Warmoth neck on Fender Body

[back2thefutre]

I hope it's okay to do a half warmoth/fender in this section. Basically, with this project I wanted to do a 90's Strat Plus Deluxe RETRO-Replica. Retro because it is a copy of the classic, but modernized. So, here she is...

Neck: Warmoth Birdseye
Body: 2008 American Deluxe Stratocaster
Pickups: Power Lace Sensors

:guitaristgif:

 

[mullyman]

Ooooooo, I'm really liking this one.
MULLY

 

[blue313]

Nice upgrade!  I like those tuners as well.

We'll forgive you if you give her a haircut.  :laughing11:

 

[Superbeast520]

Nice, I really dig them tuners as well.....just curious but whats your take on the roller ball nut...do you find it to be a plus in any way? ...like does it really help it stay in tune during bending better than a traditional nut?  and does it change the tone in any way thats really noticable, and if so do you think its favorable???  I get kinda stuck on traditional stuff so I don't always dig those type of upgrades ....opinions????

 

[rockskate4x]

nice. I really dig that style of contoured heel. I would love it if warmoth had that option. Awesome build.  :icon_thumright:

 

[back2thefutre]

Nice, I really dig them tuners as well.....just curious but whats your take on the roller ball nut...do you find it to be a plus in any way? ...like does it really help it stay in tune during bending better than a traditional nut?  and does it change the tone in any way thats really noticable, and if so do you think its favorable???  I get kinda stuck on traditional stuff so I don't always dig those type of upgrades ....opinions????

The LSR works very well. I was really suprised! It stays in tune and I don't have to keep retuning all the time. It's a dream to play!!! Soundwise, well my guitar sounds suprisingly punchy and crisp. The sustain is amazing too, it seems better than my hardtail! I think it might have to do with the LSR being made of metal(Steel, I think. )Well, it's not too traditional but it's much more so than a floyd rose system. The LSR nut might be a welcome gadget for a traditional fellow. Hope that helps

 

[back2thefutre]

nice. I really dig that style of contoured heel. I would love it if warmoth had that option. Awesome build.  :icon_thumright:

Me too!! No, I mean I really love it! I just hate playing up the neck and then the corner of the heel stabs you in the palm. It gets annoying sometimes. But on the otherhand, I have a set neck guitar and when I play up the neck I get lost because there is no heel there. I don't like that either, it just doesn't feel right. So the countoured heel is the best of both worlds for me, the heel is there but is fits comfortably right into your hand. Seriously I can't put this thing down.
I just got a new Warmoth body with a contoured heel. I haven't built it yet so I don't know if there style of contour is any good. I wish warmoth would do the style I have on this silver guitar. The thing is that the PRO necks won't work in these bodies because of the side adjuster. That's probably why they don't have them.

 

[mullyman]

Nice, I really dig them tuners as well.....just curious but whats your take on the roller ball nut...do you find it to be a plus in any way? ...like does it really help it stay in tune during bending better than a traditional nut?  and does it change the tone in any way thats really noticable, and if so do you think its favorable???  I get kinda stuck on traditional stuff so I don't always dig those type of upgrades ....opinions????

If I can say something here, the LSR roller nut has been around for a long time so in a sense it is kind of traditional. I'm pretty sure Fender introduced them on the Strat plus series of guitars in the 80's. I used to have a Strat Plus from 1989 and I fell in love with that roller nut. As for it changing the sound, well, if you think about it it wouldn't make it any worse than a guitar that has a Floyd Rose locking unit on it and we all know that's really a non-issue. I've wanted to get the LSR on my builds but Warmoth only preps the neck for it, they won't install it. I haven't the slightest idea how to work on any kind of nut, and I don't want a guitar shop working on my builds, so I've passed on it. I'd sure like to have one again though.
MULLY

 

[back2thefutre]

Nice, I really dig them tuners as well.....just curious but whats your take on the roller ball nut...do you find it to be a plus in any way? ...like does it really help it stay in tune during bending better than a traditional nut?  and does it change the tone in any way thats really noticable, and if so do you think its favorable???  I get kinda stuck on traditional stuff so I don't always dig those type of upgrades ....opinions????

If I can say something here, the LSR roller nut has been around for a long time so in a sense it is kind of traditional. I'm pretty sure Fender introduced them on the Strat plus series of guitars in the 80's. I used to have a Strat Plus from 1989 and I fell in love with that roller nut. As for it changing the sound, well, if you think about it it wouldn't make it any worse than a guitar that has a Floyd Rose locking unit on it and we all know that's really a non-issue. I've wanted to get the LSR on my builds but Warmoth only preps the neck for it, they won't install it. I haven't the slightest idea how to work on any kind of nut, and I don't want a guitar shop working on my builds, so I've passed on it. I'd sure like to have one again though.
MULLY

Don't worry about installing the LSR nut. It was a sinch. I ordered the LSR prep and it came routed and drilled for the holes. all I did was screw in the screws and it was in perfect, no problem.

