Some advice for my first order ...

[Adreena]

Hey,

First off, I just wanna say what a great forum this is, diy guitar porn at it's best  :icon_biggrin:

Anyway, I'm new to Warmoth and was hoping I could get some advice ... (I thought it'd be quicker to ask you guys than to e-mail Warmoth).

I'm after a replacement neck for my Strat (which may turn into a full build, depending on how good the neck turns out), I've seen alot of the necks on here with a blank headstock, but I've also seen a few with the Warmoth logo on the headstock and have even seen a body with the logo on it. So what's the score, is the logo optional when you put an order in, or do some people put the logo on themselves ? ... I'd kinda prefer the headstock blank myself.

The other thing is, I'm not hugely knowledgeable in matters of guitar geekery  :doh:, it's taken me a while to figure out just what kind of neck I'm after, but I've settled on the Total Vintage and have decided on all the options, except one ... the neck profile.

As I live out in the countryside, I cant just go into the local music shop (as there isnt one) and try a bunch of different necks out to see which feels best .. so I can only go by the guitars I already own, my limited experience and the power of the internet ! :laughing11:

I've got a MIA standard Strat and an old MIJ Squier Strat (which is out of action due to a bust headstock). I really loved the neck on the Squier and want to replace the neck on the MIA Strat with something similar, but I havnt been able to find out what shape the Squier neck is.

I know the neck on the MIA Strat is the modern slim C shape and compared to that, the Squier neck seems thicker but with a narrower fret board. The MIA neck always digs into the inside of my thumb and forefinger but the Squier neck never gave me that problem.

As I was reading up on neck shapes, my first thought was that it might be a V shaped neck as I kept reading that these are the comfiest, but I cant tell just by looking at it ... surely it would be easily recognisable if it was ? (maybe not if it's a soft V ?).

As everything else on the Squier neck had a vintage taste to it, narrower fret board, smaller frets, 7.25 radius etc... I tried looking up what shape necks are on Fender vintage Strats, but I've heard various different styles described , U, Oval, thick C ... all sorts. So I'm still none the wiser there.

I'm thinking that the 59 round back may be the way to go (?), but ANY advice on this would be appreciated, as it's the one thing I'm not sure about.

Thanks.

 

[Mor Paul]

I don't think I've heard about anyone here being dissatisfied with a 59 roundback. I'm putting one on my in-progress guitar.

 

[OzziePete]

Don't know what the situation is these days - it's been a while since I bought a new Warmoth neck - but I got Warmoth decals with my necks when I ordered them. Didn't ahve to ask for them, they came with the package. You can also buy the decals separately.
http://www.warmoth.com/LogoDecalSticker-C219.aspx

The 59 roundback is like a baseball bat in comparsion to, say, the standard thin or the wizard profiles. I would have thought that Squier necks would have had a profile similar to the Warmoth Standard Thin or Fender 'c' profile, assuming that machining a v profiled neck would cost more to produce (and Squiers being a budget brand). Obviously the larger neck profile does assist sustain due to the density, but you have to be able to play the guitar too...

 

[JaySwear]

i think you'll like the '59. like max, i'm getting ready to put one on my current project guitar. i absolutely despise V necks. i've always heard great things, but i think i lay most of my left hand flat against the beck of the neck (not just my thumb, like i would if i had good fret-hand form  :icon_biggrin: ) and they are the most insanely uncomfortable things i've ever tried. i had a Nashville Telecaster, which had a beautiful neck on it, and a very soft "V" to it. couldn't deal with it  :-\ got a decent offer on craigslist for it and took it. thats my only experience with V necks. just bad, unfortunately.

 

[Schlieren]

I got the Wolfgang profile and just looking at it I know I'm going to be happy with it once it's on the guitar I'm building; for some reason thick necks make me play with my hand layed down across the thing completely with my thumb along the length of the guitar and I much prefer something a bit thinner so I can just have the pad of the tip of my thumb on the thing.  Just old habits from playing steel-string acoustic I guess, even the Guild D-4's neck I play on is thinner than the 70s Fender Lead II I use...

 

[AutoBat]

I recently got a Warmoth strat neck (10 days ago) They sent along the decals for the headstock, totally optional if you use 'em or not.
They aren't allowed, by the Fender deal, to attach any logo to it at all, it's all you.
also, I got the 59 roundback and I absolutely love it.

Good luck with your order, and keep us updated.

 

[Adreena]

Hey,

I think that's a good point about a V shaped neck probably being too expensive for a Squier, especially as it wasnt even a particularly expensive Squier at that ...
so that's the V shape out the window.

I also tend to play with the palm of my hand on the back of the neck, rather than resting my thumb against it ... so going by the comments here, the 59 Roundback sounds like the way to go.

The only thing that's slightly putting me off is the baseball bat reference that I've heard a few times now (not just on here) ... surely the Fatback shape would be the one more like a baseball bat, as it's even thicker.

Anyway, I'm 99% sure I'll go with the 59 Roundback now  :icon_biggrin:

Thanks for all the info, it's been a great help ... if I do end up goin for a full build, I'll stick some pictures up.

  cheers !  ccasion14:

 

[tfarny]

Hate to throw a monkey wrench into things - but every squier I've ever played has had a thin neck similar to standard thin. The '59 is thicker than most guitars you'll see on the shelf, but it's not crazy thick. If your hands are at least normal size, you'll probably love it (it's my fave) but it may not be very much like a little squier neck - at least the ones I've played and owned.

 

[Strat Matt]

The neck on my squier strat is noticably thicker than the standard thin I have.  I think the '59 contour is the closest.  This will be on my next guitar.  I love that squier neck.

 

[SlingBass]

I think it's great you've watched, read, learned and posted requesting other's thoughts.  May I also suggest - instead of just emailing, that you give a call to the guys at Warmoth and allow them to share their thoughts with you in regards to the type build you're planning.  *I* always like first hand feedback...whether I use it or not.  You'll find some very experienced builders/finishers on this board that are more than willing to assist.  There's also great archives of varied information within this site.  Perform your due diligence to insure the order you make will produce the results of your dreams.  It's all here...  :glasses10: