New Warmoth Newbie Needs Help with Ordering Guitar

[wwotr]

Before I submit my Order to Warmoth, there are some questions/choices that I need to feel comfortable with, BEFORE I hit that "Order" button.

Am I in the correct forum/catagory to seek such help?

If so, I'll need some explanations in "very simple terms" to help me out.
I'm a "returning Guitarist" after a 35 year Hiatus and although I've owned a few Guitars, this would be my 1st Warmoth.
I like what the company has to offer, but I need to be comfortable with my choice before plunking down my hard earned cash.

Thanks!!!

Roger :hello2:

 

[Jusatele]

ask away, that is why we are here

 

[Doughboy]

Your best bet for ordering your 1st Warmoth is to give them a call & let them expertly walk you through the process.

 

[Strat Avenger]

It's important to know what you want, then look at the Warmoth website to see what they offer. I called them and placed my order over the phone, which is what I recommend.

 

[swarfrat]

If they recommend telephone by all means take advantage of one of the few remaining business where you can talk to a live person. Even fewer where said live person actually knows the subject manner and isn't some Russian named 'Peggy' whose only English is what he reads off the script.

My order was very straight forward, the only customizations from the showcase body were stock pickup and bridge choices. And I still screwed up ordering my pickguard, something that could have been avoided over the phone.

But you do need to have an idea of what you want (ie "I want a LPS with TV Jones pickups, or I want a pretty basic Tele but in Bubinga") before anyone, there or here can help you. Otherwise you'll end up with the internet collective's dream guitar instead of yours, and it might be a mutant.

 

[SustainerPlayer]

... and it might be a mutant.

But then again. Mutants can be quite good.

 

[wwotr]

ask away, that is why we are here

Ok guys here it is.
I'd like a Les Paul  and looking for Warmoth to make me one "similar" to the attached picture, (but without the Gold Hardware).
It's a guitar that I'll just be "Noodiling" on in my Den a few times a year. Now I'm not entirely set on this color/finish but about 85% there.
I can't call Warmoth yet as we just moved here and are getting a Land Line soon, but I wanted to pick the Members brains, before I order.
Below are the options I chose to get what I think will be close to the Guitar I attached here.
But when I got to the "Finish" question, thats where it all fell apart.
Of coarse I want my Guitar to sound good, but my budget wont let me get everything I want/Like.
Hell I bought my first Les Paul Copy in 1972 for $87.00 after mowing lawns all Summer, and I was completley happy with it.

Here's my letter to Warmoth:

Spike,
I'm STILL trying to get through this ordering style.
Enclosed is a picture of what I'd like.(minus the Gold Hardware).
Below is a Summary of what I picked on your "Build Your Warmoth Guitar".

LES PAUL STYLE BODY:
Carved Top
Chambered Body
Poplar Wood
Flame Maple Top Laminate
Right Hand Orientation
Rear Rout Control Cavity
Humbucker Pick-up (Neck)
Humbucker Pick-up (Bridge)
LP Style 7/8" Input Jack
Creme Binding

Where I stumbled (or if I even need it) is the Bridge.
I want the style like is in the picture, I don't want a Tremolo Bar.

So I know you sent me a link for designing my own neck,
but I didn't see it on the "Design your Warmoth Guitar Page",
so that I could configure/add it in to the cost of my Guitar.

Lastly, what I'd like is for a big thick "High Gloss Clear Coat" to be sprayed all over the Body, (but I didn't see that option),
so I clicked on the "finish Page" and saw what looks to be a "Select Finish Category" but when I went there it said...
"Price shown is for paint work ONLY and does not include body or neck".
The Body & Neck are what I want painted, so I'm confused.

(To top THAT off , I saw your "Transparent Sunset Orange Color)

So let me switch gears and ask you, could I pick a LP style in Poplar Wood, then add a Flame Maple Laminate Top,
and have you paint the Body in  "Transparent Sunset Orange" on the Front and back and just go with a Standard Neck?

 

[wwotr]

Because this kinda mirrors THIS Thread, I had put a "WTB AD" up in the For Sale section here.
I was thinking maybe someone would have something they wanted to sell and I could help them and myself.

Well heres a link to my post there about an Epiphone that came up on CL today.

Wanted to get the Members opinion on the guitar in question and the price.
Thoughts Comments are always welcom.

See the Thread here at:
http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=14987.new;topicseen#new

 

[riverbluff]

First thing i would recommend if you are planing to go with a clear finish is to go with something other then poplar for the body.  Mahogany or swamp ash with a flame maple top would look great with a clear coat finish.  The Warmoth finishes are great and will give you that mile deep finish look.

The bridge you want is a TOM/STP.

For the finish just ask for a clear finish.

For the neck look for the neck builder section of the site.  Several hard choices will await you on the neck.  I would highly recommend an exotic wood that doesn't require a finish (rosewood, wenge, pau furro, etc...) you won't regret it.


From reading your post I get the feeling that you think warmoth will build the guitar for you.  That is not the case, warmoth is a replacement parts company.  You'll get top quality parts but you'll have to assemble it yourself. 

I don't think you'll be disappointed with your warmoth LP. 

 

[wwotr]

From reading your post I get the feeling that you think warmoth will build the guitar for you.  That is not the case, warmoth is a replacement parts company.  You'll get top quality parts but you'll have to assemble it yourself. 

I don't think you'll be disappointed with your warmoth LP. 

Now this is an eye opener. YES I DID think that the guitasr would come assembled in a box and pretty much ready to play.
I wouldn't trust myself to put one together, and I don't want to pay Warmoth $700.00 and then more Money on top of that to have it assembled.
I thank you though for letting me know that Warmoth was a Parts Company.
Imagine my surprise when I got a box of Guitar parts that I'd have to put together myself.
I think I'm gonna go with that Epiphone on CL.
Thanks All.

