Warmoth Pros: First build! Does this build look "right"?

[Ryan]

This is my first build and I was wondering if everything with this build "jives".  I just want to make sure that I haven't made any "no nos" or if anything is missing.  This guitar is suited to be a hard rock/metal guitar.  Thanks!  ccasion14:

NECK

Style: LP
Construction: Warmoth Pro Angled
Scale: 25-1/2 in.
Neck Wood:
•Shaft Wood: Wenge
•Fingerboard Wood: Ebony
Orientation: Right Handed
Nut Width: 1 11/16"
Back Shape: 59 roundback
Radius: 10-16" compound
# of Frets: 22
Fret Size: SS6115 (Stainless)
Tuner Ream: Sperzel (25/64")
Inlays: Pearloid Trapezoid
Pre-Cut Installed String Nut: GraphTech TUSQ
Mounting Holes: Standard 4 Bolt

BODY

Model: Standard LP
Scale: 25-1/2 in.
Carved Top: Yes
Orientation: Right handed
Wood:
•Core: Mahogany
•Front Laminate: Black Korina
Control Cavity: Rear Routed
Pickup Rout: Humbucker (Neck) - Humbucker(Middle) - Humbucker (Brdg)
Control Rout:
•Volume 1 (LP)
•Volume 2 (LP)
•Tone 1 (LP)
•Upper Toggle Hole (LP)
Bridge Type: Hardtail
Bridge Rout: TOM/STP, Ang Pock
Jack Rout: 7/8" Side
Neck Pocket: Strat® Shape
Mounting Holes: Standard 4 Bolt
Contours:
•Contoured Heel
Binding Top: Clear Masked Binding

 

[rockskate4x]

looks right to me. Wenge and Ebony is killer for necks, and triple humbucker LP's are very cool. Any chance that you're related to Orpheo?

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

What color is the top?  I see you have natural masked binding.

 

[mullyman]

2 things stick out to me here. Not saying they're wrong, just that I noticed them.

1) LP's are usually 24 3/4 scale. This one is 25.5 like a strat. I know nothing about Warmoth LP's so this could be standard. I see the Strat neck pocket too.

2) You have 2 volume and 1 tone. Was that your choice to go with only one tone?

MULLY

 

[OzziePete]

Besides what others have noticed and commented on, I'd like to ask about your choice of top laminate wood for the body?

Black Korina has more of what I'd call a grainy effect than a figured effect. Like Swamp Ash, Walnut and Mahogany, it can have fantastic grain patterns on the wood. But as a featured piece as a top laminate it doesn't look as spectacular as DL Quilt Maple or Flame Maple.

Now I know there's plenty of arguments about the sonic effect that the top laminate has or has not on the overall tone of the instrument, but this carved top laminate will probably have enough wood to offer some change to the core wood underneath's properties. But Korina is only a slight shift away from mahogany sonically, maple has a more pronounced affect.

With the top laminate being probably the first thing people will notice about the looks of the guitar, a lot of folks will go for the flamed or quilted maple to visually knock people over.

Korina is favoured by many here for it's looks and it's sonic properties. But that is usually when the wood is used as a core wood.

Just my 2c worth and after all, it is your guitar not mine, so your opinion is really what counts.

 

[Orpheo]

If the topicstarter wants to have a 24.75'' scale, he should use a conversion neck

I see only one thing I wouldn't do. korina top on mahogany. that will sound too warm. Imho, not the tones you want for metal. I'd go with a maple top, OR a walnut back and a korina top. that will give you the tightness and upper midrange bite you need and want for metal and classic rock.

Don't forget that stainless steel will most likely need some working on, to get the guitar playable. I've had 9 necks from warmoth, of which none needed any leveling. With stainless steel its more likely to need some working on.

the clearcoat binding is just usefull when you get something of a darker finish, not a light (clearcoat) finish. if you're going to have a clearcoat, use a regular binding, or a maple spacer between top and back. looks really nice

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

2 things stick out to me here. Not saying they're wrong, just that I noticed them.

1) LP's are usually 24 3/4 scale. This one is 25.5 like a strat. I know nothing about Warmoth LP's so this could be standard. I see the Strat neck pocket too.

2) You have 2 volume and 1 tone. Was that your choice to go with only one tone?

MULLY

The Warmoth LPs have Strat neck pockets.  A Warmoth conversion neck is necessary for the 24 3/4 scale.

