Warmoth vs Fender necks

[Sc0tch]

Does anyone have any experience with fender and warmoth necks? Are warmoth necks just as good as fender necks or is there a big difference? I have an american delux and I really like the maple neck, but I would like to get and all rosewood neck from warmoth for looks only. Is this worth doing or would I be throwing away the money?

 

[joeford]

i think a lot of times warmoth makes a higher quality neck than fender does. they make less, so they can spend a little more time making sure its right. of course, their prices reflect that. it won't say fender on the headstock... and thats a deal breaker for some people. just make sure to keep the original neck close by... partscasters are a dime a dozen and don't return the money you put into them; whereas that fender could be sold for damn near what you paid for it as long as its in decent shape

 

[unixfish]

Interesting question - and one I often ponder. I have often considered building a Warmoth, but by the time I go out and pick all the parts, the price is outrageous. If I choose parts by "not my first choice, but good enough" the price is still high.

But - for a single part - I have heard the quality is very good. joeford hit it though - no logo, and the partscaster value issue. If you are planning on keeping it, then it does not matter. If you ever want to resell, keep the original.

So, no - no experience here. $0.02.

 

[PaulStrattele]

It's been a while since I've heard anyone speak to it but I've heard Warmoth is a producer of Fender necks when Fender can't meet production. Also I think Warmoth makes pacifica necks for Yamaha, or did at some point.

I have several Warmoth necks. Love them all. No complaints plus you can customize to your hearts content.

 

[Nick Fanis]

but I've heard Warmoth is a producer of Fender necks when Fender can't meet production.

You have heard wrong.

 

[brookdalebill]

They both obviously make great necks.
Warmoth offers the consumer myriad options in neck specifications.
I've used both, for decades.
The only broad generalization I would make about Warmoth necks is
they tend to be heavy.
They can also be a bit pricey when you start adding up the details you want
for your "dream neck".

 

[AndyLowry]

I have a Warmoth on a hard-tail Strattish thing. Compound radius (10-16), abalone dots, '59 Roundback shape, maple on maple with lots of birdseye, 6105 frets. I'm sorely tempted to get the same thing for my AmStd Tele, 'cause I can't keep my hands off of it.

 

[dankomal]

The warmoth headstock shape isn't as sleek as say a a vintage fender shape, I bought one and it bugged me, coupled with a rattling truss rod that I heard every time I played it unplugged, I had to get rid of the thing.
I replaced it with a blackguard musikraft neck that needed little sanding to get the vintage fender headstock contours correct.
I own a hardtail strat body from warmoth and couldn't be happier with it, I'm just giving my view on warmoth tele headstock contours.

 

[rapaul76]

Are there any issues fitting a Warmoth neck on Fender bodies? I'm looking at getting one of their short-scale conversion necks for a Blacktop Telecaster as I like the Gibson scale length better. Would this fit?

 

[Sc0tch]

Thanks guys much appreciated.

 

[dankomal]

Are there any issues fitting a Warmoth neck on Fender bodies? I'm looking at getting one of their short-scale conversion necks for a Blacktop Telecaster as I like the Gibson scale length better. Would this fit?

I don't think you'll get it to intonate on a tele body without moving the whole bridge, though I could be wrong.

 

[BigDaddyLH]

Are there any issues fitting a Warmoth neck on Fender bodies? I'm looking at getting one of their short-scale conversion necks for a Blacktop Telecaster as I like the Gibson scale length better. Would this fit?

It will fit just fine. They don't call them replacement necks for nothing.

One thing to consider about Warmoth necks, from reading about them, is what truss rod design you prefer: Warmoth Pro versus Vintage Pro versus Total Vintage.

 

[JCBurke59]

Are there any issues fitting a Warmoth neck on Fender bodies? I'm looking at getting one of their short-scale conversion necks for a Blacktop Telecaster as I like the Gibson scale length better. Would this fit?

No issues - that's why they call it a 'conversion' neck.
You get the shorter scale without moving the bridge.


...oops, looks like BigDaddyLH beat me to it.

 

[Beachbum]

I replaced the neck on my American Standard with a Warmoth mahogany/ebony. As far as quality goes they seem to be about the same stuff. A couple of observations are that the Fender won out by just a tad on finish but I'm being very picky on that one. The frets on the Warmoth were set, and dressed well but as with any new neck (depending on your requirements) you may want to have them leveled and have the nut filed to taste as well. The other thing is that the headstock profile (at least on the one I received) is a bit different than Fenders but for my taste it doesn't detract.

image removed

 

[FredDairy]

Warmoth necks don't feel like Fender necks. Visually they don't look the same either when looking down at them while the the guitar is strapped around you neck. The cutaways behind the nut areas look wrong too. Atleast compared to the vintage reissue Fenders. They just doesnt look Fenderish to me. Now my experience with their necks dates back to around 2009.

 

[allen082]

I've ordered five necks from Warmoth. I love them. The fact that you can customize them is the big selling point for me. If you're happy with a stock MIM fender neck then go with a Fender.

Every guitar I build for myself will always have a fatback, medium jumbo, nut width of 1 11/16" Warmoth neck on it.

 

[Sc0tch]

some great points made. I really just want a darker neck to pair with my tungston body. Maybe I'll leave my fender alone and build a whole new tele from warmoth just the way is like it.

 

[Reeek]

I've ordered five necks from Warmoth. I love them. The fact that you can customize them is the big selling point for me. If you're happy with a stock MIM fender neck then go with a Fender. Every guitar I build for myself will always have a fatback, medium jumbo, nut width of 1 11/16" Warmoth neck on it.

I'm like you except I prefer the fatback with 6105ss frets with 1 11/16" nut width

I'mon three necks now and plan one more. Each neck I have received has been flawless and perfectly flat minus VERY little setup work.

 

[BigDaddyLH]

some great points made. I really just want a darker neck to pair with my tungston body. Maybe I'll leave my fender alone and build a whole new tele from warmoth just the way is like it.

A neck swap is easily reversible. As mentioned, keep the original neck if you ever want to sell it, since partscasters don't get love on eBay.

 

[boris bubbanov]

They both obviously make great necks.
Warmoth offers the consumer myriad options in neck specifications.
I've used both, for decades.
The only broad generalization I would make about Warmoth necks is
they tend to be heavy.
They can also be a bit pricey when you start adding up the details you want
for your "dream neck".

Did you get an all exotic woods neck, or one with the Gotoh "Pro" truss rod?

If so, I could see that. I bought only their Vintage and Vintage Modern and the only reason they weight wore is they're 1 inch thick, Fatbacks and Boatnecks - of course that weighs more than a typically skinny Fender necks.

Let me leave the door open like this though. All my Warmoth necks with rosewood boards, dense very nice rosewood. That could push it up a smidgen.