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Warmoth neck......?

Should I...

  • Do it

    Votes: 61 72.6%

  • Don’t do it

    Votes: 14 16.7%

  • Do it but add Fender logo

    Votes: 9 10.7%
  • Total voters
    84
#24
HearNoStevil said:
Again, from Warmoth's website:

"Please note, Warmoth does not perform fret leveling. Most Warmoth necks are playable as they are received and do not require fret leveling. However, because wood moves with changes in temperature, humidity and string tension fret leveling may be required. This is best done after the neck has been strung up to pitch for several days and allowed to adjust in the assembled state. For this reason, Warmoth leaves this fine tuning to the end user. On necks with Maple fretboards, where the finish covers the fretboard, the finish is sprayed directly over the frets. This finish will wear off quickly with use, or it can be scraped off quite easily. A fret leveling operation will also take it off."
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Jeez, dude... sorry you had a bad experience, but the majority of Warmoth customers are very pleased with the workmanship or they wouldn't maintain the reputation they've had for many years. I've had 4 or 5 Warmoth necks now and all but 1 were checked out by a good luthier to see if further fretwork would be recommended, and each time they said 'nah... nothing to be done here... good to go as it is'. You have to realize that statements like " because wood moves with changes in temperature, humidity and string tension, fret leveling may be required " is just sort of a CYA clause that is wise for any supplier to say when shipping such products around the world.
 
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#26
+1

erhovey said:
Jeez, dude... sorry you had a bad experience, but the majority of Warmoth customers are very pleased with the workmanship or they wouldn't maintain the reputation they've had for many years. I've had 4 or 5 Warmoth necks now and all but 1 were checked out by a good luthier to see if further fretwork would be recommended, and each time they said 'nah... nothing to be done here... good to go as it is'. You have to realize that statements like " because wood moves with changes in temperature, humidity and string tension, fret leveling may be required " is just sort of a CYA clause that is wise for any supplier to say when shipping such products around the world.
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#27
I have owned several Warmoth Necks new and used. Very high quality so far.
somebrains said:
It's really pretty.
I have a flame neck on my J5.

I'd recommend holding out for a flame roasted neck.

Those have a different feel I value highly.

Also people should check their gear for state of finish themselves instead of assuming anything is perfect out of the box.
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I definitely prefer the feel over the satin finish, but it’s close - and it won’t wear out. I’ve seen some very nice looking flame roasted necks. ...
 
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#28
It is a smart business decision. It also absolves them of responsibility when it does happen and it does.
erhovey said:
Jeez, dude... sorry you had a bad experience, but the majority of Warmoth customers are very pleased with the workmanship or they wouldn't maintain the reputation they've had for many years. I've had 4 or 5 Warmoth necks now and all but 1 were checked out by a good luthier to see if further fretwork would be recommended, and each time they said 'nah... nothing to be done here... good to go as it is'. You have to realize that statements like " because wood moves with changes in temperature, humidity and string tension, fret leveling may be required " is just sort of a CYA clause that is wise for any supplier to say when shipping such products around the world.
Click to expand...
 
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#29
HearNoStevil said:
Some questions:

1) When did Warmoth start offering soft or heavy rolled fingerboard edges? I don't see it on their website.

2) When did Warmoth give you the option to NOT have a sanding sealer? Their website specifically states that ALL of their necks are dipped in sanding sealer.

3) Where did you find this information?

BTW...you can't really roll the edges of a bound fretboard with a smooth-walled socket.
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You’re right my mistake. I was thinking of UsAGC apparently. I’m surprised pre-rolled fingerboards aren’t offered at Warmoth.
 
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#30
Sands said:
So the showcase has a sweet Jazz Bass neck I’m thinking about. Qtr sawn, flame maple, ebony fretboard, graphite rods, ss frets, vintage tint, bound and blocked. I have a black 74 AVRI currently with a 2019 USA PRO Jazz neck.

