More Warmoth quality problems

eryque · June 20th, 2008, 10:47 AM

Since Warmoth keeps coming up more and more lately, I thought I'd share my last finding in my ordeal with them.

The quick backstory: A few years back I ordered a custom pickguard. They screwed it up. They treated me like crap, but eventually made it right. A year later I decided to do my first build, a LP DC with a carved top, like the LP DC Pro. Warmoth was the only game in town, so I bought from them. The order took two months longer than I was quoted, and when it came they put the wrong frets on the neck. The neck also turned out to have a lot of forward bow in it, enough that the truss rod is barely adequate.

After assembling the guitar, I found a quirk that I couldn't explain. I had to set high E side of my bridge significantly higher than the bass side to get the same action at the 12th or 17th frets.

Well, two years later I have finally figured it out. The fretboard is not radiused evenly and is actually a little bit thicker on the treble side than on the bass side.

The good thing about Warmoth's lousy quality is that it's inspired me to learn how to do this all for myself. I doubt I'd ever buy a body from anyone else, and I think that this summer I'm going to learn to carve my own necks.

I know some people have been happy with Warmoth stuff, and more power to you guys. After this experience, I would never consider them again.

boris bubbanov · June 20th, 2008, 01:36 PM

This may seem to run counter to intuition, but I think the best approach is to use the webspecials page to buy necks, only. I have had one custom made to order neck made at W, but the rest ( 20 I think ) are all webspecials. All fine so far.
I'm not sure if I'm reading this right, between the lines, but I'd gently ask the sales guy how he liked the neck I was considering buying and listen for tone of voice. When I didn't hear what I wanted, we just moved on to the next item #. Maybe it is just luck, and the process of ordering a neck from scratch there seems to be at the heart of the vast majority of all disappointments I've heard about from Warmoth.

Jes' my .02.

e-merlin · June 20th, 2008, 03:02 PM

You mean like this:

Mine just happens to be a Fender neck, so I guess it happens to everyone every now and then. That's the first Fender neck I've ever seen like that, but I'll probably not stop buying Fender guitars.

Sorry to hear about your misfortunes with Warmoth, but I have nothing but good things to say about them.

Telenator · June 20th, 2008, 07:10 PM

Warmoth, like any other company lets a few klinkers slide through QC and it's unfortunate. They actually do make very good products but their customer service is not the best I've encountered.

If someone makes a mistake, that's OK. I make mistakes all the time. But I fess up to it immediately and then make it right. Warmoth on the other has a history of getting snippy with their customers and they take an otherwise simple situation and allow it to become way more complicated than it needs to be.

Perhaps they suffer from Rickenbackeritis. They're so busy producing goods they really don't give a damn if they screw up and a few people get crappy service in the process.

Lets see how these guys weather the current economy. Rickenbacker just doubled their prices right before the bottom fell out.

eryque · June 21st, 2008, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e-merlin

You mean like this:

Yeah, exactly like that.

In the end it's a good thing because Ive become unbelievably ambitious with my plans for scratch built guitars. Now I just need a little time, and a little $$ for a bandsaw wouldn't hurt either.

Tele5128 · June 21st, 2008, 11:41 AM

I'm currently doing my first "Partscaster" build with a Warmoth body, neck, and pickguard. Please see: http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaste...commences.html

I've not yet received the neck, but the overall quality of the body, both woodwork and finishing is excellent. Both the body and neck came from their Showcase.

They did answer two of my Emails with brief replies. So far I'm impressed with them, but they definitely don't seem to have time for "small talk" or "build hints". If my neck comes and is perfect (it's currently being finished and fretted) then I'll REALLY be impressed with them.

Another guitar buddy ordered a custom neck from them to replace the one on his Line6 Variax. The neck was perfect in and of itself, but did not quite fit the Variax. The neck is now on a different guitar. He is pondering selling the Variax and slowly obtaining the subset of real guitars he needs that it models.

RomanS · June 21st, 2008, 05:58 PM

Thankfully, both my Warmoth necks, as well as bodies, were better than perfect right out of the box...

