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My 1st Warmoth build

H

Hbom

Senior Member
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I bought this body last year at the anniversary sale. Took me a year to accumulate the rest of the parts.Finally got it playing yesterday so I thought I'd share it with you guys.
Warmoth Ash on Ash w/ f-hole. Blue burst w/blue back
Birdseye maple neck from CEG Hardtails
Lace Chrome Domes w/tap switch.
Hardtail bridge w/ FerraGlide SS Vintage Strat saddles

Another update Friday afternoon.
Thanks again for all the comments. I'll try to answer a few questions:
LACE CHROME DOMES yes that really is a dually in the butt.
I thought they were pretty harsh when I 1st fired it up, but the more I mess with them I am really impressed!
I am usually a PAF & jazz sort & these have way more balls than I'm used to but are very controllable too so if you are thinking hard core strat you will be pretty close. Much more bite than my US strat with DH-1 & Samarium Cobalt Noiseless.
But if your a Big Metal guy you might find them lacking to some of the boosted pups.
AS FOR THE PICKGUARD, I bought the pups & wire set up off of ebay in a green sort of guard. it included the 3 pups, 5way, Vol, Tone, & a super Tone that I have yet to properly identify but it really adds to the HB. There is also a small switch I think is tapping & phasing the HB.
I couldn't buy a guard to match the tight cutout of the humbucker in white pearl (Fender makes 1 in black pearl) so I ordered a white pearl from Warmoth cut for singles in the neck & mid. then cut the bridge myself with my trusty dremel! Next time I'll know to stop a bit short and use a round sanding head on the ends as 1 is not as smooth as I would like. Like I said I learned a few things NOT to do on this build.
F ORIFICE. Looks like we covered both sides of the I like or hate f-holes already, I'm still in the middle. I like the looks but don't see much value sound wise in this body. For those of you who actually go so far as to hate them, I can only suggest that when going for a new body, leave the F off!
I do appreciate all of the suggestions about how to finish inside the hole and think that at this point I will keep it in 'STILL THINKING ABOUT THAT' file. I think the idea of photo flash control makes a lot of since and will try to do something like that when I re-take my picture. Maybe a soft black rag B4 I take the pic.
 
Hate the F-hole, but the burst and figuring of the wood is beeeeaaaaautiful. Nice job!  :icon_thumright:

ORC
 
I'm not thrilled with the f-hole either, but hey its a showcase. Something to darken the f-hole and blend it might help. But sweet matching the abologna inlay with that finish. Feels good to play it after going at it so long, don't it?
 
I tried finishing the inside of an f-hole once.. it got all messy.. worse, when I later polished the finish with a steelwool pad, little steel particles fell in the hole and got stuck to the bottom... not very sexy... :tard:

having said that, I would probably do a better job next time having learned from this :)
 
Addendum to the My 1st Warmoth build.
1st a  thank you to all for the kind words. And a big thanks to cmatthes for posting my pictures for me. I may never figure that out.
As for the F-hole. This was my 1st attempt to assemble a guitar from parts.(2nd actually, I still have an eBay mistake body that started it all and never will be much more than a door stop). Then a friend told me about Warmoth and I was in the trying to figure it out process last fall when they had their anniv. sale. I'm a big fan of Tele Thinlines and always thought I wanted a Thinline Strat, so that is what I bought.
Now that I have one I don't think I'd do it again. Sound ways I don't see any advantage at all. It's lighter, and looks cool but is a bit of a dust collector,and doesn't help the tones abit.I have considered coloring the inside of the hole but haven't come up with the correct answer as yet.
Trust me the f-hole was one of the small lessons I learned on this project.
I hope to sit down tell the rest of my story and ask a few questions before the next try. Maybe I'll get a better result. I think it's pretty but there are a few mistakes that a more seasoned builder might have avoided.
Anyway that's my story and I'm sticking to it. At least for today.
Thanks again to all.
Doug
 
You might could tape up everything (and I mean everything)  including the edges of the f-hole, then spray it something dark but reminiscent of the finish tones.  Like the same color tones turned down a couple stops.  And  I didn't mean to call your baby ugly. It's quite pretty with a distinctive birthmark. :)
 
Very cool, love it, especially the pups. Love the humbucker look of 2 singles put together... :icon_thumright:
 
don't try to finish the f-hole! Everyone who has tried it regretted it. It always turns out yukky. It looks fine bro the way it is :icon_thumright:
 
Re: not finishing the F-hole. I went to look at the showcase and ... I think the problem is on camera flash - the path is quite direct there and back, so the light wood really pops.  Move the flash off camera a bit and I suspect they'll darken up in the photos. Especially if the angle to the f-hole is a bit sharper.
 
I think the f hole is fine.  How are the chrome domes?  I've been toying with buying some for a while.  Where did you get the pickguard for them?
 
I think it's time to move this over to the finished strat thread. But I am not sure so I seek your advise.
The only things not done are that I haven't installed string trees, nor have I put a name on the headstock.
Both of these are in limbo do to things I've read on this site. So I am not sure I will be doing either of them ever.

And I'm not really doing any work on the guitar any more. All I do is PLAY IT!
It might not be the best guitar ever, but it sure is my best guitar! It really has me stoked! I can hardly put it down.

So if I'm not working on it, I guess it's done, and I should move it to Finished Strats and get on with my life.(read as start a new Tele.build)

So could someone please tell me if I'm correct.

And if I am could someone please show me how to move it to the other thread.

Thanks from a nooby
 
I wouldn't put string trees on unless you need them, and you shouldn't need them unless you have a poorly-made nut. Then, if you have a poorly-made nut, you should probably have it replaced rather than put string trees on to compensate for it.

As for naming it, headstocks do look a bit naked without something up there. I would just avoid putting a name on it that doesn't belong there, such as "Fender", since they didn't provide any of the parts or labor involved. I'd either put a Warmoth logo on it, or something custom and unique to you.

But, that's just me and my $.02 worth <grin>
 
Cagey said:
I wouldn't put string trees on unless you need them, and you shouldn't need them unless you have a poorly-made nut. Then, if you have a poorly-made nut, you should probably have it replaced rather than put string trees on to compensate for it.

As for naming it, headstocks do look a bit naked without something up there. I would just avoid putting a name on it that doesn't belong there, such as "Fender", since they didn't provide any of the parts or labor involved. I'd either put a Warmoth logo on it, or something custom and unique to you.

But, that's just me and my $.02 worth <grin>
Click to expand...
Thanks Cagey, The string trees got hung right here at the forum because of what you just said. And so far I haven't seen a need, so they are still in the box.
I had big plans about a fancy dancy HS logo bragging up the builder. But after spending time reading here I have decided to hold off a bit, I'm proud of my gitter, but not sure anyone else would care if I ever decide to sell it. So I have to think about that yet.
 
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