Questions on Warmoth/Stewmac quality

[fjam82]

I'm looking into buying one of those kits that you can put together.. I might build the body myself, but don't know how accurate the plans they sell might be. Does anybody have good suggestions for telecaster plans? Or any other (les paul, SG, strat, etc)?

I defninitely will purchase the neck, just not sure about the necks available from these companies, any suggestions?

I will be using top quality tuners/pickups/electronics etc..

Do these kits measure up to a standard tele/strat bought in the store?

Any other feedback or suggestions would be much appreciated..

[GuitslingerTim]

Warmoth sells individual parts, not kits. I bought a Stewmac strat neck that was was rather poor; there was a huge channel routed out of the neck for the trussrod which made the neck feel and sound very lightweight. The frets were extremely soft and not level at all, showing wear within a few short weeks of moderate playing. Warmoth produces a much better product.

[Ang3lus]

warmoth makes great products
up there with all top of the line guitars
a warmoth strat feels like the best custom shop strat your money can buy

[Boris Bubbanov]

I believe that Stew Mac still gets their aftermarket necks from Mighty Mite.
As best I can tell, Mighty Mite is not the way to go; check out some of the recent threads here if you have any curiosity on the subject. If you insist on non-USA, definitely check out Allparts.

Warmoth makes a fine neck, I have quite a few, and I'm happy with all of them. The heel to neck transition is proprietary and is nothing like a Fender; I recontour that before I find sand and finish in nitro.

USA Custom Guitars is nearby Warmoth, and represents the next step up, quality wise. Superb wood selection is at least part of the secret. The price is kept down because the headstock is not (quite) Fender, and so it (instead of the heel) can be recontoured prior to finishing. (No Licensing Fee).

Both outfits have webspecials pages, so you can select neck for appearance already well along towards completion. Call Tommy at USACG. He's the best.

Bubbanov

[rooster]

I gotta say that the StewMac necks fall way short. Stick with Warmoth or USACG.

rooster.

[daddyo]

I have two USACG projects and I think they are fantastic.

[Rhomco]

with the uncut headstock to be far superior to any aftermarket neck I have owned. The list includes Warmoth, Allparts, MightyMite and others. The Stewmac finished necks from MM are so so.
Rob

[TooManyHobbies]

Carvin's necks are a 10/10 in quality. Eastern hard rock maple, stability bars, a great truss rod, tiltback headstock. Ebony (diamond ground) board, and frets that come nearly perfect. Oh, and cheap.