Warmoth Vintage Explorer Copy - UPDATE 1/25/10

[rossalex]

Hey guys, my names Ross. I've been a lurker for a while and didnt want to post until i received my new guitar. I ordered it on 7/13 and received it on 8/19. INCREDIBLY fast service from these guys. i was told 8-12 weeks for this build but got it several weeks early. Unfortunately there was a problem with the bridge, as i could not for the life of me get the TOM bridge on the bridge posts. I tried everything, trust me. The posts are about 1-2 mm too far apart. I had to send the body and bridge back to Warmoth so they could take measurements to diagnose the problem. Either their CAD fricked up (unlikely) or i got a bad bridge. Regardless i still snapped a bunch of pictures to share with you guys and will share the specs as well.
Mahogany Explorer Body
Vintage Tint finish
Gold TOM bridge with stoptail.
KWS neck - maple/Indian RW
Wizard Contour
1 5/8 nut width (I have small hands, so thin neck plus thin nut = shred!)
Stainless Steel Jumbos 6115
Gold Schaller locking tuners
Gold covered Dimarzio Air Zone B
Gold covered Dimarzio Air Norton N
1 push/push volume pot (very cool, didnt realize this wasnt a push/pull)
1 3 way switch
I havent decided on a tortoise or black pickguard yet. ill show mock ups of both.

PICS!
Absolutey beautiful piece of mahogany, the grain and finish are perfect. I REALLY hope i dont have to have a new body built.

Heres a picture of the problem bridge. The little black line is the space between the edge of the bridge post and the edge of the bridge hole.

Its a little dissapointing to have my dream guitar lying in pieces unable to be worked on, but so far Rob and Warmoth have been very helpful and are doing an awesome job to make sure the problem with the body/bridge is corrected quckly.

finally two mock ups of the different pickguards

Thats all for now, thank you for looking.
Ross

 

[Mor Paul]

That's a nice piece of mahogany!
Hope you get the bridge sorted out. My guess is wrong bridge.

 

[kboman]

Very tasty, that looks fantastic with the black pickguard! Hope the bridge issue works out quickly for you.

 

[Nando Vallart]

Looks cool!
I would say Tortoise for the custom look!

 

[DangerousR6]

Nice one there Ross, and welcome...I have those same pick ups headed for a tele I'm working on at the moment, but mine are uncovered...

Go for the black pick guard, I have a Gibson reissue Korina explorer that has a wht pg and I hate it, black looks much better.... :icon_thumright:

 

[Xplorervoodoo]

Sweet Explorer!

And I vote Tortoise, for the record.  Either way it'll be a beaut when it's done.  :icon_thumright:

 

[mayfly]

Welcome!  Looks fantastic!  As others have said, you likely have the wrong bridge.  Not a big deal to sort out.

Oh yea - go with the black pickguard  :icon_biggrin:

 

[dbw]

Welcome and that guitar rocks!

I hate to be the pessimist but something looks a little off about the placement of the bridge stud on the low E side.  Hope I'm imagining things. 

 

[GoDrex]

did you order everything from Warmoth?

this seems like something that would happen to me :tard:

 

[rossalex]

did you order everything from Warmoth?

this seems like something that would happen to me :tard:

everything but the pickups, yes.

 

[DangerousR6]

did you order everything from Warmoth?

this seems like something that would happen to me :tard:

That was what I was just about to ask.... :doh:

 

[Mor Paul]

Stud location seems fine to me.

 

[texicus]

this.is.awesome.  I kinda say the black pickguard, or a black pearloid...

 

[D-rock]

Welcome! and nice build  :headbang: Hope your bridge situation gets settled quickly. My Advice go with the pearloid pickguard. It draws the eye to the beautiful natural mahogany and lets it stand out more.   

 

[smavridis]

Black. and thats my next build! thanks for pushing me over the edge!

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Both PGs look nice.  The black is more traditional/conventional, so I'd go with the tortoise.  What kind of control route?  Will it have the toggle in the lower horn?  The Vintage tint on the mahogany is a great touch.  It's mahogany, but it's got the koa look going for it.

 

[mayfly]

did you order everything from Warmoth?

this seems like something that would happen to me :tard:

everything but the pickups, yes.

uh-oh...  Well - you did the right thing by sending it back.  Mistakes happen, but W will take care of you.

 

[elgravos]

my guess is you got the metric TOM bridge.  Tonepros make 2 versions of the TOM, one is ABR standard and is a straight swap onto US built gibsons (and warmoths built to that spec).  The other is a metric version used by japanese manufacturers such as ESP as well as for Epiphone's asian guitars.  My guess: you got the metric bridge - which does not fit on a US Gibson bridge spec.

Another point I'd make if you are using a TOM is that an F-Spaced pickup is probably not the greatest idea either.  Those are built to fender bidge width which is also wider than a US specced TOM...  the pole pieces won't (quite) line up with the strings.

I'm just pulling things out of thin air based on a couple of pictures here.  Don't have all the details so could well be wrong on all counts!

Good luck in any case.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

uh-oh...  Well - you did the right thing by sending it back.  Mistakes happen, but W will take care of you.

+1.  They get an A+ from me for after-the-sale service.

 

[rossalex]

my guess is you got the metric TOM bridge.  Tonepros make 2 versions of the TOM, one is ABR standard and is a straight swap onto US built gibsons (and warmoths built to that spec).  The other is a metric version used by japanese manufacturers such as ESP as well as for Epiphone's asian guitars.  My guess: you got the metric bridge - which does not fit on a US Gibson bridge spec.

Another point I'd make if you are using a TOM is that an F-Spaced pickup is probably not the greatest idea either.  Those are built to fender bidge width which is also wider than a US specced TOM...  the pole pieces won't (quite) line up with the strings.

Well i measured the pickups on my other guitar with a TOM, and the bridge pickup definatley has a wider string spacing (52?)  than the neck (50?) so i figured this would be the same, so i went with an F spaced bridge, and a regular neck. These were custom order pickups so i really hope i didnt frick up. Thank for your info about the ABR and metric bridges.