No string retainer hole on my Warmoth neck>

[rolloman]

Is it normal to receive the neck without the hole in it for a string retainer? It a vintage tele neck.

 

[line6man]

Warmoth doesn't do any drilling except for neck mounting holes on necks and bodies, bridge mounting holes on bodies, and holes for controls.

 

[Cagey]

Is it normal to receive the neck without the hole in it for a string retainer? It a vintage tele neck.

It is as Line6man says - they only drill necessary holes. String trees are for poorly cut nuts. You don't need them. They're an artifact from a bygone age. Some people still install them, but it's just a habit, not a necessity.

 

[rolloman]

Thanks. Bygolly, I'll just leave them boogers off my masterpiece then. ccasion14:

 

[Jumble Jumble]

There are even some "necessary" holes they don't drill - pickguard and jackplate on a front-routed Strat, for instance. But it's fine, as long as you take your time.

 

[croquet hoop]

There is so much variation from pickguard to pickguard that it's a good thing that they let you drill the holes yourself.

 

[Strat Avenger]

Yeah, and besides, we don't want them to build the entire guitar for us, do we? There has to be something for us to do ourselves.
:toothy12:

 

[stubhead]

...take pix & say "Goo goo~wanna wanna!"... after a while u even get good at it....

 

[jackthehack]

If you play really light gauge strngs - I play GHS standard .009 sets for example - and bend the holy shit out out of the strings, then you may need retainers on a Fender neck as you can pull the high E string and occasionally the B out of the cut of a perfectly cut/installed nut. Measure half way between the strings and half way in between the machine heads to drill the pilot hole for the retainer.

 

[DslDwg]

Another thing to think about.

There are a lot staggered post tuners available today, which negates the need for string trees.

So unless you plan to use traditional tuners or just want the traditional string tree "look". There is no need for these holes.

 

[Strat Avenger]

The new Fender American Deluxe has locking tuners w/staggered posts, and they have added one string tree for the B & high E. The older ones (like the Strat Plus) did not have any string trees. Apparently, they see a need for it now.

I also read a review on the new E.J. Strat which said that the high E likes to pop out of the nut slot and the reviewer wished it had a string tree. This guitar even has a deeper headstock recess for more string angle over the nut, and the short posts of the vintage-style tuners.

 

[Nightclub Dwight]

It is so easy to add a string retainer at any time, and it really is a matter of preference.  My telecaster does not have one and I play 9's.  I don't feel that I need one, though other people may have a different opinion on their guitar.  For that reason I think its best to start off without one, see how that goes, and if necessary add one.  It really only takes a few minutes of work to install one.

 

[Strat Avenger]

It is so easy to add a string retainer at any time, and it really is a matter of preference.  My telecaster does not have one and I play 9's.  I don't feel that I need one, though other people may have a different opinion on their guitar.  For that reason I think its best to start off without one, see how that goes, and if necessary add one.  It really only takes a few minutes of work to install one.

I think that's good advice.

 

[stubhead]

Yeah, I can't quite agree with KG on a total, categorical BAN on the things. And that's even me, cutting slots and leaving at least a string height's depth - i.e., you can run your finger over the nut and the strings are even with the top more-or-less, a 0.052" string is gonna be in a 0.052" slot. NOT half the diameter :icon_scratch: That's gotta be some kind of leftover instruction from the Cub Scout's Ukelele Badge or something. 

I've been getting quite zoinky over the reverse headstocks, I like what it does to the string tension balance. But if I'm playing slide with fingers and thumbpick in an open tuning like G or D so even a 0.052" or 0.056" may be getting a little flubby, I can pop them out with a too-violent finger stroke or thumbpick up-stroke. I haven't quite figured out what to do about it, that low D has to be able to re-tune to a F... ???

It's all Sonny Landreth's fault, for making me move back to plastic thumbpicks and playing with both up-and-down strokes. :sad1:

D
A
F#
D
A
D

D
B
G
D
G
D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pf2k7WpkIxQ

OH RIGHT, DUDE

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

These are parts and not kits.

 

[DslDwg]

It's harder to undo a hole than to drill one. Hence no holes as not everyone wants them or uses them.

I own three Warmoth Tele's - I use staggered posts, no string trees and 8's. I've never had a string pop out of the nut.

Like was said above - if unsure try without, then if you think you need them add them. My first build I even bought some realized they were unnecessary and never installed them.

 

[dmraco]

Another thing to think about.

There are a lot staggered post tuners available today, which negates the need for string trees.

So unless you plan to use traditional tuners or just want the traditional string tree "look". There is no need for these holes.

+1. These are awesome