Some one, stop me before I hurt myself!!!

[Jerry J]

Alright, how crazee is this??

Looking at all the wonderful posts here, I came up with the idea of possibly building two guitars, one Strat in Sherwood Green, and one Tele in Gold (exact color still to be determined but I want it to be a real gold). This idea came to me when someone on this site had a link to Warmouth Guitar Parts. So looking at their website, it came to me "build it and they will come", or something like that. Also, let me say that I once built a Strat with parts I bought at the old Veneman's chain in DC. That guitar came out really well but at that time I was really concerned with costs so I tried to keep costs down. Also, it was a non-tremolo body. And I had a blast building it. BTW, I just gave that one to a friend to play slide with. Any way, my questions are:

1) What is the quality of the bodies from Warmouth? Since I will paint them, I would prefer alder over ash. Are these bodies better or about the same quality/weight as USACS Fenders?

2) As for the necks, I'm thinking a standard maple neck/fingerboard for the Strat and a standard maple neck/rosewood board for the Tele. I'd like to have a rosewood board on this tele for some reason. Any comments? I am planning to paint the headstocks on both to match the body paint.

3) Reranch products. I assume I can get all spray cans of paint in nitro lacquers? Are they easy to use in the basement or garage? From their website, it looks like its possible to do a great job with patience.

My intent this time is to build two high quality guitars in colors and with parts that I want. I keep reading how people switch out pick ups, bridges, tuners, etc., even on CS guitars. I want to do these two guitars the right way. I have the time and patience (and the skills if I apply myself) to do the job correctly.

Am I crazy or what?

TIA,

Jerry

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally Posted by Jerry J

Alright, how crazee is this??

Looking at all the wonderful posts here, I came up with the idea of possibly building two guitars, one Strat in Sherwood Green, and one Tele in Gold (exact color still to be determined but I want it to be a real gold). This idea came to me when someone on this site had a link to Warmouth Guitar Parts. So looking at their website, it came to me "build it and they will come", or something like that. Also, let me say that I once built a Strat with parts I bought at the old Veneman's chain in DC. That guitar came out really well but at that time I was really concerned with costs so I tried to keep costs down. Also, it was a non-tremolo body. And I had a blast building it. BTW, I just gave that one to a friend to play slide with. Any way, my questions are:

I'll have a go at this ...

1) What is the quality of the bodies from Warmouth?

As good, if not better, than stock fender wood. IMO, USA-CG is better than Warmoth for both wood and service.

Since I will paint them, I would prefer alder over ash. Are these bodies better or about the same quality/weight as USACS Fenders?

Stock Fender body weight spans an enormous range - better to contemplate what you would like YOUR completed guitar to weigh. Good light wood ain't cheap!

2) As for the necks, I'm thinking a standard maple neck/fingerboard for the Strat and a standard maple neck/rosewood board for the Tele. I'd like to have a rosewood board on this tele for some reason. Any comments?

There's nothing I see to comment on - this is simply your choice and will have almost nothing to do with the final g'tar tone, IMMHO.

I am planning to paint the headstocks on both to match the body paint.

3) Reranch products. I assume I can get all spray cans of paint in nitro lacquers?

Yup, Bill has the good stuff.

Are they easy to use in the basement or garage?

The fumes and micron particles from spray cans can - no, WILL - be deadly. Best to do outdoors. Use a breathing mask!

From their website, it looks like its possible to do a great job with patience.

Absolutely true!

My intent this time is to build two high quality guitars in colors and with parts that I want. I keep reading how people switch out pick ups, bridges, tuners, etc., even on CS guitars. I want to do these two guitars the right way. I have the time and patience (and the skills if I apply myself) to do the job correctly.

Am I crazy or what?

Maybe a bit naive, but what the heck - most of us whacko builder/assemblers were where you are right now, at one time. Aim high, gather as much info as possible - then gather even more, do the best you can do, and above all, have fun. Good luck!

TIA,

Jerry

[Jerry J]

Rob,

Thanks for the input! I want to emphasize that this is simply an attempt to make a nice guitar and put on quality parts. In the end, I'd like to show people something I built to my specifications, something that looks and plays great.

Warmouth does have options for higher grades of wood, I might investigate the costs if there is a significant weight reduction.

As for their necks, how do they compare to actual Fender necks?

Thanks,

Jerry

[KBR]

Rob is 100% right on all matters.

I have had a lot of homemade ones and wish I had all 300+ that I had made for my crazy recordings and gigs.
I don't miss any old Fenders and dislike a 7.25 round radius, I find it horrible for proper vibratos, and bending.
If you play w/o bends then it is fine, me I like a 9 1/2 radius or even a 12. i CURRENTLY ISE A sMALL sHARP v NECK WITH 7.25-9.25 COMPOUND RADIUS W/ 6000 huge FRETS,whatever works for ya, Bro. With 3 Van Zandt Pickups.

USACG rules IMHO.

Kenny Blue Ray
Mojo Man
Blues Mook
Lifer in Music since 1962
Humanitarian

[bek]

Do what those guys say--they both know their stuff. Like KBR said, watch that neck radius. I can say the neck radius he is using now is a good thing; he let me play a couple guitars with that neck and even I had no trouble getting good, clean notes no matter how I bent the strings. I had no problems with the vee-neck, but they're not for everyone. I loved the big frets! If I were to get a neck made (or refretted) I would have those put in for sure. The neck played like butter, even though KBR plays a higher action than most people like. Personally, I thought it was flatout perfect for the big-tone kind of blues playing; the higher-action playing allows the strings to "breathe."

