warmoth / mighty mite neck quality

[NvDan]

Hi all, I need some help on neck choices. I ordered a Tele swamp ash body from warmoth a couple of days ago. Now I am researching necks, it seems the two most common necks are warmoth and mighty mite.
My question is which is a better choice on quality? There is a fair amount of difference in prices, the mighty mite being less expensive by at least $50.00 If I buy on e-bay. Do you all think materials or workmanship account for the price difference-or is the mighty mite just a good buy? From reading posts it seems both brands have been used. Have you been pleased with your choices?

Thanks,dan

[Telenator]

They're both very well made. You should also consider Allparts necks.

The one thing I like best about Warmoth is that you see the actual neck you're getting. It's right there in a photo on their website. No surprises. Mighty Mite and others simply put up a photo of what "a" guitar neck looks like. Not "the" guitar neck you'll actually be buying.

As far as materials, I have all too often seen a company get a bad reputation for their product because of something they had no control over. Mother nature. Wood is a dynamic thing that continues to change for years after it is harvested, cut, dried, formed and finished. If it twists, bends, cracks or splits, it's not necessarily the fault of the manufacturer.

Either choice you have there is good.

[Clive Hugh]

I have both, in my mind there is no comparison, Warmoth is way ahead in what is available and the end quality is excellent, although the Mighty Mite is good but a lot cheaper, you get what you pay for.

[Ricky D.]

I've heard mixed reports about Mighty Mite quality, predominently good.

If it were my project, I would use the Warmoth neck simply to ensure a good neck pocket fit with your Warmoth body.

[PeterM]

I have bought 3 warmoth strat necks, a std contour, a boat contour and a fatback, and 4 mighty mite necks, a rverse head strat, a CBS strat and 2 maple/rosewood tele necks.
I have benn satisfied with all the necks, the main difference is that from warmoth you can decide almost exactly how you want your neck, back shape, radius, nut width, wood etc. From Mighty mite you´ll have to be satisfied with what they offer, i think they all have 1 11/16 nut width, a "C" or "V" back contour, and maple or rosewood or ebony fretboard. I really like the back shape of the mighty mite necks, it feels very familiar, a cross between fender 62 necks and american standards, and for about $90 you really can´t go wrong. That´s my opinion.
However, if i had the money, i would probably buy warmoth all the time, as i would have the opportunity to tailor the neck to suit my needs, but it would be more than twice as expensive.

Peter

[JCBurke59]

I've used Mighty Mite, Allparts and Warmoth necks over the years.

Mighty Mite is a fine basic quality neck. It will require some general fret clean up to be at its best. You - or your tech - make the nut. Good neck, good price. Consider it to be like a 'standard'.

Allparts is a step up with a couple of choices in neck profile (carve) and fret size. I've never used a pre-finished Allparts neck, so no opinion about finish quality. Allparts necks will require some cleaning up of the fret work for best feel. Also requires fitting and adjustment of the nut. I am very happy with the neck with -my- finish on it and play it very often. These are 'deluxe' quality.

Warmoth is kind of like going to the custom shop. There are many choices for neck/fingerboard wood including highly figured pieces and exotics, scale - standard or conversion 24 3/4", neck carve - slim through fat in different shapes, fingerboard radius options from vintage to modern 'flat' including a compound radius option (Warmoth standard), different nut widths and frets in just about all sizes (and stainless if you want it). My experience has been that their quality is top notch in all areas including finish. I bought 1 of 3 Warmoth necks finished. You can select the exact piece fingerboard wood on a custom order for an upcharge. If you buy from the 'Showcase' (in stock) you can see pictures of the exact neck you will be buying and may have a choice of frets. Warmoth offers the option of a pre-installed nut that only requires minor final adjustment. These are the closest to 'ready to play', but Warmoth does not offer rolled fingerboard edges and leaves the fret ends a little 'square' - so I usually work a little on those. More expensive, but will compare to 'Custom Shop' neck quality in my opinion.

USA Custom Guitars is another favorite around the boards. All the good qualities of Warmoth plus exceptional customer service. I have never done a USACG neck, but plan to on my next build.

