Assembling a Warmoth Jazzcaster

[FlametopFred]

I've started a Warmoth Jazzcaster. I'm painting it and I've never painted a guitar before. I'm uploading pictures to this album on Google:

I'll update the album with pics as the assembly moves forward.

So what's your impression of the Warmoth body and neck? I've been tempted but wonder how the feel is after.

[sirspens]

If anyone has tips for laying down the copper shielding in the pickup and control cavities, please comment.

I want to know this too. I’ve added copper shielding tape to every electric instrument I own, but have never been able to figure out how to get it as smooth and pretty as some of the flawless looking “gut shots” I’ve seen online... even with a set of art supply store burnishing tools I haven’t managed better than “smashed down wrinkles.” Trying to come to peace with the “vintage NASA moon lander” look...

No need on a Jazzcaster. I shield all my guitars, but I didn't bother on my Warmoth Jazzcaster, and it has no hum.

[OV7]

I've started a Warmoth Jazzcaster. I'm painting it and I've never painted a guitar before. I'm uploading pictures to this album on Google:

I'll update the album with pics as the assembly moves forward.

So what's your impression of the Warmoth body and neck? I've been tempted but wonder how the feel is after.

Everything plays, feels, and sounds great. I love the Warmoth Boatneck profile. It is chunky but not fat and very comfortable. I like the 1.625" nut width. i know everyone says you have to do all kinds of fret work to their necks but I've never done any on 3 different necks and they all play and feel perfect. The only neck I hate by them that I have is on my red Jazzmaster. It has all the same build specs but the standard thin profile which I find to be too thin.

[OV7]

I got the hum worked out, finally:)

https://youtu.be/44GqLKhN3t0

[chemattstry]

I’ve bought two necks from Warmoth, a Tele neck for a Jazzcaster I used to have and a Jazzmaster neck for my current favorite guitar. I didn’t need to do a whole lot to the neck besides some adjustments on the truss rod. Nuts were well cut and frets were pretty level and no sprout or anything.

[JVG]

i know everyone says you have to do all kinds of fret work to their necks but I've never done any on 3 different necks and they all play and feel perfect.

People say this? I also have 3 Warmoth necks and the fretwork is flawless on each one. In my experience, Warmoth’s quality control has been very good.

However, the reason i switched to Musikraft was better the range of specs, and slightly more “correct” shapes.

Cheers!
J

[601210]

My understand is that they themselves state that they don't do anything to the frets aside from installing them, so most people expect to have to fret level and crown and not trust Warmoth saying they don't need a fret level.

Like I can't really imagine perfectly seating every fret first-try and having them dead level, but I guess it happens?

[Rgand]

To my knowledge, Warmoth doesn't claim their frets are perfect and don't need any work. It's just that their work is the best there is and, although maybe not perfect, most people find they necks good to go the way they are. There is always a bit of fret work that they can benefit from it you want one of those absolutely perfect necks with a low, low action.

From the Warmoth 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."

[OV7]

Mine probably need some work that I’m unaware of due to lack of particularness....might be a side-effect of using lots of fuzzes and other effects and just wanting to play them instead of worrying about them being totally perfect. In comparison, though, the playability of my Nash JM63 is so much better . I definitely can feel and hear a huge difference between the perfection of the Nash and my hack jobs!

I tried doing a thorough intonation job and tuning with this video. Something still sounds off to me but it plays great!

https://youtu.be/X-siXhgT7GY

[OV7]

Has anyone else assembled a partscaster or partsmaster and it played kind of rough and you can't get it right but then you pick it up a few months later to give it another shot and it plays like a dream? That is the case with my green Jazzcaster. Maybe it is psychological, but I swear it plays completely different after ignoring it for about 3 months.

Random noodling:

https://youtu.be/ePa7mNH0Bog

[Tommyd55]

Warmoth Tour :Neck dept
Tells you Warmoth's reason for not doing finishing fret work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDCuC6J4NFk
.

[OV7]

Thanks for the shielding tips. That red guitar looks really awesome! Got any more pictures?

Here is the Jazzcaster:

[Rgand]

Looks gooooood! I like the grain lines showing through the finish.

[OV7]

Looks gooooood! I like the grain lines showing through the finish.

Thanks. It is just one coat of spray paint and that is it.

[Rgand]

Looks gooooood! I like the grain lines showing through the finish.

Thanks. It is just one coat of spray paint and that is it.

You just have to appreciate success, eh?