Next build already....

[teal]

All-

I am weeks away from having the final parts for my Warmoth Tele together. Warmoth body and Warmoth neck, Fralin Blues Specials. Body is Ash, finish will be vintage white and the neck is maple with rosewood fingerboard. Don't know why I chose to build a guitar but I figured if I was going to learn to play a guitar, I should make my own first - just the way I am. (I'm sure I'll get flamed for it - not knowing what I am doing etc - but once I have it together, I'm taking it to a local luthier to have him check it over for obvious mistakes/set up- then I'm gonna learn to play the thing)

Anyway - as this comes together, I'm intrigued to build another guitar with a different purpose/sound. (just really dig putting it together)

The sound I'm after is the Drive By Truckers - I'm thinking a Tele Deluxe or a custom? Prob go with a burst finish on this as that just seems like these styles of guitars just scream for that.

Just kicking the tires on this but any feedback on choosing one over the other and electronics suggestions would be appreciated. Again - specific goal is to re-create the DBT sound and the guitar would be used for more alternative country style of play. Probably going to be plugged into a VOX amp - once I can decide on which one I like the best.

Anyway - thanks,

 

[elfro89]

All-

I am weeks away from having the final parts for my Warmoth Tele together. Warmoth body and Warmoth neck, Fralin Blues Specials. Body is Ash, finish will be vintage white and the neck is maple with rosewood fingerboard. Don't know why I chose to build a guitar but I figured if I was going to learn to play a guitar, I should make my own first - just the way I am. (I'm sure I'll get flamed for it - not knowing what I am doing etc - but once I have it together, I'm taking it to a local luthier to have him check it over for obvious mistakes/set up- then I'm gonna learn to play the thing)

Anyway - as this comes together, I'm intrigued to build another guitar with a different purpose/sound. (just really dig putting it together)

The sound I'm after is the Drive By Truckers - I'm thinking a Tele Deluxe or a custom? Prob go with a burst finish on this as that just seems like these styles of guitars just scream for that.

Just kicking the tires on this but any feedback on choosing one over the other and electronics suggestions would be appreciated. Again - specific goal is to re-create the DBT sound and the guitar would be used for more alternative country style of play. Probably going to be plugged into a VOX amp - once I can decide on which one I like the best.

Anyway - thanks,

Well i would usually ask someone what it is exactly they are going to do with it. I don't think I personally would invest in something so pricey if i was just starting out. But since you've already made that decision welcome to the forum  :icon_thumright:

You will definitely find lots of great information on here about stuff and it is a brilliant place to learn about anything really. But as for your question, practical usage of guitar is not important just yet, just go with what you want instead of what you need. Whatever you like the look of and whatever makes you practice more then that's the way forward.

I'm sure there will be many on here that will no doubt find your decision a bit strange since warmoths are amazing quality stuff, I certainly wouldn't be able to appreciate just how good an instrument they really are if i was just starting out. Or having a fully blown custom. Thats ussually the dream of a more experienced musician. But good luck and i'm sure you'll be happy with your guitar!

 

[Cagey]

I'm sure there will be many on here that will no doubt find your decision a bit strange since warmoths are amazing quality stuff, I certainly wouldn't be able to appreciate just how good an instrument they really are if i was just starting out. Or having a fully blown custom. Thats ussually the dream of a more experienced musician.

That's probably true enough, but there's another school of thought that says a new player will more likely put an instrument down if (s)he has to fight with it because of quality/appearance/performance issues. With something like a Warmoth, if you can't play after a reasonable amount of effort, there's only one place to put the blame.

Plus, it usually only costs a little more to go first class, and you're rarely sorry. Start out with one of those, and you won't have to replace it in 6 months or a year. Might even keep/use it forever.

 

[teal]

Thank you for the welcome.

I hear what you're saying but really - I'm what 800 bucks into something with higher quality parts than an off the shelf Tele for 700 dollars that most likely needs set up work anyway.

To me it was an easy choice, plus I like building things so I figured I had a little bit of a "gives me something to do" credit built in as well.

I'm not completely new to the guitar - I did take about 15 lessons almost 20 years ago, I was young and stupid and didn't stay with it - I'll hang now. There's much to be said for building it yourself. (sorta - I have no illusions about what I am doing)

 

 

[elfro89]

I'm sure there will be many on here that will no doubt find your decision a bit strange since warmoths are amazing quality stuff, I certainly wouldn't be able to appreciate just how good an instrument they really are if i was just starting out. Or having a fully blown custom. Thats ussually the dream of a more experienced musician.

That's probably true enough, but there's another school of thought that says a new player will more likely put an instrument down if (s)he has to fight with it because of quality/appearance/performance issues. With something like a Warmoth, if you can't play after a reasonable amount of effort, there's only one place to put the blame.

