage-correct one?

Yes, for me, it's definitely part of the appeal. I freaking love the CBS headstock and the Tele style is by far my least favorite. I was thinking of picking up a Heritage H-535 -- and maybe I'm being silly -- but I absolutely hate their headstock; it's narrow and boring.

I need to inquire as to how the Warmoth body relates to the vintage Swinger/Arrow/Musiclander. I've noticed on more than a few posts where people have said the Warmoth body looks "off" compared to an original Fender. Perhaps what they see as off is the result of a guitar in better proportion to a longer scale.

 

[swarfrat]

I see why you people think the headstock is huge. The thread title set you up for expecting a headless guitar.

 

[reluctant-builder]

So, I talked to Rab, who built one of these a couple years back. He went with Swamp Ash for the body, which is the body wood I planned to use, and he got his routed for a trem. His neck was canary with an ebony board, 25.5" scale. He said it was nicely balanced with no neck dive.

I'm planning on getting a hardtail, so my body should be marginally heavier than his. As for my neck, I'm not 100% sure what I want, but I may go the simple route of maple / rosewood with MOP dots. Would Rab's canary / ebony combo be noticeably heavier / lighter than my maple / rosewood combo? Still, I'm led to believe if he has no balance issues with the trem route, I likely won't have them without it.

 

[Corey P.]

I do think this is a good model for a solid maple body since it'll add a little more heft to the body for balance & should giive you some nice sustain, but is still a smaller guitar & won't kill your back/shoulder.

My tastes would lean more towards a light raw exotic like Canary or Goncalo Alves with an Ebony or Pau Ferro fretboard (or more likely Wenge/Ebony), but Maple/Rosewood's a classic combo for a reason, so you can't really go wrong there.  You're not really missing a secret tonesplosion not going with exotics so much as it's just a really nice tactile experience and tends to play faster than a finished neck.

I'm completely in the dark regarding the weight of one neck combo vs. the other, so in lieu of help please accept this drawing of a spider:

 

[Nightclub Dwight]

I'm completely in the dark regarding the weight of one neck combo vs. the other, so in lieu of help please accept this drawing of a spider:

The rare and elusive 7 legged spider!!

 

[erogenousjones17]

Don't laugh--that spider's a war veteran!

 

[JaySwear]

Don't laugh--that spider's a war veteran!

I seen some things, Man. And some stuff.

 

[Cagey]

Hehe! You guys are too much fun!

 

[Corey P.]

I am posting a revised drawing with the correct number of legs.  I trust this will bring the matter to a conclusion.

(http://www.27bslash6.com/overdue.html for anyone unfamiliar.)

 

[Cagey]

Mmm... Stem cells...​

 

[Mor Paul]

Modern day prosthetics! Amazing things...

 

[reluctant-builder]

I quite enjoyed that link, Corey. Thanks.