Warmoth "Custom Shop"?

[BigSteve22]

Maybe I'm just not that bright, but when I saw "For custom designed bodies and/or necks: customshop@warmoth.com", I assumed that they indeed have a "Custom Shop".

Hoping to deal with their "Custom Shop", I requested information regarding ordering a 24.75" conversion neck for a Jazzmaster. Since a JM is normally a 21 fret neck, and that option is not available in the builder, I figured I'd deal with the Custom Shop. The answer: No, we only make them in 22 fret.

Later, again hoping to deal with their Custom Shop, I contacted them regarding purchasing a pickguard. I was hoping to get a JM pickguard in something like a gold sparkle. The answer: No, we only use the materials we have in stock. Perhaps I could contact "Terrapin Guitars".

Today, once again hoping to deal with their "Custom Shop", I contacted them hoping to purchase a JM neck with #6230, EVO frets, a size not listed in the builder in EVO, but readily available from Jescar who supplies their other fret wire. The answer: No, but I could buy the neck un-fretted and have someone else install them.

I mean, WTF? What kind of "Custom Shop" can't even handle a non-standard fret size???

As I said in my reply today, "I guess you answer is your answer, but consider this: Your web site says; "For custom designed bodies and/or necks", e-mail the "Custom Shop". I do appreciate that you do have an extremely wide variety of standard options available, but a wide variety of standards does not a Custom Shop make."

Sorry guys, guess I just needed to vent.

 

[pabloman]

We tend to get spoiled. Custom shop doesn't necessarily mean whatever your heart desires. I too found that they will not install or make what they don't have. I hate when I dream stuff up and people won't make it happen for me. Damn them. The world would be such a better place if everyone just saw things my way.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

For the necks and bodies that they offer, their custom shop offerings exceed that of the manufacturers that they emulate both in quality, variety, and bang for the buck.
Ask Fender for a masked binding exotic top hollow start body with an F hole, and see how many zeros that they add to the price tag simply for having their name attached.

 

[BigSteve22]

Like I said guys, I just needed to vent. I understand, and appreciate, that Warmoth has an over abundance of options, and that they are readily available in the builder.

What bugs me is the separate e-mail address for a "Custom Shop", to contact for "custom designed bodies and/or necks", and all they tell you is that what you want is not one of their standard options. I even offered to buy the fret wire from the manufacturer they use, ship it to them at no cost, and then pay them the $30 fee they would charge if they were supplying the EVO wire. Answer: "We do not install customer supplied fret wire."

It's just frustrating. Send them any bridge, and they will hand rout a body to accommodate it, but installing 6230 EVO frets is beyond the range of their services. And, I checked the builder, ordering a neck with just the slots cut and no fret install, does not result in a reduction in cost, even though the cost of nickle/silver frets and their installation is included in the price of the neck. So you end up paying Warmoth's regular price, which includes the fretting they're not doing, and then either having to install the frets yourself (if you happen to have the tools to do so), or paying someone else to install them for you. And don't forget the nut install, which of course is not available if they don't install the frets.

Tony: I wish they would have come back with some astronomical price for what I wanted. At least then I wouldn't have the feeling of totally wasting my time.

Just needed to vent.

 

[stratamania]

Vent understood.

i suppose it comes down to definition of custom shop. A shop where many custom parts and options can be obtained from a broad range of options or where anythings possible.

But even custom builders have menus, and some things that they won't do. It sometimes can be frustrating but there usually is a reason even when not apparent.

 

[swarfrat]

Any custom shop will generally turn down something they feel will take time away from more profitable work. Even if they claim full custom send us the seed for the tree you want it built from.

 

[Pharos]

It's just frustrating. Send them any bridge, and they will hand rout a body to accommodate it,

Last I talked to them, they're not doing custom bridge routs anymore.

 

[Cagey]

Any custom shop will generally turn down something they feel will take time away from more profitable work. Even if they claim full custom send us the seed for the tree you want it built from.

There's that, and there's also such a thing as risk. I know how to do and have done a number of things that I won't sell as services simply because the possibility of failure is too high. I don't want to have to replace somebody's expensive new neck or an old neck that's somebody's baby. Cutting headstocks would be a good example of that. Too easy to screw up, and there's no recovering from it.

 

[gjacob]

It may not be your definition of a custom shop, but they do allow customization using a set of available options, giving any model thousands of combinations.  Really, it is arguing semantics.