 

[mullyman]

Thanks for that info. The Warmoth page that explains the nut prep makes it sound like they cut the slot for it and then you're on your own. I thought drilling was going to be needed. Dammit, now I really wish I had ordered the LSR.
MULLY

 

[Nando Vallart]

Looks really cool!

 

[OzziePete]

Love the look of that neck on the Strat.... Good combination. :icon_thumright:

 

[Cagey]

If I can say something here, the LSR roller nut has been around for a long time so in a sense it is kind of traditional. I'm pretty sure Fender introduced them on the Strat plus series of guitars in the 80's. I used to have a Strat Plus from 1989 and I fell in love with that roller nut. As for it changing the sound, well, if you think about it it wouldn't make it any worse than a guitar that has a Floyd Rose locking unit on it and we all know that's really a non-issue. I've wanted to get the LSR on my builds but Warmoth only preps the neck for it, they won't install it. I haven't the slightest idea how to work on any kind of nut, and I don't want a guitar shop working on my builds, so I've passed on it. I'd sure like to have one again though.
MULLY

I had the neck prepped for an LSR nut on my last build, and that really takes all the work out of it. The only reason they don't install it for you is they don't know what height you're going to want.

But, installation is really easy; there's no reason to shy away from it unless you've never drilled a hole 1/2" deep. All you need is a #0 phillips screwdriver and a #51 (.067") drill bit. When you buy the LSR nut, it comes with a set of shims. Installing the nut on a prepped neck is simply a matter of marking where the two screw holes should be and drilling those. Mark the bit with a piece of tape or something so you don't drill too deep and come out the other side of your neck. Run the mounting screws in most of the way to hold the nut in place, but leave them slightly loose in case you want to install some shims to raise it. Put the two E strings on and tension them, check the 1st fret clearance, shim if you want, then tighten down the screws. You're all done.

Trying to retrofit an LSR on an existing neck is not as easy, or for the faint of heart. You have to do some routing, and you cannot make a mistake. I did it on a Levinson Blade some years back, and ended up having to build a jig to hold the neck and provide a guide fence for the router. It all worked out well, but I was more than a little apprehensive about the whole thing. You don't have a piece to make a "test cut" on, so all you can do is check your adjustments 42 times to make sure you know what's going to happen before you do it, then say a little prayer. Of course, once you've got a jig it's a piece of cake. But, even though I've done it successfully, I'd rather pay Warmoth the $40 bump to do it. That way if something goes wrong, it's on them.

 

[AprioriMark]

Man, that's nice.  I've always been a fan of those guitars, shhh don't tell anyone.

-Mark

 

[rockskate4x]

I've already told you on this thread that I really like that style of heel, but I'd like to thank you again because your build inspired me to do that contour on a Warmoth body and mate it with a vintage modern neck. Expect pictures soon...

 

[Strat Avenger]

That heel is the bomb-shizzle.  Warmoth should start doing that on all their Strat and Tele bodies.

 

[Superlizard]

As for it changing the sound, well, if you think about it it wouldn't make it any worse than a guitar that has a Floyd Rose locking unit on it and we all know that's really a non-issue.

Surely you jest... Floyds are infamous for being thin-toned and tinny... they have a huge impact on the sound (tone).

 

[Patrick from Davis]

The early models of the Fender American Plus had the Wilkinson roller nut.  It was a large (about 1 cm wide) nut and the LSR was Fenders replacement about 5 years later.
Patrick

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

As for it changing the sound, well, if you think about it it wouldn't make it any worse than a guitar that has a Floyd Rose locking unit on it and we all know that's really a non-issue.

Surely you jest... Floyds are infamous for being thin-toned and tinny... they have a huge impact on the sound (tone).

Plus the nut only makes a tonal difference on an open string.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

That heel is the bomb-shizzle.  Warmoth should start doing that on all their Strat and Tele bodies.

They already do the (optional) contoured heel with rave reviews.  This Fender heel would not accomodate the Warmoth Pro necks with straight peghead.  Notice how the OP's neck is a Vintage Modern neck?  Per your suggestion of doing this an all bodies would mean selling a neck that wouldn't fit their bodies.
http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Necks/faq2.aspx