 

[Hbom]

From one newbie to another, I'd like to point out that for the $700.00 you spend on a Chinese made Epiphone, with a nice case.
You could get the equivalent of a Fender Custom shop Strat. Hand assembled by somebody who actually cared how it turns out. With parts hand picked for their individual contribution to what will become the over all sound of your very own custom guitar. But probably no case.
And wheather you assemble it yourself, which isn't all that hard, or ask a luthier to help with it, you'll learn so much about the guitar that you will always refer to it as "My guitar" rather than "the lp".
So when your comparing your pears & oranges, be sure to add in the Luuuuuuuusssst part.
I've found that the made in asia EPIs can't hold a candle to the worst hand assembled guitar I see around here.
http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=14496.0

Good luck. But think hard about what you want, not what you got to spend to get it.

 

[wwotr]

From one newbie to another, I'd like to point out that for the $700.00 you spend on a Chinese made Epiphone, with a nice case.
You could get the equivalent of a Fender Custom shop Strat. Hand assembled by somebody who actually cared how it turns out. With parts hand picked for their individual contribution to what will become the over all sound of your very own custom guitar. But probably no case.
And wheather you assemble it yourself, which isn't all that hard, or ask a luthier to help with it, you'll learn so much about the guitar that you will always refer to it as "My guitar" rather than "the lp".
So when your comparing your pears & oranges, be sure to add in the Luuuuuuuusssst part.
I've found that the made in asia EPIs can't hold a candle to the worst hand assembled guitar I see around here.
http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=14496.0

Good luck. But think hard about what you want, not what you got to spend to get it.

Hbom,
I DO understand what your saying, and you seem knowlegable/passionate about your Guitars.
Unfortunatley in my case, Price is a factor and it is a matter of prioritization, when you have 2 seoerate Hobby's that you love,
and trying to split the $$ between the two.
For my personal taste and factoring in the amount of time that this Guitar will be played,
it would be a waste of my Money to pony up for extras that really wont matter to me in the scheme of jamming along with my Stereo,
10X a year .
I got exactly what I wanted with thie EPI I had mentioned.
When it comes down to me playing along with my CD player to Foghat in my Den, I will be happy with my choice.

I thank you ALL for your insight and input. You have helped me in my desicion to purchase my next Guitar.
Now with this EP, it will be keeping my OLP MM1 Company. :headbang:

 

[Strat Avenger]

'Sorry, but he couldn't build a Warmoth LP for $700.
:sad1:

 

[wwotr]

Actually I was at $572.00, but that was before the "finish" and shipping. 

 

[back2thefutre]

Moths are more like $1500+ in the end. Well worth it though

 

[JamesL]

The body would be AT LEAST $482....


Edit: Correction. $572... Forgot about the creme binding. But that's not counting hardware/neck/pickups. So I agree, Idk how you were planning on getting off that cheap.

 

[swarfrat]

I think you made the right call, if your assessment is honest. I'm the kind of person that even if I have money to burn, I'm still not going to buy at that price point if I can admit up front that this is not a driving passion.  If I only played a  couple times a year, I think I'd go get one of the nicer Agile guitars.

 

[Doughboy]

Speaking for myself, EVERYTIME I have cheaped on gear to save money, I have regreted it 1000x over. If I can't afford something, I will wait until I can & then get EXACTLY what I want.

This way I will have my dream guitar that will give me mucho joy for the rest of my life, as opposed to picking up a discount cheapy & just not feeling it & have insues with it's quality & craftsmanship.

My Warmoth super strat looks & play better than an $8,000 custom shop strat at 1/4 of the price.

 

[wwotr]

The body would be AT LEAST $482....


Edit: Correction. $572... Forgot about the creme binding. But that's not counting hardware/neck/pickups. So I agree, Idk how you were planning on getting off that cheap.

I'm only going by what the "Build your Guitar" section said. But now that you mention it, when I picked out the Pick-ups (and moved on to the next section), it didn't keep a running total, so that is my fault for putting out there that the price was only $572.00.
My whole purpose was to find a Guitar that was ascetically pleasing to me, without having to pay $2000.00.
A friend suggested Warmoth, but I didn't read the site well enough, but when I found out what I'd really have to pay,
(and still have to assemble it on my end), that was the nail in the Coffin. If I could get a Copy/Look-a-Like Guitar for a 1/4 of the price of the REAL THING, well then sign me up. When I found out it would cost damn near TO a real Gibson, then why don't I just buy a Gibson.
Well....because I don't have that kind of scratch. As I said, I'd just be plain along with the record player.

Since 1972 I've owned:
A Les Paul Copy
A Gibson Les Paul Standard in Sunburst
A Gibson Les Paul Studio Alpine White w/ Gold Hardware
An Epiphone Les Paul DC
An OLP MM1 in Amber Quilt
An Agile Dauntless Les Paul in Blue Quilt
An OLP MM1 in a Green Quilt
and now this Epiphone Les Paul w/Orange Quilt.
I am not a connoisseur of Guitars, but the Copy's I played felt better to ME than the originals.
Purely personal preference.
I joined this Forum to learn about Warmoth Guitars (and not to bash them).
The people here have been extremely knowledgeable and generous with that Knowledge.
I for one am very appreciative of that.

 

[wwotr]

I think you made the right call, if your assessment is honest. I'm the kind of person that even if I have money to burn, I'm still not going to buy at that price point if I can admit up front that this is not a driving passion.  If I only played a  couple times a year, I think I'd go get one of the nicer Agile guitars.

Swarfrat,
You hit it right on the Head.
I was beggining to feel like I was paddeling up stream.
Thank you for your input! :headbang1: