Why do people prefer Musikraft/Guitar Mill necks over Warmoth?

[HNB]

He is working through the quarantine. His rates aren't a ton more than Warmoth or Guitar Mill. I didn't even price guitar mill because the wait time on their main page is so long. Warmoth you simply can't get a bound and block neck. They have block as an option, but not binding. And their necks with blocks have the fretboard overhang.

Warmoth offers binding, but only on the modern construction option, which implies dual expanding truss rod.

It also wouldn't allow me to select binding and blocks. Only one or the other.

[tade]

Maybe it was a specific type of blocks? I have a B&B neck from Warmoth.

[HNB]

It is because of the fretboard overhang. If you want 21 frets, it takes off the option for binding. It only lets you have binding if you go with the overhang.

Also, that price isn't far off of PST an that Warmoth price is with binding and no fretboard overhang.

1 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

[tade]

Do you know if PST would do correct sized blocks with binding? If the prize isn't far off I think it's time to shoot them an email.

[Footbutt]

For what it’s worth...
I had a Musikraft neck made with Dots and Binding and it was near perfect.
Had someone else do the finish.

[HNB]

Do you know if PST would do correct sized blocks with binding? If the prize isn't far off I think it's time to shoot them an email.

Most likely. You could send him a message on facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/pst.guitars/

[hamletpowpowpow]

Okay, so I priced it out, same specs from multiple vendors.
Ebony neck, 9.5 radii, vintage style construction. 1605 stainless frets, Slim C neck (80-85, approx).

Warmoth: $285
Best Guitar/Sound Guitar: $320
Musikraft: $320

Best Guitar would probably be my last choice, they're not cheap, and the headstocks aren't Fender accurate - I'd need to have them reworked by someone.

So, three identical necks. Are they really going to be that much better from Musikraft? Wait time seems to be approximately the same - the only difference is price.

[hamletpowpowpow]

Bumping this - no one has thoughts?

It’s a $35 and two month wait difference for the identical neck. Is Musikraft really worth it?

[Rgand]

Paying more doesn't necessarily mean you get a better neck. I have ordered 4 or 5 Warmoth necks and all have needed very little fretwork, if any. I'll keep ordering Warmoth necks.

[tade]

I have never tried Musikcraft, but I have three Warmoth necks and they´re top quality.

[Jaguar018]

Bumping this - no one has thoughts?

It’s a $35 and two month wait difference for the identical neck. Is Musikraft really worth it?

$35 dollars can be a lot or a little, depending on your circumstances. For guitar necks I'd say that amount is negligible. It's not like there is some scientific research done that will give you some definitive answer. The replies on here are further proof.

I don't think there is really all that much of a difference for a neck with basic options, but just go with your gut. What do you actually want to get? How curious/patient are you?

[Deed_Poll]

All companies make a top quality product - they only become more differentiated when it comes to options.

Warmoth has wider ranging (but perhaps not deeper) options regarding aesthetics, wood choices etc. as detailed in my previous post, with some advantages and disadvantages.

Other companies provide more and better options for back profile, and are more vintage Fender accurate with their blocks and binding, the transition surfaces (mostly a "problem" on modern construction necks IIRC? Are the Vintage Construction transitions more accurate?)

I think yours is a good problem to have. You are not looking for anything too out-of-the-ordinary. I think a Vintage Construction Warmoth neck of the same specs will be as good a choice as any, particularly if you like the sound of the Standard Thin contour.

I would assume there will be no perceivable difference in quality - so I would go with Warmoth - but I would personally steer clear of Modern Construction.

[Singlebladepickup]

Musikraft and Guitar Mill will roll the hell out of the fretboard edges if you ask them to. Musikraft has way more options for neck profiles than Warmoth.

[kingmedicine]

Okay, so I priced it out, same specs from multiple vendors.
Ebony neck, 9.5 radii, vintage style construction. 1605 stainless frets, Slim C neck (80-85, approx).

Warmoth: $285
Best Guitar/Sound Guitar: $320
Musikraft: $320

Best Guitar would probably be my last choice, they're not cheap, and the headstocks aren't Fender accurate - I'd need to have them reworked by someone.

So, three identical necks. Are they really going to be that much better from Musikraft? Wait time seems to be approximately the same - the only difference is price.

If you can get the options you want with either, I don't think there is really a reason why the Warmoth necks would be a lower quality or anything. Although my preference is for Musikraft (but mostly just for specs and options), the Warmoth neck I had was good quality as well. I've got no experience with BGP unfortunately, but I've heard good things.

Also one thing to keep in mind with the price difference, all brands of aftermarket necks may need fretwork, so you may want to factor the possible cost of that in (unless you're doing your own). Both my Warmoth neck and some of my Musikraft necks required a minor fret level after I got them, but this will also partially depend on how low you like your action and setup, etc.

[BrendanP]

Okay, so I priced it out, same specs from multiple vendors.
Ebony neck, 9.5 radii, vintage style construction. 1605 stainless frets, Slim C neck (80-85, approx).

Warmoth: $285
Best Guitar/Sound Guitar: $320
Musikraft: $320

Best Guitar would probably be my last choice, they're not cheap, and the headstocks aren't Fender accurate - I'd need to have them reworked by someone.

So, three identical necks. Are they really going to be that much better from Musikraft? Wait time seems to be approximately the same - the only difference is price.

I have bought from all three of these sources. My current Jaguar neck came from Sound Guitar Works. Awesome quality. I went with a full 1" boat profile, jumbo frets and binding. For the headstock work, I found an accurate-looking headstock shape on the internet, printed it to scale, trimmed it with scissors and taped it to the face of my headstock. I then traced the outline with a sharp pencil and used a coarse grit drum sanding attachment on my drill press ($10 at hardware store) to remove the bulky areas. Then I sat in front of the TV with a sanding block, sand paper and a few small files. An hour later and it's done. Easy. That's what I did with all my USACG necks. It's hard to screw up.

Fender Japan headstocks are often considered to be pretty damn close to a vintage Fender as far as shape goes. Warmoth Strat / Tele headstocks are said to be intentionally different from vintage.