 

[mullyman]

If the topicstarter wants to have a 24.75'' scale, he should use a conversion neck

I see only one thing I wouldn't do. korina top on mahogany. that will sound too warm. Imho, not the tones you want for metal. I'd go with a maple top, OR a walnut back and a korina top. that will give you the tightness and upper midrange bite you need and want for metal and classic rock.

Don't forget that stainless steel will most likely need some working on, to get the guitar playable. I've had 9 necks from warmoth, of which none needed any leveling. With stainless steel its more likely to need some working on.

the clearcoat binding is just usefull when you get something of a darker finish, not a light (clearcoat) finish. if you're going to have a clearcoat, use a regular binding, or a maple spacer between top and back. looks really nice

For what it's worth I have 2 necks with SS frets and didn't have to do anything to them except scrape the satin finish off of them. My third neck should be here soon, I hope. It too will have SS frets.
MULLY

 

[Nando Vallart]

Are you going to have only 2 volume and ONE tone pot??

+1 on conversion neck!

 

[tfarny]

I don't see any mistakes or anything missing in your order, if that's what you want then go for it. I don't think you need to worry about the tone of the korina on the top, though - since we don't know 1) what pickups 2) what rig 3) what sound you want specifically and 4) what that particular body is going to sound like compared to your 'typical' Les Paul, I don't think anyone can really say what top wood you should get, tonally. Maybe the sound that Orpheo thinks is 'too muddy', the OP thinks is perfect. Maybe Orpheo is imagining this going into a marshall but the OP has got a Fender Deville he likes to crank up. How can we know, and how can we give 'tone advice' over the internet about a guitar that currently doesn't exist and we'll never hear? My guitarist and I don't even agree on the definition of 'clean' and we just spent 7 hrs playing music together.

Here are some things you might consider: 1) it's likely to be quite heavy unless you get it chambered or request extra-light mahogany. An LP body can weigh 6 lbs easily, mine does. 2) why not get all-korina? I don't know what finish you are using but if you like the look of Korina, just get all korina. 3) I think sperzels would look weird on a Les Paul type, just my opinion. You should go to Stewart Macdonald and check out all the different kinds of high quality locking tuners from Gotoh and maybe Grover. Sperzels are good, I have a set, but they're not better than Gotoh in my experience. 4) If you only want one tone pot, that's fine. Why not get all four control holes drilled then, and have the extra pot for a blend-in volume for the third pickup?

 

[rockskate4x]

i'd stick with the 25 1/2 inch neck since you do metal. If you do any drop tuned stuff it's just better that way. I prefer the fender scale for anything Drop D or lower because of the extra tightness and then you don't always have to scramble for heavier strings. This will sound less like a traditional Les Paul but it doesn't sound like you're going for that anyway.

As far as tops are concerned, the vast majority of your tone is gonna come from your pickups and amp, so if korina looks great to you, than get it!

+1 to stainless steel. Warmoth doesn't do a full fret job to any of their frets so the nickel silver frets are just as likely to initially need work as the SS. I don't have personal experience with the 6115 size but I hear that it's a very good choice. It's what I'm gonna try when I get a neck.

 

[Ryan]

Wow what a response!  Thanks everyone!  :headbang:  Here are some more answers to some of the questions that I have seen asked:

1.  There would be 2 tone pots.  I must have accidently only selected one. 

2.  I plan on going with Bareknuckle pickups; a calibrated Nailbomb set.  Also, I plan on going with a neck and bridge humbucker, not a middle pickup - another selection accident!

3.  I would prefer the 24.75 neck to the 25.5 scale.  But the Warmoth Pro sounds like a great neck.

4.  I plan on running this into an Engl Powerball 100w with a Rivera Cab loaded with Celestion V30s.

5.  I am going to go with the Dark Fireburst finish.  There was a LP that had this finish in the "showcase" and I loved everything about that guitar, except for the fact that it was chambered.

6.  I am looking to get these metal tones:  Slayer, Megadeth, early Metallica  -  think thrash

7.  I am looking to get these classic rock/rock tones:  Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult, Clutch - think heavy

8.  I plan on having a professional put this guitar together.

9.  I am not trying to build a typical Les Paul

10.  I like the Black Korina for the looks.  I like the simple grain. Flame and quilted maple are a little to much in my opinion.

11.  Walnut sounds interesting.  I will look into that wood.

12.  I have a Gibson SG and it is too warm.  I would definitly want a bigger bite with my new guitar.



A question:
1.  After reading several posts on here it seems to me that the neck and fingerboard have more to do with the tone of the guitar than that of the body wood.  True?