Plus, it usually only costs a little more to go first class, and you're rarely sorry. Start out with one of those, and you won't have to replace it in 6 months or a year. Might even keep/use it forever.

sure I get that angle completely, but I think one of the pivotal moments in my early development was the fact I started on a rampant piece of crap that I used for a few years  :laughing7:, when I finally got an upgrade and felt the quality difference, I really started taking guitar seriously and it was around that time when I started my 8 hours a day sessions. Then again when I spent a grand on a parker fly, I can't describe just how much having such a pro level guitar under my belt felt like, I honestly can't tell you how much that has shaped my sound! If I had started on anything but a £200 westfield, I just couldn't see myself loving my Parker as much as I do now. But again that's just me. Definitely not my place to judge others or criticize! Im sure you will love it!  :icon_thumright:

 

[teal]

To be honest, the thing that scares me the most about the build is setting the pick-up heights. I've no idea where to start on that. Plus, I'm a touch nervous about doing the finish on it but I'll worry about that not at all. Character right?

 

[elfro89]

To be honest, the thing that scares me the most about the build is setting the pick-up heights. I've no idea where to start on that. Plus, I'm a touch nervous about doing the finish on it but I'll worry about that not at all. Character right?

tonar is the man you want to speak to about guitar finished. his work is astounding.

the good think about bolt together guitars is that its not to difficult to do, hence why they are so easily manufactured. Pickup height works usually through a screw with a spring attached. you tighten the screw and the pickup gets lower.

 

[teal]

I know how to adjust them but just what's the correct height to the strings etc. Going to have to do some innanet digging on it. Maybe just call Lindy himself and ask. Seems like a nice enough guy.

 

[Cagey]

To be honest, the thing that scares me the most about the build is setting the pick-up heights. I've no idea where to start on that. Plus, I'm a touch nervous about doing the finish on it but I'll worry about that not at all. Character right?

Pickup heights are simple to do. There's an adjustment screw on either side of the thing, and you tighten them to raise it, loosen to lower. Finding the right height is more of a trial & error process, with little chance for error. It's more trial, making adjustments and seeing if you like the sound.

Finishing, on the other hand, is as much an art as anything else, and requires some serious skill and equipment. If you have that, great. You can save some real money. But if not, that's one of the things (along with fretwork) I usually recommend be left to pros.

 

[tfarny]

Two hard parts:
1. Finishing. If you want your first guitar to look "not homemade", you know what I mean, get it done either by Warmoth or by someone like Tonar. If you don't mind that people can tell you did the paint job (without asking), then get yourself some zinsser shellac or tung oil and have at it, or even go nitro if you've got the time and patience. It's fun as long as you won't get upset that it doesn't look like a custom shop guitar.
2. Set up. You need some specialized tools (just a few, like nut files), some care and expertise here. Experience is the best teacher, and also Dan Erlewine's book, which you'll need to do really any set up. A gorgeous amazing original guitar with a crap setup is (wait for it) - a crap guitar, plain and simple.

Those two steps aside, the rest of it is very easy if you are at all handy. Good luck!

 

[pabloman]

Specs are for sissies. Set it up by feel :laughing7:

 

[elfro89]

Specs are for sissies. Set it up by feel :laughing7:

would rather be a sissy then a dick  :icon_jokercolor:

SCHAMONE HEEHEE!!  :laughing7:

 

[DesmoDog]

I put my Warmoth Strat together about to months after I started playing. I bought a guitar, then put together a kit that had been following me around for about 25 years, then started on the Warmoth before that kit was even done. Then I built a 12 string Tele kit a month or so ago.

Anyway... the last step on the warmoth was to have a pro set it up - level the frets, he put a new nut on it, set the action, etc. Now it's the guitar I play most of the time.

I felt a little strange doing this, sort of like I wasn't worthy. A buddy I ride with told me it wasn't like a newbie going out and buying a superbike. He figured that even though I couldn't play it yet, I'd be more likely to stick with it if I liked the guitar I was playing, and that playing a quality guitar would always be a more enjoyable experience than playing something lacking. My kit guitars pretty much suck. I'm glad i dind't try to build one and learn to lay on it. In fact, maybe if I had gotten a real guitar instead of a kit 25 years ago I'd have 25 years experience playing now?

Who knows.

Point is, You'e not the only one who jumped right in with a Warmoth. And while people talk about how expensive they are, in the big picture they really aren't. Build what you want and enjoy it. That said.. don't get caught up in the shiny object syndrome and spend you're time aquiring all the pretty stuff. When I picked up my Warmoth from the tech I asked about another build I was considering. He told me to stp buying thigns and spend my time playing. "There's nothign wrong with this guitar, all it needs now is to be played. Stop buying things."  It was good advice... I've kinda sorta followed it... though I've got at least two builds planned in my head for when the time comes!  :icon_biggrin:

 

[pabloman]

Specs are for sissies. Set it up by feel :laughing7:

would rather be a sissy then a dick  :icon_jokercolor:

SCHAMONE HEEHEE!!  :laughing7:

Only you have the power to decide. I would say stop being a dick and your there :icon_biggrin: Either way, Good Luck arty07:

 

[teal]

Wow - ordered my neck on Oct 6. Just got the shipping information. Just a hair over 2 weeks on a non-showcase neck. (IOW it wasn't one they had around already).

THAT'S service....

 

[Cagey]

Must not have a finish. That's what eats the clock up.