[KBR]

Great description of my Necks and guitars I use, Bruce -(BEK)
The Big frets help a ton with bending, and so does high action, (although) not for everyone.
Warmoth necks are good, but USACG are better, the Boatneck or fatback Warmoth' necks are BIG, you best have Michael Jordan sized hands.
USACG will make a V neck any size and radius any size,
& they Have 6000 frets, biggest on Earth!

IMHO
KBR

[Nick Fanis]

I used to own 25 vintage and expensive Gibsons,Gretsches and Fenders.All I own NOW are 3 killer partscatsers my old MIJ Thinline and a Ltd Ed Hellecaster!
Yep IMHO NOTHING can be better than a nice partscaster build the way YOU want it and even though I still think that the wood does not play the biggest part in sound, it is GREAT to have fantastic wood on your guitar!
And with a partscaster you can do that easily and at the fraction of a cost from a "normal" guitar w/ the same features.
For some unknown reason every partscaster I have ever built with quality wood , pickups and hardware played and sounded much better than any FENDER I have ever touched.NO PUN intended of course.....
It is also easy to build a LIGHT guitar this way and with the exact neck,frets you want.

[Paul B]

Hello

You are not crazy. I say go for it. I have in terms of building a 1959 Tweed Bassman from scratch. It took alot of time to research and it is alot of fun. The chassis is made now I am getting the box assembled.

Please keep us posted concerning your progress.

Regards

Paul

[Kevin]

Go ahead; have fun.... If you take your time and know what you're doing, you should be fine.

I've built quite a few, myself, and always enjoy it.

Personally, I lean towards Warmoth over USACG, but that's JMO. I've heard the Warmoth horror stories, but have never had a bad experience in 14 years of doing business with them. I just don't like the headstock thing on the USACGs....

Of course, another option for necks would be Allparts or WD.... I just bought a WD neck, but haven't installed it, yet. I also have one of the Allparts V-shaped vintage tele necks, and it's excellent. I think Rob D. has used those in the past, as well. They go for about $200, finished with nitro.

My WWW link below goes to a site I put together from some project posts I did here. I've still got another week, or so, before I put the guitar together, but you might find some of it interesting...

[Brick]

I've had both Warmouth and USACG necks and bodies and both are first rate products. I lean toward Tommy for his personal service and enthusiasm that comes across on the phone. I also like the 7 1/2 to 9 1/2 compound radius over the Warmouth standard which I think is 10 to 12.

I still enjoy my first homebuilt tele. A respirator is a must for spraying nitro indoors or out. Dan Earlwine's books are great for learning about set up. You will need to buy a few tools along the way. The single most indespensible tool to me is an 18" machinest's streightedge.

Take your time and have fun.

[Jerry J]

Canhe be reached thru the Fender website or does the custom shop have a separate site. I keep hearing what a wonderful guy Tommy is.

Also, a body and neck from Warmoth is around $300. What does CS charge for the body and neck?

Again, TIA!

[Rob DiStefano]

USA-CG website

[Dana]

Originally Posted by KBR

The Big frets help a ton with bending, and so does high action, (although) not for everyone.
Warmoth necks are good, but USACG are better, the Boatneck or fatback Warmoth' necks are BIG, you best have Michael Jordan sized hands.
USACG will make a V neck any size and radius any size,
& they Have 6000 frets, biggest on Earth!

IMHO
KBR

I recently ordered a Warmoth neck with 6105 frets. Although not as large as the 6000 that KBR uses, I assumed that they would be larger than the usual frets on a fender. Funny thing is, when I compared the Warmoth neck to my Am Standard, the frets on the Standard seemed larger. I guess I just expected 6105 frets to be large. They're listed as the second largest fret size on the Warmoth site.

[Jerry J]

Hey all,

Thanks for the advice - I think I have come up with a compromise. My wife thinks I'm nuts for wanting to build two more git-fiddles, so I have to do a compromise.

What do you think of this - I bought a white blond American Deluxe Strat (in ash) at the Mars going out of business sale last November. It was cheap for an Am Deluxe - $600. It was made in '99 and I bought it in late '02. Apparently, it must have been on display for 3 years. Nothing wrong with it except for where the bottom edge must have bounced off the floor and chipped off the finish in two spots, about the size of quarter and not visible from the front. The wood is fine, no damage!

Anyway, would it be silly if I refinished it in a blue translucent finish? I know I would never refinish a vintage instrument but what about a '99 Am Deluxe? After looking at a blue strat at Reranchs w/ a pearl white pickguard, I think I found my color combo. It is absolutely beautiful. BTW, my strat has a rosewood fingerboard and is made of ash.

Finally, are the ash bodies in the Am Deluxe swamp ash? This one weighs in at 8#s - 5 oz, which is significantly heavier than my 6# - 11 oz 52RI. I know, because I was dumb enough to weigh all my guitars at the post office this weekend. Talk about weird looks, image walking into your local PO with four guitar cases and weighing all your guitars.

The good news, I got permission to build my Tele. Again, I am really impressed with the "Gold Top" Tele on the Reranch website w/ the Gibson Gold knobs. Now, do I want a rosewood or maple fingerboard?

TIA,

Jerry