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

A question:
1.  After reading several posts on here it seems to me that the neck and fingerboard have more to do with the tone of the guitar than that of the body wood.  True?

Neck, and thickness, most definitely.

IMO, Black Korina with Fireburst on a Mahogany core will look great. 

 

[Orpheo]

Wow what a response!  Thanks everyone!   :headbang:  Here are some more answers to some of the questions that I have seen asked:

1.  There would be 2 tone pots.  I must have accidently only selected one. 

Good idea I almost wanted to suggest concentric knobs if you wanted to go the 3 humbucker route. works like a charm, by the way.

2.  I plan on going with Bareknuckle pickups; a calibrated Nailbomb set.  Also, I plan on going with a neck and bridge humbucker, not a middle pickup - another selection accident!

Those pickups sound very 'organic'. I had them, didn't like them. I'd suggest for the styles you play (see #7) the painkiller, especially if you are adamant about a mahogany back+korina top. the painkiller will give you just enough edge to punch through the mix, where the nailbomb will give you a very woody tone, and with these woods, it might be too warm. In my opinion.


3.  I would prefer the 24.75 neck to the 25.5 scale.  But the Warmoth Pro sounds like a great neck.

Both are made with the Pro construction, but I want to warn you: if you take the 24.75'' neck, the bridge pickup will be more towards the neck than on a regular 24.75'' guitar, meaning, it wont sound as your regular bridge pickup, but a bit more like a 'between middle and bridge' pickup. If you choose the 25.5'' neck, it will be at the exact right location, so no biggy there. Just a point of thought.

4.  I plan on running this into an Engl Powerball 100w with a Rivera Cab loaded with Celestion V30s.

Oh, niceeee!! I've got an Engl SE with an XXL cab (custom build) with 4xv30's, and with the powerball too, that SMOKES!

5.  I am going to go with the Dark Fireburst finish.  There was a LP that had this finish in the "showcase" and I loved everything about that guitar, except for the fact that it was chambered.

Chambered will give you more mids and less weight, its not like its almost hollow, as its with Gibson. But I absolutely understand the sentiment! I only have 2, and only because I specificaly choose them to be chambered, but the other 8 are solid (even if its purpleheart top on rosewood back, meaning its over 6 kilo's in total! )

6.  I am looking to get these metal tones:  Slayer, Megadeth, early Metallica  -  think thrash

7.  I am looking to get these classic rock/rock tones:  Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult, Clutch - think heavy

Again, the painkiller set, or the cold sweat, but not the nailbomb. too warm in this guitar, I'd say

8.  I plan on having a professional put this guitar together.

What a shame; to assemble your own guitar is really a lot of fun to do, and its very cool to play a guitar YOU assembled. Though, again, I understand the sentiment.

9.  I am not trying to build a typical Les Paul

Thats obvious  :laughing7:

10.  I like the Black Korina for the looks.  I like the simple grain. Flame and quilted maple are a little to much in my opinion.

it looks cool, indeed, but it sounds like mahogany with a bit more mids, as they say. I have a les paul with a korina back and maple top. it should've sounded 'lighter' than a regular les paul, but it didn't. It sounds great, though, but fat and punchy as hell. and its not because of the wrong pickups: I have a duncan distortion in it, which screams like a pig!

11.  Walnut sounds interesting.  I will look into that wood.

Combined with #12, I'd go with walnut. At least for the back. If you want to have a wenge/ebony neck, you need more highs and less lows in the bodywoods (to explain it stupidly). If an SG is already too warm, you'll find a mahogany/korina les paul way too warm and fatty.

12.  I have a Gibson SG and it is too warm.  I would definitly want a bigger bite with my new guitar.



A question:
1.  After reading several posts on here it seems to me that the neck and fingerboard have more to do with the tone of the guitar than that of the body wood.  True?

I do think so. The thickness also makes a lot of the tone, btw...the thicker, the fatter, imho.

I was thinking...if you like black korina so much, and walnut is 'just' a second choice, why not ask for a maple back, black korina top and a black korina backlam (1/8''). that will look sure as hell supercool, and that will sound more the way you want it.

 

[MUYFUE]

It's great to find another fan of Clutch! a GREAT live band.
It sounds like you have a really great build planned.  :headbang1:

I'd chime in, but I don't have much to say on LPs that Orpeho hasn't already said.

Whatever your choice, keep us posted.  :icon_thumright: