Warmoth Strat

[Cagey]

If there's excess relief in the neck without any strings on it, the heel adjuster is too tight. Back it off until the neck is flat, then tighten it just enough to get 5 or 6 thousandths clearance at about the 7th-8th fret. Don't worry about the side adjust just now.

Keep in mind that truss rod adjustments are very small. The most common mistake people make with truss rods is screwing them in or loosening them up too much. Don't think of it as a nut or a bolt you're turning; you're not working with fasteners here. You're using a threaded steel rod to change tension on a piece of hardwood. You shouldn't have to adjust more than 1/8 to 1/4 turn.

 

[Jair]

Cool. I think I got it now, it was pretty close to this right out if the box. Thank you for your reply.

I also used your ground tab suggestion for my ground wires, I had no idea those things existed and thought I had no choice but to ground to the back of the pots. Thanks

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Sacrifices aside, that's cool.  I like the string thru route pattern as well.  Don't care for the arch either.  I don't know why a straight, un-angled one isn't offered yet.  It seems a no-brainer most obvious route choice, IMO.

 

[jalane]

I really like the way those pickups look together.  The rails on the bridge humbucker is a nice touch.  Great work so far.  I'm excited to see it completed.

 

[Cagey]

Maybe it's the perspective of the shot, or it's just me, but that bridge looks way out of line.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

I think tune-o-matics are slighty offset to begin with.

 

[Cagey]

The ones I've seen have been pretty symmetrical, as is the one on my LP copy, and it looks like the one in that picture is, too.

 

[Jair]

Yeah the bridge is not exactly straight but tilted toward the bottom. Now that I have it strung up the bridge seems off center as the strings set more on the top edge of the pickups.
They line up with the neck perfectly though. Everything els seems correct, weird.
It plays good and the neck feels great. I still have to do more set up, intonation and stuff, but I really like how it turned out so far for sure. I have roller strings trees, but I want to see if I can get away without using them. The wiring setup I have may have to be looked into though as my tone control came out backward and the bridge still comes through with the switch in the neck position. I will go back through my wiring later after I play it fer a bit.

 

[Jair]

I was wondering if the bridge being angled was creating the illusion of it being off center.

Here is a picture that best shows the string alignment over the pickups.

 

[Jair]

Now this is really bugging me though. I think the pickup routing is off. Even if I would have waited and tried to slide the pick guard up some to compensate it would not work either as then the edges on either side of the neck would need top be ground and there would be a hell of a gap and the lower horn would not be at all centered.

 

[Cagey]

The strings show that the neck is aligned properly with the bridge and through-holes, but the pickups are off-center. That's what was making the bridge look off in the previous picture without the strings. If your low E doesn't sound weak, I wouldn't worry about it unless the appearance bothers you. Chances are, people who don't build or work on guitars won't ever notice.

 

[Cagey]

Now this is really bugging me though. I think the pickup routing is off. Even if I would have waited and tried to slide the pick guard up some to compensate it would not work either as then the edges on either side of the neck would need top be ground and there would be a hell of a gap and the lower horn would not be at all centered.

Tough to say from here with the pickguard on. You'd have to pull it and put the high/low E strings back on to see where the pickup cavities sit.

 

[Jair]

Yeah its bothering me. I just expect it to be as close to perfect as possible, you know what I mean?  I think I will take some better pics with the wifes Sony with and without the pick guard on to show that the pickup routing is off and give Warmoth a call. I really didn't notice it until last night and this afternoon when I strung it up it really showed. I plan on keeping this guitar and leaving like that will just bug the shit out of me. The low E isn't even over the magnet at all on the bridge pickup.

 

[AutoBat]

does it even matter with blade pups?

 

[exaN]

That's a killer axe dude, congrats ccasion14:

 

[lafromla1]

does it even matter with blade pups?

Thats what I was thinking.

 

[jalane]

does it even matter with blade pups?

Probably not for the middle and neck pickups, but the low E string looks like it might be off the rails on the bridge pickup (could just be camera angle though). 

 

[Jair]

does it even matter with blade pups?

Probably not for the middle and neck pickups, but the low E string looks like it might be off the rails on the bridge pickup (could just be camera angle though). 

This is correct. The neck and middle are ok because the rails on them are much wider, but the bridge pickup is different and the low E is barely on the leading edge of the rail.

Besides if I wanted to ever change pickups in the future for whatever reason I wouldn't be able to. Its just a bummer as when I buy something I expect it to be what I wanted, all the money and time spent waiting, well it just kinda sucks yto have to settle. If I wanted to settle for Its not right but it might work ok I guess. I would have bought another production model. I don't want to seem like a ungrateful person or I'm just badmouthing Warmoth, as I love the neck, wood and feel of the guitar and I would buy another one from Warmoth, I just think someone made a mistake or this body like it moved on the jig when they were routing out the cavities or whatever.

 

[pabloman]

It looks to me like the pickup cavities are straight and inline with the bridge. The pickguard seems to be the culprit. Look at through the hole for the bridge pickup and you can see the masalignment.

 

[Cagey]

You're right. And that's a obviously home-made pickguard...