Warmoth Neck Year, Boogie Bodie, NFT Floyd Rose?

[mkorade]

Hey Guys. So I just picked up this guitar from a nice old guy. Its been sitting in his downstairs since the 80's/early 90's and he had no idea where it came from. Wondering what you can help me identify.

Here's what I've been able to figure out so far.
1) Warmoth Total Vintage Neck: Birdseye maple, Rosewood Fretboard, Flat Radius, Wizard Cut, 1 5/8" Nut Width
a) I have not taken off the neck yet to look for markings.
b) Turtle Stamp on the headstock instead of the heal? Is that usual?

2) The body has "BOOGIE" stamped below the springs. I know Warmoth branched off of Boogie Bodies. Its almost Satriani in shape instead of strat like. Same with the pickup configuration. Humbucker & Single Coil, 3 way mini toggle
a) I have not removed the pickups yet to look for brand markings. Gives amazing "Brown Sound"
b) I opened up the back panel to look inside and the whole body is chambered and hollow?
Anyone seen this body before? 

3) The Tremolo is Non-Fine Tuner Floyd Rose

4) The Tuners are Schaller Stamped "Made in W. Germany"

Any other info one of you guys might have would be great.

 

[line6man]

I don't know anything about that guitar, but the body is awesome. Bonus points for the SxH pickup scheme.  :icon_thumright:
Very cool find, even if it is obscure.

 

[Day-mun]

Yeah, I was basically gonna say: "It rocks, what else do you need to know?"  :headbang1:

congrats on pickin' up a little piece of W's history!  ccasion14:

 

[rgand]

What a cool find. It looks good. You scored, there.

 

[Unwound G]

What you have there is a vintage Boogie Body/Warmoth guitar made by Lynn elsworth and Jim Warmoth (Ken's dad).  It was during the period where one cannot just go and buy a an axe with the configuration they wanted like Single/Humbucker/Single with tune-o-matic bridge on a Strat body.  Eddie Van Halen was one of the proponents of this customization.

If you notice the headstock, it is unique with a Jazzmaster outline but reduced to a small Strat sized peg.  The turtle logo was then used on Boogie body products before Warmoth took possession.  The "Strat" body also had a thinner waist.

It's a keeper just for the historical value.  I kept mine.

 

[mkorade]

Wow! Thanks for the great responses guys. Its cool when an unusual guitar/piece of history like this pops up. Last year I found a Matao CBS Strat with one of Floyd Rose's first hand made tremolos on it. That's a pretty sweet guitar too.

I am going to take the strings off soon and give in a gentle cleaning. Once I do, I'll take the neck off & pickups to look for any kind of markings. I'll keep you guys posted on what I find. Thanks again!

 

[aarontunes]

Wow...that is a cool little piece of Warmoth history! I have a little more info on it, for those who are interested:

It is a 23 fret neck and the scale length is 24 ¾”. It is the predecessor to Warmoth's 7/8 necks and bodies. These went into production shortly before the split of Warmoth and Ellesworth in the Boogie Bodies era so the date is late 1979 – very early 1980. Warmoth branded the headstocks of a batch of these necks – wasn’t received well by the public and was not repeated. It would be a few more years before Tom Anderson and Warmoth came out with the overhung 22nd fret – a case of parallel development – and these necks then became 24 fretters.

The body looks to be the early 7/8 size Strat though if it’s hollow then it was made after the split – the control cover also indicates such. The neck may or may not have been made prior to the split but likely predates the split as Warmoth took all the specialized neck making machinery with them and it took a couple years before Ellesworth began to regain any neck making ability. Noteworthy that the Strat headstock on these necks would now be a trademark infringement as this neck isn’t a “replacement for…..” but rather a specialty piece – a moot point since the neck was made prior to licensing agreements with Fender – but at the same time this is the reason Warmoth doesn't offer such a neck today unless it has a Warhead peghead shape.

 

[Unwound G]

double A, thanks for the insight.  I'm probably the oldest guy here (still active in this forum) and Warmoth's history really interests me having been making guitars since Boogie Body days.  Complements to all for keeping Warmoth still at the top of the heap and ensuring quality products every time your packages arrive.

 

[DangerousR6]

Wow, this is very intriguing, a super rare piece of Warmoth history...

Excellent find... :headbang1:

 

[fdesalvo]

I love the JS body. 

 

[mkorade]

Yeah double A, thanks for all of that info! It didn't even occur to me to look at the # of frets.
Also, I am glad to get some insight on the history of the neck and body. The neck is still straight as an arrow and smooth gloss back. The frets are a little dirty, but still have very little wear. The finish is great because it has naturally checked over time. I am going to give it a little tlc this weekend and try and take some better pics. Keep you guys posted!

 

[rgand]

Thanks for the information, AA. It is nice to know some Warmoth history.