Anyone recognize this neck manufacturer?

[SharpCat]

Got a neck as part of a trade. Fender-shape headstock, no identifying marks I can see except this stamp on the back of the base of the neck. Flame maple, 21 fret. I'm thinking it's a generic Chinese neck, but wondering whether anyone has seen this "*USA*" stamp before? I would think a company in the US using Fender headstock shape would be forced to stamp their neck like Warmoth/Mighty Mite/etc do.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Got a neck as part of a trade. Fender-shape headstock, no identifying marks I can see except this stamp on the back of the base of the neck. Flame maple, 21 fret. I'm thinking it's a generic Chinese neck, but wondering whether anyone has seen this "*USA*" stamp before? I would think a company in the US using Fender headstock shape would be forced to stamp their neck like Warmoth/Mighty Mite/etc do.
View attachment 7182327

IME, any # of Chinese manufacturers incorporate a US / USA reference in neck stamps, S/N's, etc. It means nothing but used regularly on the really cheap stuff which I'd avoid like the plague. OTOH, there's some stellar stuff coming out of the better shops (MTD, Dingwall).

Riis

 

[SharpCat]

IME, any # of Chinese manufacturers incorporate a US / USA reference in neck stamps, S/N's, etc. It means nothing but used regularly on the really cheap stuff which I'd avoid like the plague. OTOH, there's some stellar stuff coming out of the better shops (MTD, Dingwall).

Riis

Thanks. As I noted above, this was my expectation as well, but it does seem like a nice enough neck. Double action truss rod, roasted flame maple, good finish all over. Nut is plastic, may change that. With a factory that has quality problems, there will be a lot of clunkers shipped, but once in a while a decent item slips through.

Not claiming this is MTD or Dingwall quality though.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Thanks. As I noted above, this was my expectation as well, but it does seem like a nice enough neck. Double action truss rod, roasted flame maple, good finish all over. Nut is plastic, may change that. With a factory that has quality problems, there will be a lot of clunkers shipped, but once in a while a decent item slips through.

Not claiming this is MTD or Dingwall quality though.

You'll know the final score once mounted, loaded, and under the duress of string tension. I do hope it turns out well.

 

[SharpCat]

The punchline, provided by Murphy, was that the base of the neck was about half a mm too wide to fit in the pocket of the body I attempted to mount it on.

 

[Bruce Johnson]

Got a neck as part of a trade. Fender-shape headstock, no identifying marks I can see except this stamp on the back of the base of the neck. Flame maple, 21 fret. I'm thinking it's a generic Chinese neck, but wondering whether anyone has seen this "*USA*" stamp before? I would think a company in the US using Fender headstock shape would be forced to stamp their neck like Warmoth/Mighty Mite/etc do.
View attachment 7182327

That's the brand name. USA Custom Guitars makes necks, bodies and guitar/bass kits. They are made here in the US and have a good reputation.

Necks - USA Custom Guitars

usacustomguitars.com

 

[SharpCat]

That's the brand name. USA Custom Guitars makes necks, bodies and guitar/bass kits. They are made here in the US and have a good reputation.

Necks - USA Custom Guitars

usacustomguitars.com

Unfortunately, I don't think that's correct. Two reasons: 1) headstock shape is Fender, not what USA Custom uses; 2) USA Custom necks seem to have a router locating hole in center of the mounting screw holes, and that's absent on my neck.

 

[Bruce Johnson]

Unfortunately, I don't think that's correct. Two reasons: 1) headstock shape is Fender, not what USA Custom uses; 2) USA Custom necks seem to have a router locating hole in center of the mounting screw holes, and that's absent on my neck.

USA Custom Guitars has been around for a while, and they mostly make necks for other builders. Yours may be a vintage one, made on contract for someone with a Fender license.

 

[SharpCat]

USA Custom Guitars has been around for a while, and they mostly make necks for other builders. Yours may be a vintage one, made on contract for someone with a Fender license.

It does seem like a nice neck, in any case. Will save for a body with a wider pocket.

 

[sunbeast]

Unfortunately, I don't think that's correct. Two reasons: 1) headstock shape is Fender, not what USA Custom uses; 2) USA Custom necks seem to have a router locating hole in center of the mounting screw holes, and that's absent on my neck.

I've had a few older USACG necks (pre-2010) with standard Fender headstocks and still have one. FWIW, my current one has no manufacturer markings (though was modified a bit by the previous owner so may well have had markings sanded off), and does indeed have a router hole between the bottom two mounting holes. Can't recall if any of the brand new ones I owned had markings