No matter what you want, no matter how crazy or difficult, there is someone out there who will make it for you.  If you want to pay the price for that is a different question.

 

[BigSteve22]

Ok, I have officially given up on the thought of getting anything other than stock offerings from Warmoth. From now on, it's whatever the builder will allow, or happens to pop up in a showcase.
Although I fail to see how NOT installing a 22nd fret, (on a neck they make anyway), or installing 6230 EVO frets, (when they routinely install the same frets in nickle/silver or stainless, AND routinely install EVO frets in 6100 &6150 size), would adversely affect profitability or increase risk, I accept their self imposed limitations and have moved on. Thanks for the opportunity to vent.

Now, on to working on a solution: Does anyone know of a contraindication for the installation of 6230 EVO frets? That is, if I buy an un-fretted neck, is there any reason there might be a problem getting them installed?

 

[swarfrat]

I hear you on the last fret though. I wish I coulda gotten the baritone as a 23 fret flush heel. (Like a 21 fret vintage neck).

 

[Cagey]

Now, on to working on a solution: Does anyone know of a contraindication for the installation of 6230 EVO frets? That is, if I buy an un-fretted neck, is there any reason there might be a problem getting them installed?

None that I know of. I regularly buy my necks unfretted. Depending on the neck I sometimes recommend my customers do, too. Allows me to burnish the fretboard, which is impossible one the thing's fretted.

One thing that might be an issue could be availability of that wire in single-job quantities. I haven't looked it up, but it's possible you'd have to buy it in large reels that you might not ever need again.

 

[BigSteve22]

Cagey-Glad you mentioned availability. Checked on line, as I said readily available, even in single job quantities. In fact, I just placed an order. (Turns out Jescar USA is right down the road.) Its for 25pc, 2.75" long .037"x.080" with a .058" tang.

 

[Cagey]

I'm glad that worked out for you. Those pre-cut frets can be a pain in the shorts on a compound radius neck, but at least you got them so you're in good shape.

 

[BigSteve22]

Now to find someone to install, level, and re-crown. AND install a nut. Any suggestions?

 

[bagman67]

I know a guy ... *cough*CAGEY*cough*

 

[sixstringsamurai]

I know a guy ... *cough*CAGEY*cough*

Yeah...What he said...

 

[DocNrock]

For what it is worth, I had a vision for a V2 body with a Jackson-style headstock, 24 frets.  When I talked with Warmoth, they deferred me to their "Custom Shop."  Their answer, a 7/8 V@ with a 7/8 neck.  It actually turned out awesome.  No 24 fret overhang.  The frets come to the end of the board.  Yeah, it's a small guitar, but so is the regular V2.

Swamp ash body with a quilt top, bengal burst, matching headstock.  Padouk neck and canary fingerboard with black sharkfin inlays.  Single humbucker and a Floyd.  I don't really play standing up anymore, but when I do, that is that axe that I grab.  It is so light.  It has a DiMarzio Gravity Storm pickup. 

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

For what it is worth, I had a vision for a V2 body with a Jackson-style headstock, 24 frets.  When I talked with Warmoth, they deferred me to their "Custom Shop."  Their answer, a 7/8 V@ with a 7/8 neck.  It actually turned out awesome.  No 24 fret overhang.  The frets come to the end of the board.  Yeah, it's a small guitar, but so is the regular V2.

Swamp ash body with a quilt top, bengal burst, matching headstock.  Padouk neck and canary fingerboard with black sharkfin inlays.  Single humbucker and a Floyd.  I don't really play standing up anymore, but when I do, that is that axe that I grab.  It is so light.  It has a DiMarzio Gravity Storm pickup.

Pics?

 

[DangerousR6]

For what it is worth, I had a vision for a V2 body with a Jackson-style headstock, 24 frets.  When I talked with Warmoth, they deferred me to their "Custom Shop."  Their answer, a 7/8 V@ with a 7/8 neck.  It actually turned out awesome.  No 24 fret overhang.  The frets come to the end of the board.  Yeah, it's a small guitar, but so is the regular V2.

Swamp ash body with a quilt top, bengal burst, matching headstock.  Padouk neck and canary fingerboard with black sharkfin inlays.  Single humbucker and a Floyd.  I don't really play standing up anymore, but when I do, that is that axe that I grab.  It is so light.  It has a DiMarzio Gravity Storm pickup.

Yip, for even as long as I've been into Warmoth, for years i had no idea of the custom shop, until I had a custom headstock in mind and was referred to the "Custom Shop"...shhhhh