Warmoth vs Fender Replacement necks....

[aarontunes]

mono a mono

 

[ghostrider]

I recently built a guitar that I planned to donate from parts I had lying around. The only part I didn't have was a neck so I decided to buy a Fender (made in MX) neck from Ebay. I hadn't actually played a genuine Fender neck in about 12 years and I noticed a huge difference. Granted it was a made in MX neck and not an American one, but I doubt that made all that much difference, but I leave room to be wrong about that.

The first thing that jumped out to me was how pathetically thin the fretboard was. The Warmoth fretboards are probably close to twice as thick! I'm not sure how much of a sound difference there is from that BUT I can tell you that the side dots were so hard to see on the Fender because they were white dots half on a light maple neck and half on a dark pau ferro fretboard. So basically, I could see only half a dot!

I also noticed the headstock being thinner. Warmoth necks just feel more solid all around.

The only reasons I could see buying a Fender are:

• You absolutely gotta have that Fender logo.
• You don't want/need to customize anything. You like it exactly how it comes.
• You're too timid to roll your own fretboard edges or learn to dress the fret ends.
• You're too timid to drill holes for the tuners.

I believe it was Patrick Henry who said [paraphrased], "Give me a raw Warmoth neck with stainless steel frets or give me death!"

 

[Strat Avenger]

I'll choose the Warmoth all day long.

 

[JohnnyHardtail]

I’d be interested to know whether Fender polish and crown frets, check the level of playing surface at QC in their factory. For $800, it better have great fret work done IMO.

 

[Strat Avenger]

I'd also like to add that the comparison may not have been "apples-to-apples".
The Fender neck is a '57 re-issue, and I expect its contours to reflect that. What are modern Strat neck contours like in comparison with Warmoth necks?

 

[aarontunes]

I'd also like to add that the comparison may not have been "apples-to-apples".
The Fender neck is a '57 re-issue, and I expect its contours to reflect that. What are modern Strat neck contours like in comparison with Warmoth necks?

Well....yes and no. It is in the sense that we bought the 57 for our "secret project" (all will be revealed in next week's video), then chose the Warmoth neck with very similar specs.

But no in the sense that the 57 is sort of a "specialty" neck, and not Fender's modern offering.

Which kind of illustrates one of the points I made in the video: that Fender necks are a moving target, which is one reason we don't try to copy all their idiosyncrasies right down to the gnat's eyelash.

 

[supertruper1988]

I mean if you did you would fix the tele headstock

 

[Frankencat]

I have used a lot of different necks and make my own occasionally as well. My favorite necks were the old USACG necks from before MJT bought them. Best current production neck is Warmoth in my opinion. Dollar for dollar and quality wise they always satisfy my needs. As a matter of fact I just snagged a couple for some new builds I am doing. I have been using Warmoth necks for over 30 years.

 

[Mincer]

I'd pick the Warmoth neck no matter what it cost, but you don't actually get as many options for $350. Add exotic woods and color, and the price goes up quickly.

 

[Strat Avenger]

I have used a lot of different necks and make my own occasionally as well. My favorite necks were the old USACG necks from before MJT bought them. Best current production neck is Warmoth in my opinion. Dollar for dollar and quality wise they always satisfy my needs. As a matter of fact I just snagged a couple for some new builds I am doing. I have been using Warmoth necks for over 30 years.

My first Warmoth (a Soloist) has a USACG neck. I bought it in 2009. Real nice. 'Love my Warmoth necks too.