My Builds

[Igosplut]

More cracks in GARgles story's.

[letsrock]

Better safe than sorry. Spend the extra dough, you never know when you are going to do it again. When that strange time comes, you'll be glad you had it.

My buddy has a set from stew mac.
Sure this isnt the 80's so he doesnt use them much.
But they save him a headache every so often.

[jacksmar]

Two old early/mid 80's Charvel necks, yeah - one on an early 80's Dimarzio/Charvel replacement body, one that was on a custom body in that pic, now going on a Musikraft Charvel body..the rest are primarily Warmoth parts...I specifically ordered all 3 of the Warmoth necks to very near my Charvel neck's specs, but added compound-radius boards.



Of course, GAyR will now accuse you of "titillating the mod's ego", but well...see Kwame's post as to why you should ignore him.



Musikraft makes great stuff btw...I loooooove the body I got from them!

That's just awesome. How is the neck radius? It looks like a VERY fast neck. I've not knowing played Warmoth neck. How's the intonation? Are they very adjustable?

Thanks
Jay

[jhale667]

The Warmoth necks are great. Can't recommend them enough. The standard compound radius is 10-16", and they're some of the most comfortable necks I've played. Backshape on them is thin, but not like Ibenhad Wizard-thin, there's still some meat to it. The frets of course can use a dressing out of the box, but that's to be expected.
You can get the string action super-low on them much like a Charvel or Jackson (but I don't like it too low) and you can bend notes a full 2 1/2 steps without fretting out. Top-notch workmanship and machining.

Hoping the same will be true with Musikraft necks...

[GAR]

Have you milled your own frets before with a file or sandpaper block?

[jhale667]

Fretwork is one of the rare things I'm almost kinda superstitious about and usually farm out. Plus there's places within a mile of both my place and office that do affordable, amazing work.
I did do enough to get the Gray and Purple Strat's necks playable when I assembled them, but I need more tools and practice. Coincidentally, I'm picking up a couple of necks in the near future. Should probably pick up all the basics...

This seems a little steep for what it is, probably could get the parts cheaper elsewhere, but you get the idea:

Essential Fretting Tool Kit at Stewart-MacDonald



Don't really need the book, since I'm betting it's just the fretwork chapters of Dan Erlwine's Guitar Player's repair guide.

[Matt White]

Have you milled your own frets before with a file or sandpaper block?

HA!!!

I have.... certainly not the best results...though playable....

& my guitar that I turned into the "Bumblestein" had a Warmouth neck originally...I replaced it with an unfinished maple Fender neck........It had an ebony fret board...I digs the Maple

[GAR]

Bare unfinished maple doesn't look too pretty after a year of playing.. hows it looking now?

[jhale667]

Wrong.

Bare unfinished maple doesn't look too pretty after a year of playing.. hows it looking now?

Maybe if you don't clean it regularly...or you live in a van by the river, and post from the library...

Besides, people pay extra for the "worn" look these days...

[jhale667]

Here's some 20+ year-old unfinished Maple still lookin' pretty cool...

[indeedido]

I like the look of a worn dirty maple neck. A neck is a tool, and tools get dirty....If you use them

[jhale667]

[GAR]

I was into collecting pickguards almost 15 years ago, then they came out with those pearlized ones and I'm still not sure if I like 'em. I have 3 black strats, and the one with white guard and black plastics is my favorite look for black strats.

[Igosplut]

Imaginary stuff doesn't count...

[jhale667]

Actually, that's my purple Strat, lighting's weird...I don't currently have a black one.

Usually people love or hate pearloid pickguards...I like 'em. Probably going to put a basic black 3-ply one on the next traditional Strat project, though...