USA-GC Tele Neck Questions

Jerry J · September 25th, 2003, 04:07 PM

I am leaning towards USA-CG over Warmoth for my Tele project based on many comments posted on this board. But I have one hangup with their 'Tele' headstocks. It just looks different from the standard Tele design. Anyone else think so? I know its purely cosmetic but ....

As for the neck, I'm leaning towards their 7.25 - 9.5" radius w/ 6105 frets, one piece maple neck. Haven't decided on neck shape yet.

TIA

TheGoodTexan · September 25th, 2003, 04:52 PM

I believe USAGC alters the peghead shape of their Strat and Tele necks, just enough to keep Fender off of their backs. I also believe Warmoth actually lisences the right to the headstock shape from Fender, so keep everything legal.

bdkphoto · September 25th, 2003, 05:04 PM

If you are handy at sanding, and have a good template from a fender you can get an accurate headstock shape easily. I was very impressed with my neck from USACG which will be finished in a few days. Birdseye maple 2pc, 6105's, 9.5 radius 22 frets .9SSV.....I'll try to post some pix's when the guitar is done.

John E · September 25th, 2003, 05:11 PM

One with a USACG neck, and one with a Warmoth neck. Both boatneck, 1-11/16 nut, 6105's... the USACG has 12"radius, and the warmoth has their standard 10-16' radius. Both are great, I love them both. USACG is more flexible in what you order specs wise... plus it has a headstock truss adjust(Hooray!!!) but if you order the Warmoth standard specs they are cheaper. Personally the headstock thing doesn't bother me, a little sandpaper and some elbow grease will get it pretty close if it bothers you. Warmoth is Fender licensed so they offer the exact 'Fender' headstock shape.

Brad · September 25th, 2003, 05:14 PM

I've had excellent necks from Warmoth....but the USACG neck I now have on my tele is the best I've played so far. I realize the headstock shape is a hang up for many. I don't give a squat meeself as I just wanted a great playing / sounding guitar ( and I got it! ) and I don't care if it looks like a fender. I'm certainly not knocking or criticising anyone else as everyones needs / tastes are different. If I was doing a relic or putting a Fender decal on it, then I would want it as close as possibe also. USACG's shape is fine for me and from others I've spoken with, it's a pretty easy process to re-shape it to a fender type shape if desired. I know WD & Allparts necks are Fender licensed so they should be the correct shape. I don't have any experience with those neck's, so I can't comment on them, but many here use them and speak highly of the quality and feel. I just bought a Mighty Mite neck from ebay for $40.00 for a bottom feeder tele I'm doing. It is a pretty darn good neck.....and for $40, it's a killer!!

PeterUK · September 25th, 2003, 05:46 PM

It's huge. Big 6100 frets and a .910-in U shape. It's got a great 7.25 - 9.5-in compound radius

However, I wanted to create a Broadcaster replica so had the point sanded off and here it is:

Be aware, even after this minor surgery, the head is smaller than a genuine or Lic. by Fender one. But I think it looks OK.

If you must have an accurate "Fender" profile, order a paddle head and shape it yourself.

But which ever way you go, have fun.

Peter

John R. · September 25th, 2003, 05:56 PM

I like the USACG headstock the way Tommy cuts it, but I've only put them on the 2 tele clones I've assemble with USACG bodies as well.

Brad · September 25th, 2003, 06:00 PM

that is a great looking neck!! Nice job on the shaping and the relic job is outstanding. I bet it's a bender's delight with the 6100's. I have 6105's on mine and I can bend those strings right off the board.

Ray G · September 25th, 2003, 06:09 PM

on my parts Tele. I have the fat back neck and medium jumbo frets and I used a USACG Ash Tele body as well. The headstock shape doesn't bother me one way or the other... I thinks it's pretty cool actually. I can surely vouch for the quality of the neck they sold me and once Rob DiStefano put it all together for me I wound up with a great guitar at a great price. Soup to nuts it ran about $600.
Good Luck! 8)

Kingpin · September 25th, 2003, 06:51 PM

I have one very similar to the specs you gave: one piece maple, 7.25 to 9.5 compound radius, 21 fret with 6105's. It's a fantastic playing neck- a soft V shape about .84 thick. If I were to do it over I would probably order a slightly thicker version of it, say .94 or so, as I've come to enjoy the feel of thicker necks. The headstock can be sanded to approximate the Fender shape but it WILL be smaller. Consider getting the paddlehead if you have access to some woodworking tools and really want an accurate Fender shape . I would give USACG two thumbs up for quality and service. Tommy is a pleasure to do business with.

PeterUK · September 25th, 2003, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad

that is a great looking neck!! Nice job on the shaping and the relic job is outstanding. I bet it's a bender's delight with the 6100's. I have 6105's on mine and I can bend those strings right off the board.

Brad

I had the strings around the back tonight.

Pure pleasure!!

You know a Tele is the best when it plays that well.

Regards

Peter

Jerry J · September 26th, 2003, 02:01 PM

And what a nice guy! He explained the licensing deal, how to sand it close to Fender specs, and gave me advice on all different options. Plus he has a very nice piece of Alder on hold for me once I iron out my neck options.

After talking to him I definitely want to match up a USACG neck to USACG body.

One question, he likes 1/4 sawn 1 piece maple neck matched up to alder for a brighter sound. Any one out there have a 1/4 sawn and how does it differ from the standard neck? He explained it but I not sure if my steel sieve mind retained the explanation.

TIA

Jerry J · September 26th, 2003, 02:02 PM

He's really appreciative of all the support from TDPRI!

Doc · September 26th, 2003, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John E

One with a USACG neck, and one with a Warmoth neck. Both boatneck, 1-11/16 nut, 6105's... the USACG has 12"radius, and the warmoth has their standard 10-16' radius. Both are great, I love them both. USACG is more flexible in what you order specs wise... plus it has a headstock truss adjust(Hooray!!!) but if you order the Warmoth standard specs they are cheaper. Personally the headstock thing doesn't bother me, a little sandpaper and some elbow grease will get it pretty close if it bothers you. Warmoth is Fender licensed so they offer the exact 'Fender' headstock shape.

On the new Warmoth the adjustmet is on the side of the base of the neck. You can access it without removing the headstock at all now.

Dale

September 25th, 2003, 04:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jerry J Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NoVa Posts: 650	USA-GC Tele Neck Questions I am leaning towards USA-CG over Warmoth for my Tele project based on many comments posted on this board. But I have one hangup with their 'Tele' headstocks. It just looks different from the standard Tele design. Anyone else think so? I know its purely cosmetic but .... As for the neck, I'm leaning towards their 7.25 - 9.5" radius w/ 6105 frets, one piece maple neck. Haven't decided on neck shape yet. TIA

September 25th, 2003, 04:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
TheGoodTexan Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Nashville, TN Age: 36 Posts: 5,188 18 Photos	I think it's by design I believe USAGC alters the peghead shape of their Strat and Tele necks, just enough to keep Fender off of their backs. I also believe Warmoth actually lisences the right to the headstock shape from Fender, so keep everything legal.

September 25th, 2003, 05:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
John E Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,396	I have 2 partscasters... One with a USACG neck, and one with a Warmoth neck. Both boatneck, 1-11/16 nut, 6105's... the USACG has 12"radius, and the warmoth has their standard 10-16' radius. Both are great, I love them both. USACG is more flexible in what you order specs wise... plus it has a headstock truss adjust(Hooray!!!) but if you order the Warmoth standard specs they are cheaper. Personally the headstock thing doesn't bother me, a little sandpaper and some elbow grease will get it pretty close if it bothers you. Warmoth is Fender licensed so they offer the exact 'Fender' headstock shape.