Even if I sold the neck I have currently, between shipping, tax, and tuners, it would cost me probably about $500+ out of pocket. And it would weigh more with the vintage style tuners. Hmm. I’d have to save my pennies. Or I could wait for Fender to release the RW bound and blocked 70s someday or spend a few hundred bucks more for a vintage neck. I’ve been watching for a 74 AVRI neck but haven’t seen one in quite awhile. I think the vintage and 74 AVRI would probably weigh more, and would not have SS, graphite shafts, flames, or dark ebony.

View attachment 3926533
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I've not encountered a neck with the "Fender" decal on the headstock that matched the rigidity stability or evenness in tone that you can commonly find with a Warmoth neck. And unless the Fender neck has graphite stiffening rods and compound radius, such as the Elite series or the now defunct Dimension basses, and the older American Deluxe and American Standard line, personally I'd give the nod to the Warmoth product. But that does not mean the Warmoth necks are as slim or as fast playing as a lot of Fenders. Many Warmoth bass necks I have chosen to reshape for this reason. And IMHO many Warmoth necks can benefit from some fret leveling and crown. I do have a Pau Ferro Warmoth neck with small frets (6130) that has crazy low action, and never had a fret level. But even so it does not play like say, my G&L which has a PLEK'D neck. Some people are fussier about these kinds of details, your mileage may vary.
 
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#33
Rabidhamster said:
You’re right my mistake. I was thinking of UsAGC apparently. I’m surprised pre-rolled fingerboards aren’t offered at Warmoth.
Click to expand...

The bass with a usacg neck is my #1.
My #2 is an old Warmoth build.

The usacg bass has extra finishing touches the end user could certainly do or have done to their Warmoth neck.

It's worth the coin to have a proper setup and plek.
 
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#36
Oh, and another thing :-) Yes, their necks weigh more but that additional mass is part of the dead-spot reduction they provide. I've had great success offsetting the neck weight by using ultra light tuners on them. I get smooth consistent sound up and down the neck with no neck dive. The other non-warmoth bass necks I've had (Ibanez, Fender, Peavey, G&L, Carvin) all suffered from dead spots.

I will agree totally that Warmoth is NOT a plug & play system. Even in their most complete bodies & necks, you'll at least have to drill some holes, shield control cavities, install pickups / electronics...
 
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#37
HearNoStevil said:
Again, from Warmoth's website:

"Please note, Warmoth does not perform fret leveling. Most Warmoth necks are playable as they are received and do not require fret leveling. However, because wood moves with changes in temperature, humidity and string tension fret leveling may be required. This is best done after the neck has been strung up to pitch for several days and allowed to adjust in the assembled state. For this reason, Warmoth leaves this fine tuning to the end user. On necks with Maple fretboards, where the finish covers the fretboard, the finish is sprayed directly over the frets. This finish will wear off quickly with use, or it can be scraped off quite easily. A fret leveling operation will also take it off."
Click to expand...
Man you are spending so much time and effort hating on Warmoth.
Please don't use someone else's thread with a derail and diatribe because you are compelled to prove that your opinion is the only valid one.
Peddle your bile elsewhere please.
 
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#38
HearNoStevil said:
And, I was even more shocked to learn that the fretboard edges are not addressed. At all. They are sharp enough to nearly cut you.
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really?
my warmoth neck is my fav of all my basses. the fretboard edges are no sharper than any of my other basses. and one of my basses has sharper edges. the neck was totally playable and awesome right out of the box.
1.jpg
 
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#40
/\/\3phist0 said:
Man you are spending so much time and effort hating on Warmoth.
Please don't use someone else's thread with a derail and diatribe because you are compelled to prove that your opinion is the only valid one.
Peddle your bile elsewhere please.
Click to expand...

I peddled no opinion. I stated a fact, and provided documentation for that fact. Warmoth does not level frets, nor do they round the fretboard edges. This is not arguable.

An opinion would be whether or not someone likes their frets and fretboard as-is from Warmoth, which is is not leveled and not rounded-over as quite simply, they do not do that.

Whether or not someone has a favorable opinion of that doesn't change the fact that Warmoth does not perform those functions.
 

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