Stupidity Or Not? Topic For Discussion

[mullyman]

I wish Warmoth had not stopped offering the LSR nut option.

Will they still cut the slot for you?

Yeah, they will prepare the slot. What I'm wondering now is if they'll take a finished neck from the Showcase that already has a nut installed, if they'll remove it and cut the slot for the LSR??? I know they'll route a humbucker cavity on a finished body that has already been cut SSS, my first build, the cherry burst in the post above, was a finished body that was top routed, Strat style, SSS. They routed out the rear for a humbucker for me. My original plan all along was to use a single sized humbucker but thought having the cavity routed for a full sized one would give me options later on down the road. Anyway, if they'll remove a nut from a finished neck and prepare for an LSR then that will really give me a wide variety of necks to choose from. I've got my eye on one now so I'll be calling them tonight to find out.
MULLY

If you're interested, the neck I'm looking at right now is in the showcase. It's number is...
SN13006

Now, actually, the one I'm head over heels in love with, the one that gives me nightmares, is listed below. My only problem with it is the radius is straight 9.5. My white strat from Warmoth is the 10-16 compound radius and I love it. Too scared to try and see what a straight 9.5 is like. If I don't like it that's a lot of money to be shelling out. Are there any guitars on the open market that have a straight 9.5 radius that I could try at a guitar shop? Anyway, item number below.
SN13637

 

[Strat Avenger]

I have a friend who built a Partsocaster and wound up with this exact setup. He's also played with the D-Tuna on it and in all cases it works like a charm. The one problem that I had with it was when I was messing around and pushed the bar all the way down (and I mean until the tip was hitting the top of the body), the strings were so slack they came out of the nut slots and didn't make it back in when I let the bar up. Of course, this was me totally messing around with it not actually doing anything useful. Other than that it worked out quite well I think.

I'm glad you mentioned the string popping out of the nut like that. I was wondering about that. Luckily, I don't use the tremolo that much or that hard so it shouldn't be a problem. Fingers crossed.

Interesting to hear your take on the Wilkinson too, Mully. I was a bit skeptical of it at first but haven't had any problems with it on my latest build. Did you ever find what the issue with it was? I'd be interested to hear if you got it resolved or found out what the problem was to make sure I watch out on future builds. (I'm assuming you never figured it out just from the tone of your rant...)

Nope, never did figure it out. I ended up selling it on Yahoo Auction here in Japan. I was fortunate in that I got my money back out of it. I hated to sell it because, it was first build and it was GORGEOUS!!!, but I needed the cash and if one of my guitars had to go that Wilkinson made it so it was that one that got sent off. I truly hope that the new owner is enjoying it and isn't having any problems. It's been quite a while since I sold it, at least a year or more, and I never heard anything from him so I guess he's fine with it. But yeah, for future builds I won't even consider the Wilkinson. Don't get me wrong, people that have them, if they're working great for you then I couldn't be happier for you. It's just that one strike is an out for me.
MULLY

Here's a pic of that gorgeous beauty

Cherry body 1 by MULLY5150, on Flickr

Absolutely gorgeous guitar.

 

[Cagey]

Yeah, they will prepare the slot. What I'm wondering now is if they'll take a finished neck from the Showcase that already has a nut installed, if they'll remove it and cut the slot for the LSR??? I know they'll route a humbucker cavity on a finished body that has already been cut SSS, my first build, the cherry burst in the post above, was a finished body that was top routed, Strat style, SSS. They routed out the rear for a humbucker for me. My original plan all along was to use a single sized humbucker but thought having the cavity routed for a full sized one would give me options later on down the road. Anyway, if they'll remove a nut from a finished neck and prepare for an LSR then that will really give me a wide variety of necks to choose from. I've got my eye on one now so I'll be calling them tonight to find out.

I'll be interested to hear what they say about that. I do know they won't refret something that's already fretted, even if you're willing to pay for it. I suspect it has to do with them not being a repair shop. I'm sure the talent exists there, but they'd have to take someone off line and upset their standard work flow.

 

[mullyman]

My mind changes quicker than I change my underwear. I've decided against the roller nut and the Babicz and keep it as it should be with a Floyd and a locking nut.
MULLY

 

[Cagey]

Well, you know they'll work. Lot to be said for that.

 

[swarfrat]

particularly when experimenting entails irrevocable decisions about wood removal.

 

[Cagey]

Very right.

 

[mullyman]

particularly when experimenting entails irrevocable decisions about wood removal.

My thoughts exactly.
MULLY
I learned my lesson with that Wilkinson

 

[Cagey]

It would have been satisfying to know what the problem was with the guitar you had the Wilkie installed on. I've lost count of how many times I've used that bridge or ones based on that design, all without incident. Mechanically, it's just a simpler version of a Floyd. But, just as you get the rare "magical" guitar as far as tone goes, there are also those rare beasts that seem haunted and refuse to behave themselves. One of my brothers has a Les Paul Jr. that's that way. Little bastard won't stay in tune for more than a minute. We've changed the tuners, the nut and the bridge and it still says no. Gotta be the neck wood or it's attachment to the body - that's all that's left.

 

[swarfrat]

<Cough>2TEK</Cough>

 

[mullyman]

It would have been satisfying to know what the problem was with the guitar you had the Wilkie installed on. I've lost count of how many times I've used that bridge or ones based on that design, all without incident. Mechanically, it's just a simpler version of a Floyd. But, just as you get the rare "magical" guitar as far as tone goes, there are also those rare beasts that seem haunted and refuse to behave themselves. One of my brothers has a Les Paul Jr. that's that way. Little bastard won't stay in tune for more than a minute. We've changed the tuners, the nut and the bridge and it still says no. Gotta be the neck wood or it's attachment to the body - that's all that's left.

Yeah, I'd give my left one to know what it was. I pretty much gave up on it though and considered it a hard tail. hehe!! I mean, I wouldn't go around preaching against them, but if someone asked my opinion of them I'd tell them my experience and let them decide for themselves. I know I've read many a post around here and other boards giving such high praise to them.

Sucks about your brother's LPJR. Probably a stupid question, but did you guys try moving the strings up a gauge? When I had my Les Paul Custom many moons ago it would not stay in tune with .009's on it. Throw .010's on it though and it was good to go. Just a thought.
MULLY

 

[Cagey]

We did do that, and it did improve it. Same change, too - from 9's to 10's. But, it was and still is a little bitch. Not a complete waste of energy, though. He keeps it as a kick-around guitar that if gets kicked/dropped/scratched/spilled on/etc., it's no biggie. It never goes out in the world, but while you're watching "Adult Swim" on the Cartoon Channel in the middle of the night, it's useful for playing scales and so forth on. Kinda like an exercise machine.

 

[mullyman]

We did do that, and it did improve it. Same change, too - from 9's to 10's. But, it was and still is a little bitch. Not a complete waste of energy, though. He keeps it as a kick-around guitar that if gets kicked/dropped/scratched/spilled on/etc., it's no biggie. It never goes out in the world, but while you're watching "Adult Swim" on the Cartoon Channel in the middle of the night, it's useful for playing scales and so forth on. Kinda like an exercise machine.

Haha!! I don't have a beater like that, but I keep a guitar on a stand right next to the sofa so I can do exactly as you described. haha!!!
MULLY

 

[MikeW]

Here's a pic of that gorgeous beauty

Damn! Wish I knew when you were selling that. I would have given it a good home.