Vintage Modern vs Modern Neck Tone

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

I've seen them on Valley Arts guitars.  It's gets tricky because Warmoth used to ghost build their stuff.  However, I've seen them on Valley Arts guitars hanging in the Gibson Memphis factory showroom where they ironically don't make electric guitars.  To add confusion, Gibson owns Valley Arts now, which has guitars with the Gotoh side adjust usually only seen on Warmoth necks, and is in the middle of a body style controversy with Warmoth.

 

[-CB-]

I love Warmoth necks... the quality is top shelf all the way.

I don't love the side adjust and won't buy a neck with one.

I do like the traditional truss rods.  I've got a neck with a pre-side adjust modern truss rod, and its just fine.

I like 21 fret necks.  I can get the VM in 21 frets, and my radius.  I'm happy.

I almost shocked that Warmoth hasn't offered the modern truss rod with out side adjust for an upcharge!

 

[Cagey]

I like the Warmoth Pro necks enough that I always pick/order them when I can. The dual-action truss rod adds a bit of weight but you lose the ugly head end adjuster or the pain-in-the-ass heel adjuster, which is a Good Thing. But, much more importantly, the neck is stable as a rock. Set it and forget it. Gotta love that.

As much as I dislike heel adjusters, I'd like to see a dual-action truss rod with that and no side adjust. Since the duals rarely need adjustment, it wouldn't be as much of a hardship for it to be at the heel, and it would leave the headstock clean. I mean, the side adjuster sounds like a good idea, but only because historically nobody wants to fight with heel adjusters. But, if you only very rarely have to make an adjustment, who cares? Suffer for a minute.

All that said, the side adjust is not like some festering tumor or gaping hole. I don't see it as any kind of detriment. If that's the price I have to pay for a stable neck, I'm in.

 

[Strat Avenger]

Warmoth should do away with the side-adjust. It's totally unnecessary.
A top (headstock)-adjust works just fine (and looks just fine).

The side-adjust is of no use to Leftys, and of no use to those who prefer a Fender contoured heel screw pattern.

As far as the stability issue of the "Pro" construction; I can say that my 1990 Fender Strat with Bi-FLex truss rod goes for years without adjustments, while my ESP with quarter-sawn neck and standard-type truss rod is in constant need of seasonal adjustments.

 

[mayfly]

my $0.02

I really like the side adjust.  I really like the pro neck.

I have examples of all three types (vintage, vintage modern, and Pro).  The Pro neck is easily the best neck I've ever owned or played.  I personally don't understand the dislike of the side adjust.  I think it's genius and it works well.  How I do it is I use the heel to get close, then I string it up and tweak the side adjust until I get the relief I like.  Then it's done.  No taking the neck on and off, or no ugly hole at the top.  And then the neck is very stable and sounds great with no dead spots anywhere. 

Just a really spectacular product.

Trevor

 

[Jumble Jumble]

A friend has a Strat with a heel adjust. He brought it to me the other day and it needed a bit of relief adding. We just slackened the strings a little, put a cap on at 1, took the neck off, adjusted it, and put it back on. 5 minutes, all done.

To be fair though, it was just a case of it obviously needing a quarter turn. I guess if you had a challenging relief problem it would be a pain doing that over and over again.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

This may be off topic, but the Warmoth Pro comes with the Allen wrench for the side adjust.  None of my bass necks came with an Allen wrench.

 

[stubhead]

There's probably a reason or two you don't see side adjusters on 7-string, baritone, or bass necks.

 

[Strat Avenger]

I don't know how anyone figures that a top-adjust hole is "ugly".  It can barely even be seen. The side-adjust is clearly more visible.

People say the darndest things on this forum.

 

[Cagey]

"Ugly" is probably too strong a word. "Unsightly" would fit better, although even that's pushing it. The top adjust just appears to be a blemish due to a compromise, and that only on Fender-style necks where you don't get a cover plate.

 

[lkja8uatt33]

I haven't actually seen one of the side-adjust holes other than in the pictures on-line. I could probably live with that although I'd actually prefer the heel adjustment despite the fact that I'd have to always loosen the strings to make the change.

That aside, my current pro nect (about 12 years old - maple with ebony fretboard with the big 'ol 6100 frets (love 'em!)) is now having an issue where the truss rod is completely loosened, but the neck is pulling back a little too much on it's own using 009 strings. Can't really go to 010s. 
I've had only two very minor neck adjustments over the entire life of the guitar and the tone is great. I'm actually thinking that a change in the neck pickup is what I really need to go for that vintage Strat sound.

 

[mayfly]

I don't know how anyone figures that a top-adjust hole is "ugly".  It can barely even be seen. The side-adjust is clearly more visible.

People say the darndest things on this forum.

Yep they sure do

 

[AutoBat]

That aside, my current pro nect (about 12 years old - maple with ebony fretboard with the big 'ol 6100 frets (love 'em!)) is now having an issue where the truss rod is completely loosened, but the neck is pulling back a little too much on it's own using 009 strings. Can't really go to 010s. 

Why can't you go to 0.010s?  From your description it sounds like that would help your neck straighten out.

 

[lkja8uatt33]

Why can't you go to 0.010s?  From your description it sounds like that would help your neck straighten out.

You're right, but unfortunately my fingers just couldn't take it.

 

[-CB-]

Im on heavy 10's or unwound 11's

Sometimes a neck needs some tension for a while to "Take a set"

One, only one, of my necks did that.  The rest are fine.... but I'm using heavier strings than you.

I don't see the "hardly ever needs adjustment" in the dual action.  Reason being, although the bar is bending in s straight channel, as opposed to a bar being pulled in a curved channel... the net result is counter tension against wood that is being flexed by string tension.  The natural springiness of the wood is a huge part of that.  That springiness changes with humidity.....  Either of my bar types (only got one pro) need adjustment in my seasonal AC summer, open window winters here.  I make 'em so they do ok winter (barely) and they play well during all AC months, so I just don't have to mess with 'em at all.

 

[tfarny]

Why can't you go to 0.010s?  From your description it sounds like that would help your neck straighten out.

You're right, but unfortunately my fingers just couldn't take it.

Son, whether you end up with 10s or not, you need some finger strength.

 

[AprioriMark]

The side adjust is half the reason I like the Pro necks.  I also don't see either that nor the headstock adjust as ugly or unsightly.  Also, no gauge of string should be "hard on your fingers" if your guitar is set up properly.  More difficult for bends, yes.

-Mark

 

[DLD]

I haven't put mine together yet, but tapping on it it seems brighter (The Modern)... However the side adjust I did not want at all. So I ended up getting the angled strat headstock... Plus I get rid of string trees in the process...

I need my neck stable as I tour and I'd rather have a slightly brighter tone than having to adjust my neck constantly, I can put some pots in there that measure 400 instead of 500 to cut the highs a bit IF it's an issue... but I don't expect it to be...