But that's not why I'm posting - just wanted to point Tele5128 into the right direction: if you want small talk and building directions, go to www.unofficialwarmoth.com - that's the Warmoth-run forum, with not only builders/users but also Warmoth employees posting and answering questions!

eggman · June 21st, 2008, 07:59 PM

Howdy,

I had a Warmoth semi-hollow Tele body made of Black Limba that sustained like an offshore acoustic! While I cannot necessarily blame Warmoth, I haven't patronized them since.
I replaced that "dog" of a body with a solid flamed Mahogany Tele body from USACG, and it's been great. Just my experience. I'm loyal to Tommy and USACG now.
Eggman

June 20th, 2008, 10:47 AM	#1 (permalink)
eryque Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: albany, ny [not chicago] Posts: 6,977 44 Photos	More Warmoth quality problems Since Warmoth keeps coming up more and more lately, I thought I'd share my last finding in my ordeal with them. The quick backstory: A few years back I ordered a custom pickguard. They screwed it up. They treated me like crap, but eventually made it right. A year later I decided to do my first build, a LP DC with a carved top, like the LP DC Pro. Warmoth was the only game in town, so I bought from them. The order took two months longer than I was quoted, and when it came they put the wrong frets on the neck. The neck also turned out to have a lot of forward bow in it, enough that the truss rod is barely adequate. After assembling the guitar, I found a quirk that I couldn't explain. I had to set high E side of my bridge significantly higher than the bass side to get the same action at the 12th or 17th frets. Well, two years later I have finally figured it out. The fretboard is not radiused evenly and is actually a little bit thicker on the treble side than on the bass side. The good thing about Warmoth's lousy quality is that it's inspired me to learn how to do this all for myself. I doubt I'd ever buy a body from anyone else, and I think that this summer I'm going to learn to carve my own necks. I know some people have been happy with Warmoth stuff, and more power to you guys. After this experience, I would never consider them again. __________________ my blog: eryque.blogspot.com Updated 9.17.08! Subscribe_____________________

June 20th, 2008, 01:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
boris bubbanov Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA + in the past Posts: 7,652	This may seem to run counter to intuition, but I think the best approach is to use the webspecials page to buy necks, only. I have had one custom made to order neck made at W, but the rest ( 20 I think ) are all webspecials. All fine so far. I'm not sure if I'm reading this right, between the lines, but I'd gently ask the sales guy how he liked the neck I was considering buying and listen for tone of voice. When I didn't hear what I wanted, we just moved on to the next item #. Maybe it is just luck, and the process of ordering a neck from scratch there seems to be at the heart of the vast majority of all disappointments I've heard about from Warmoth. Jes' my .02. __________________ Bubban0v

June 20th, 2008, 07:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
Telenator Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Connecticut Posts: 4,476	Warmoth, like any other company lets a few klinkers slide through QC and it's unfortunate. They actually do make very good products but their customer service is not the best I've encountered. If someone makes a mistake, that's OK. I make mistakes all the time. But I fess up to it immediately and then make it right. Warmoth on the other has a history of getting snippy with their customers and they take an otherwise simple situation and allow it to become way more complicated than it needs to be. Perhaps they suffer from Rickenbackeritis. They're so busy producing goods they really don't give a damn if they screw up and a few people get crappy service in the process. Lets see how these guys weather the current economy. Rickenbacker just doubled their prices right before the bottom fell out. __________________ Dogs have the right idea!

June 21st, 2008, 11:41 AM	#6 (permalink)
Tele5128 TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Apex, NC Age: 48 Posts: 43	I'm currently doing my first "Partscaster" build with a Warmoth body, neck, and pickguard. Please see: http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaste...commences.html I've not yet received the neck, but the overall quality of the body, both woodwork and finishing is excellent. Both the body and neck came from their Showcase. They did answer two of my Emails with brief replies. So far I'm impressed with them, but they definitely don't seem to have time for "small talk" or "build hints". If my neck comes and is perfect (it's currently being finished and fretted) then I'll REALLY be impressed with them. Another guitar buddy ordered a custom neck from them to replace the one on his Line6 Variax. The neck was perfect in and of itself, but did not quite fit the Variax. The neck is now on a different guitar. He is pondering selling the Variax and slowly obtaining the subset of real guitars he needs that it models. __________________ ... formerly posting as JazzGuy

June 21st, 2008, 05:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
RomanS Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Vienna, Austria Age: 36 Posts: 2,710 14 Photos	Thankfully, both my Warmoth necks, as well as bodies, were better than perfect right out of the box... But that's not why I'm posting - just wanted to point Tele5128 into the right direction: if you want small talk and building directions, go to www.unofficialwarmoth.com - that's the Warmoth-run forum, with not only builders/users but also Warmoth employees posting and answering questions! __________________ http://www.pbase.com/romans http://www.myspace.com/romans212

June 21st, 2008, 07:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
eggman Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bossier City,La. Posts: 1,086	Howdy, I had a Warmoth semi-hollow Tele body made of Black Limba that sustained like an offshore acoustic! While I cannot necessarily blame Warmoth, I haven't patronized them since. I replaced that "dog" of a body with a solid flamed Mahogany Tele body from USACG, and it's been great. Just my experience. I'm loyal to Tommy and USACG now. Eggman