Are Warmoth Bodies Smaller than others?

I've heard that the Warmoth bodies are shorter from pin to top of the neck pocket and not as wide in the hips.

To the point that standard pickguards don't fit.

Is this true? I know there are variances from body to body (even with Fender production) but are there "known" differences with the popular suppliers mentioned?

And in regard to Fender bodies through the years, are there years that bodies were noticeably smaller (or larger) than others?

Just curious.

I can't imagine this to be true otherwise, Warmoth would have been out of business a long time ago.

I can imagine "slight" variances, but not one that wouldn't allow a pickguard to fit.

They're quite different, yes.

But a W pickguard can usually be made to fit.

Ken Warmoth made his money on S style parts; he doesn't care about Telecasters.

Ken Warmoth made his money on S style parts; he doesn't care about Telecasters.

He's dead to me. lol.

I'd only use their necks, I'm thinking. Although, even with that, I find it very annoying that you cannot order a Modern Vintage neck without that awful 22nd fret.

Seriously.

I have one warmoth tele body. The lower horn is too skinny and a bit short, so a standard Fender PG does not fit quite right.

It is not drastic...just off enough to be irksome. An extra 1/16" all around would fix it.

He's dead to me. lol.

I'd only use their necks, I'm thinking. Although, even with that, I find it very annoying that you cannot order a Modern Vintage neck without that awful 22nd fret.

Seriously.

I feel you on that one! It's the reason I never bought a neck from them!

I know, right?

I love everything else about those necks. I have one with a 59 roundback that is awesome. I really want to try the Boatneck but I thinking not because I can't STAND that 22nd fret.

I know, right?

I love everything else about those necks. I have one with a 59 roundback that is awesome. I really want to try the Boatneck but I thinking not because I can't STAND that 22nd fret.


You can get a "Vintage" model 21 fret Warmoth Fatback.

I like the necks, I really do. I sure wish the neck section-to heel transition was different. There's just not enough wood there to get that portion of the neck back into Fender specifications.

People are disinclined to follow this logic, but I think Ken Warmoth wants his products to be readily identifiable as his and not from somewhere else. What better way to "leave your footprint on posterity" than to incorporate odd details into the parts that folks really can't wipe away, and you do that by

1) Making the part different in shape; and

2) Make it smaller where it is different than the part it replaces.

The vintage model only comes in a 7.25 radius.

I'd be all over their "Vintage" model if it came in a compound (or even 9.5 or 10) radius.

I'm even considering routing off the 22nd fret and grain filling the fret slot on my Modern Vintage neck. PITA.

I'm even considering routing off the 22nd fret and grain filling the fret slot on my Modern Vintage neck. PITA.


I've seen that done to another brand of 22 fret neck. Don't.

Next time buy a USACG neck. Tommy has all kinds of possible combinations. If you start monitoring the Webspecials neck section weekly, in 10 days or maybe 10 weeks a neck very well suited for you should pop up at a lower than Warmoth price.

I've seen that done to another brand of 22 fret neck. Don't.

Next time buy a USACG neck. Tommy has all kinds of possible combinations. If you start monitoring the Webspecials neck section weekly, in 10 days or maybe 10 weeks a neck very well suited for you should pop up at a lower than Warmoth price.

What's wrong with the router method?

My '99 Warmoth swamp ash Tele body has a too-deep treble cutaway (by about one fret) and needed pickguard customization. However, I like it.

Also love the Fatback neck.