Warmoth or Musikraft for my next tele neck?

I've used warmoth before for all my other neck & body orders and have been nothing but satisfied. But for my next tele, I'm wondering if I should try something a little different, and was wondering how Musikraft is.

I want to keep the neck fairly vintage-inspired (i.e. one piece maple neck w/ skunkstripe, vintage tele headstock) but add some modern appointments (9.5 or compound fingerboard radius, stainless steel frets). This unfortunately knocks USACG out of the running because of their headstock shape-- unfortunately it just doesn't look right for this particular project.

Does anyone have any experience with Musikraft and can offer their opinions?

thanks!
J.

No experience of either but aren't the the USA Customs designed to allow you to change them to the traditional tele look?

I am pretty sure that is the case

I don't think so. They just have their standard "US-1" headstock shape, which sort of resembles the tele headstock, but is different enough that it won't work if I want it to look like a regular tele.

I have musikraft neck.. very good.. modern specs..

I am not a fan of Warmoth due to a bad business experience I had with them years ago, but Musikraft makes some great parts. Finishing up a project right now with one of their bodies and necks, and they give you enough meat in the heel to reshape the Tadeo taper correctly. Everything fits together beautifully.

Have also heard some great things recently about B.Hefner necks, though their lead time can be 4-6 weeks.

I am not a fan of Warmoth due to a bad business experience I had with them years ago, but Musikraft makes some great parts. Finishing up a project right now with one of their bodies and necks, and they give you enough meat in the heel to reshape the Tadeo taper correctly. Everything fits together beautifully.

Have also heard some great things recently about B.Hefner necks, though their lead time can be 4-6 weeks.

The lead time on Musikraft necks is 6 weeks as well. Same thing w/ Warmoth if I'm not getting something from their showcase. Sorry you had a bad experience w/ Warmoth-- I've had nothing but good luck w/ them.

Not sure what you mean about the tadeo taper on the neck heel?

If you want a vintage style neck (21 frets and truss rod adjusts at heel) from Warmoth, you have to settle for 7.25 radius. If you want a 9.5 radius, you have to settle for 22 frets and the truss rod adjustment at the headstock. At least that is what I understand from the website and sales rep.

Having said that, the 2 Warmoth Strat style necks I have bought over the years have been killer.

I recently opted for a Musikraft neck for a blackguard replica build currently underway. MK offers a lot of options, and you can combine vintage and modern specs. They even roll the edges for no extra charge.

BUT, I ordered my MK neck on March 8, and I just got shipping confirmation TODAY, so I do not yet have the finished product in hand. I sure hope it is worth the wait...

I just ordered a neck from Warmoth, and they said the lead time is going to be 6 to 8 weeks - so I'll have plenty of time to finish that body that neck will go on...

If you want a vintage style neck (21 frets and truss rod adjusts at heel) from Warmoth, you have to settle for 7.25 radius. If you want a 9.5 radius, you have to settle for 22 frets and the truss rod adjustment at the headstock. At least that is what I understand from the website and sales rep.

Having said that, the 2 Warmoth Strat style necks I have bought over the years have been killer.

I recently opted for a Musikraft neck for a blackguard replica build currently underway. MK offers a lot of options, and you can combine vintage and modern specs. They even roll the edges for no extra charge.

BUT, I ordered my MK neck on March 8, and I just got shipping confirmation TODAY, so I do not yet have the finished product in hand. I sure hope it is worth the wait...

Actually, the semi rolled fretboard is no charge, the heavily rolled is $15, yet in their descriptions of rolled fretboard edges they said they don't charge for either option. I wonder which it really is?

Not sure what you mean about the tadeo taper on the neck heel?

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n160/UriahT/tadeo.jpg

Early Telecaster necks were hand shaped, usually by Tadeo Gomez or an assistant, to have this nice rounded contour bulge right here. Modern issue necks have a much sharper angle in that spot. Not a big deal by any stretch, but an additional step if you want an accurate tribute guitar.

Thank you for showing that cool detail. I've got some Squier Tele necks here that work ok for me but are terribly undercooked in the detail department. Before I refinish I've been recontouring the headstock/ neck area, incorporating as much detail from my MIM Baja neck as possible, but the next one will get this 'Tadeo' detail as well. Very nice.

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t25/Bubbanov/49JUNE132007006.jpg

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t25/Bubbanov/49JUNE132007007.jpg

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t25/Bubbanov/49JUNE132007004.jpg

Some history on Tadeo Gomez and CBS cluelessness:
http://www.provide.net/~cfh/feature.html


Bubbanov

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n160/UriahT/tadeo.jpg

Early Telecaster necks were hand shaped, usually by Tadeo Gomez or an assistant, to have this nice rounded contour bulge right here. Modern issue necks have a much sharper angle in that spot. Not a big deal by any stretch, but an additional step if you want an accurate tribute guitar.

Ahh, I see now. I can see how that would be one of those all-important details for making a guitar as close as possible to how it would've been made back in the day.

Deleted by poster because he didn't properly read earlier posts in thread.:oops:

No experience of either but aren't the the USA Customs designed to allow you to change them to the traditional tele look?

I am pretty sure that is the case


Yep, done quite a few now, including a left hand one.

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t25/Bubbanov/31July102008019.jpg

We've used 4 or 5 musikraft necks. All have been excellent. You can look on ebay and get them in one day auctions but mostly we get 10" radius that way. It's awful close to 9.5!