When was the Warmoth Radius first introduced?

[Hollow]

A local guy is selling an "80's Warmoth Telecaster" which has a Warmoth radius neck and stainless frets. Does anyone know if Warmoth had these options in the 80's or when they were introduced?

Thanks!

 

[mayfly]

warmoth radius, absolutely!  Compound radius was one of the things that made them different right from the beginning.

Stainless Frets?  Hmmmmm.  Not sure.

 

[Hollow]

Hmmmm, I saw a Warmoth post in 2015 that said they pioneered the compound radius over 2 decades ago and one from last year that said almost 30 years ago which made me think they must have started making compound necks in the early 90s.

 

[mayfly]

as my (weird) uncle Ted used to say: "If you already knew the answer, then why'd you ask the question?"



Update: I realize that the above is a pretty flippant answer, so I went through the old filing cabinet thinking "I know I have an old Warmoth paper catalogue in here that mentions compound radius".  Well, I found it and indeed it mentions compound radius!  But it's dated 1992.

So.... I sadly cannot back up my memory with a historical artifact.

 

[Rick]

I’m pretty sure that warmoth always stamped their necks so have the guy take the neck and photograph the heel.  No photo which you can post here for verification no sale.

 

[mayfly]

Actually that's a good point - it should have an indication of it being a compound neck on the heel, even if it's an old one. 

But if the real question you're wondering is if it really is from the '80s, that would be much more difficult to answer.

 

[Rick]

Warmoth  started in the early 80s.  And I always thought of them having the compound neck.  I don’t know when stainless steel Frets  became a menu item.  I can’t remember playing a guitar with stainless frets until after 2000. So stainless frets on a compound neck by warmoth from 1985?  Possible . Likely ... not so sure.  Why not just build a new one with everything you want,  instead of a pre internet guitar.

At the end of the day, if the guy is local just play it.  If you like it what does it matter if it’s a warmoth from the 80s or not.

 

[Hollow]

When I say local, I mean it's in New Zealand, but not actually in the same city as me. I'd love to build another one, but exchange rates, shipping and tax make them pretty expensive to get over here!

 

[gingataff]

SS frets could have been added later

 

[Rick]

Probably the only way to verify that it is indeed a warmoth is to photograph the heel.  At least that would get you half way there.

 

[aarontunes]

The Warmoth fretboard radius was around in the 80's for 100% sure. (See pics)

Stainless Steel frets were 100% not.


However, frets can be replaced, and on a 30 year old neck it wouldn't be out of the question for it to have been refretted.

 

[Seamas]

Yeah I can easily see a refret being done on a 30+ year old guitar--and the person getting it done opting for SS.

One of the things I realized I should have done with my build was to opt for both larger fretwire and stainless steel.
I really should have taken more account of my playing style, I really can grind strings into the frets.

 

[BroccoliRob]

The Warmoth fretboard radius was around in the 80's for 100% sure. (See pics)

Stainless Steel frets were 100% not.


However, frets can be replaced, and on a 30 year old neck it wouldn't be out of the question for it to have been refretted.

those images are fascinating! the second one says flame maple is unstable and wasn't used for necks lol.

my, how things have changed