Joe

[LuvN Guitars]

I've used both over the last 20+ years and have found the quality of both to be good, as mentioned above Warmoth allow you to tailor the neck specs more than MM, but as Peter mentions in the post above, the MM necks are nicely contoured (at least they suit me too) and I haven't had a serious problem with any I've used, though in the last few years I have allways bought from the same seller as they take the trouble to do a little work on the necks they sell if required. (While this is not designed to be a plug, having mentioned that I prefer a particular seller, I think I have to say which seller I'm talking about. JC's Guitars.) Allparts and Musikraft are also good, in fact these days the quality of after market necks is pretty damn good unless you're buying super cheap imports.
I'll admit to rarely making bolt on necks these days as the quality and range available is so good, I usualy only make my own set and through necks now.

[JCBurke59]

Allparts TMO-Fat. Vintage amber stain and Tru-Oil.


Warmoth SRV carve. Flamed maple. Vintage amber stain and Tru-Oil.


Warmoth flame maple fat back. Warmoth applied 'vintage gloss' poly finish.

[Beerfish]

My 3 Mighty mite necks are nice standard necks but my warmoth is a work of art man, almost a fine instrument itself

[treadwm]

Fwiw, I've had very good luck w/ Warmoth for all the reasons stated previously. I esp like seeing THE neck I'm about to buy. A client spec'd a Tele neck of padauk w/ stainless frets. It was gorgeous and the fret work was very well done. I'd certainly go with them again.

I'd also go with a USACG neck just on reputation alone. There are some very discerning builders on this forum that have been very satisfied w/ their product.

[TELE_BLUES]

I've a bunch of warmoth necks all were great except one i bought in the showcase it had a strange taper to italmost wider at the nut than 12th fret.Icalled they took it back and gave me a little extra credit for my troubles this was 10 years ago or so.I get allparts necks at cost so those are my go to neck now.

[mudbean]

One thing to note: You're in Nevada? Very dry there, even more than where I am in SoCal. I have had 7 necks here since last spring, including raw maple models from each of the suppliers noted above. In every case, the unfinished necks have dried and shrunk a bit as they settled into my locale, producing fret sprout (the two finished Fender necks I also bought have remained stable, with no sprout, since purchased) ... makes me glad I work so slow ...

mud

[mudbean]

Originally Posted by JCBurke59

Allparts TMO-Fat. Vintage amber stain and Tru-Oil.

Beautiful job on all, there, JC! On this one, did you apply the stain directly to raw wood? What brand, if I may ask?

mud

[JCBurke59]

Originally Posted by mudbean

On this one, did you apply the stain directly to raw wood? What brand, if I may ask?

mud

Thanks, yeah that's Stew Mac Color Tone vintage amber #5030. You make a dilute solution in water. I did some minor prep on the neck - 'whiskering' it a couple of times. That's just dampening the wood a bit with water to raise the grain and when it dries you lightly smooth it out again. I use Scotchbrite for this.
After whiskering I used the stain/water mixture right on the wood. I dampened the neck first with a little water just to control the color going on. Stain to your desired color - several applications if necessary, let dry (overnight worked for me). Final wipe down with Scotchbrite and start applying the Tru-Oil.
There's lots of good advice and more detail on the ReRanch forum if you'd like to check it out.
Read 'Houndog's Tru-Oil Finish' in the FAQ's.

Here's a shot of the back of the headstock on that neck...

[Flynman]

I have 3 Warmoth necks and all have been top quality from the wood, frets, fit and service has been excellent.

[NvDan]

Thank-You all for the replys, Good information from everyone. What it comes down to is -Its all good but we have a choice of good,better,best.
I decided to go with the Warmoth neck for the best quality and best bet to fit my body.
This is gonna be a great partscaster.
Dan

[Booman]

What about Musikraft? I'm thinking of doing their "custom" option. Basically you choose what you want on it. Any thoughts?

[mjb1967]

Ive had several Warmoth necks and been completely satisfied with each