September 25th, 2003, 05:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
Brad Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 1,294	Necks I've had excellent necks from Warmoth....but the USACG neck I now have on my tele is the best I've played so far. I realize the headstock shape is a hang up for many. I don't give a squat meeself as I just wanted a great playing / sounding guitar ( and I got it! ) and I don't care if it looks like a fender. I'm certainly not knocking or criticising anyone else as everyones needs / tastes are different. If I was doing a relic or putting a Fender decal on it, then I would want it as close as possibe also. USACG's shape is fine for me and from others I've spoken with, it's a pretty easy process to re-shape it to a fender type shape if desired. I know WD & Allparts necks are Fender licensed so they should be the correct shape. I don't have any experience with those neck's, so I can't comment on them, but many here use them and speak highly of the quality and feel. I just bought a Mighty Mite neck from ebay for $40.00 for a bottom feeder tele I'm doing. It is a pretty darn good neck.....and for $40, it's a killer!! __________________ We don't stop playing because we get old, we get old becasue we stop playing.

September 25th, 2003, 05:46 PM	#6 (permalink)
PeterUK Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: . Posts: 2,830	I love my USACG neck. It's huge. Big 6100 frets and a .910-in U shape. It's got a great 7.25 - 9.5-in compound radius However, I wanted to create a Broadcaster replica so had the point sanded off and here it is: Be aware, even after this minor surgery, the head is smaller than a genuine or Lic. by Fender one. But I think it looks OK. If you must have an accurate "Fender" profile, order a paddle head and shape it yourself. But which ever way you go, have fun. Peter __________________ .

September 25th, 2003, 05:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
bdkphoto Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NYC Posts: 243	If you are handy at sanding, and have a good template from a fender you can get an accurate headstock shape easily. I was very impressed with my neck from USACG which will be finished in a few days. Birdseye maple 2pc, 6105's, 9.5 radius 22 frets .9SSV.....I'll try to post some pix's when the guitar is done.

September 25th, 2003, 05:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
John R. Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 267 4 Photos	I like the USACG headstock the way Tommy cuts it, but I've only put them on the 2 tele clones I've assemble with USACG bodies as well.

September 25th, 2003, 06:00 PM	#8 (permalink)
Brad Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 1,294	Hey Peter that is a great looking neck!! Nice job on the shaping and the relic job is outstanding. I bet it's a bender's delight with the 6100's. I have 6105's on mine and I can bend those strings right off the board. __________________ We don't stop playing because we get old, we get old becasue we stop playing.

September 25th, 2003, 06:09 PM	#9 (permalink)
Ray G Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 617	I have the USACG compound radius neck... on my parts Tele. I have the fat back neck and medium jumbo frets and I used a USACG Ash Tele body as well. The headstock shape doesn't bother me one way or the other... I thinks it's pretty cool actually. I can surely vouch for the quality of the neck they sold me and once Rob DiStefano put it all together for me I wound up with a great guitar at a great price. Soup to nuts it ran about $600. Good Luck! 8) __________________ Regards, Ray

September 25th, 2003, 06:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
Kingpin Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Here Posts: 1,208	Love my USACG neck too. I have one very similar to the specs you gave: one piece maple, 7.25 to 9.5 compound radius, 21 fret with 6105's. It's a fantastic playing neck- a soft V shape about .84 thick. If I were to do it over I would probably order a slightly thicker version of it, say .94 or so, as I've come to enjoy the feel of thicker necks. The headstock can be sanded to approximate the Fender shape but it WILL be smaller. Consider getting the paddlehead if you have access to some woodworking tools and really want an accurate Fender shape . I would give USACG two thumbs up for quality and service. Tommy is a pleasure to do business with. __________________ Bring on da Twang

September 26th, 2003, 02:01 PM	#12 (permalink)
Jerry J Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NoVa Posts: 650	Talked to Tommy after I posted this message And what a nice guy! He explained the licensing deal, how to sand it close to Fender specs, and gave me advice on all different options. Plus he has a very nice piece of Alder on hold for me once I iron out my neck options. After talking to him I definitely want to match up a USACG neck to USACG body. One question, he likes 1/4 sawn 1 piece maple neck matched up to alder for a brighter sound. Any one out there have a 1/4 sawn and how does it differ from the standard neck? He explained it but I not sure if my steel sieve mind retained the explanation. TIA

September 26th, 2003, 02:02 PM	#13 (permalink)
Jerry J Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NoVa Posts: 650	PS He's really appreciative of all the support from TDPRI!