High End Parts Casters

[Devin]

I put my Warmoth together for around $500ish, though that was at least 10 years ago now

Went with a basswood body and FR Special to help keep the cost down and did all the finishing myself


I think it came out great overall and if it was my only guitar I'd be perfectly happy with it

 

[Harry Dunne]

I get it. And if Andersons were remotely still close to 3K that would be the direction I'd go. But prices are getting pretty high.

I was thinking used, but even then the used prices are climbing too.

Unfortunately there’s no guarantee what it’ll sound like after it’s all done regardless how much money you spend on parts. I had a Strat build that had an Allparts neck and Warmoth body when I got it and sounded very flat. I decided to swap out the neck with a Warmoth and it completely transformed the guitar. I never thought a neck swap would make much of a difference tonally but it was obvious it did.

I've built several partscasters over the years, but only this one and one other were duds. The first one I was able to build for a lot less, so I didn't care as much and I got rid of it easily. But I really wanted to make the 7/8 work, because it had a lot going for it still and I knew I would take a bath on selling it (which I did).

 

[scottosan]

“High-end” and “parts caster”…. In the same sentence?

I’ll put my partscasters up against guitars twice the cost.

Most people don’t know what fits with what. 3 tuner hole dimensions, at least 3 screw spacing dimensions for 6 hole trems, similar variances on most parts of the builds. It’s knowing what works best with what. I think musikraft necks are best out of the box, I find that Allparts necks are the best fit and accurate fit fender type builds like MJT and Willwood bodies but they come with zero fret prep.

For me, what sets apart a $1300 guitar from $3500-3000 is the neck work, such as great a properly installed bone nut, fretwork and rolled edges. I can get the guitar assembled and electronic wire immaculately but I reserved a modest $200 for my luthier to install a new nut, roll the board edges, and do a fret level, crown and polish. Yeah musikrafts neck are good out of the box, but still not at the same level as a lending the fret finishing

 

[Texsunburst59]

I ordered this Partscaster for my son’s birthday.

I couldn’t get all he wanted without spending big $$$ for a custom one from Suhr.

He wanted a Suhr HSS in Fiesta Red , SS frets , Custom Neck radius not their standard, but wanted Suhr pickups, and 5A flamed roasted maple neck.

Had a local friend that’s built plenty of partscasters for plenty of locals, put it together for me

Total cost for parts case and labor $1800

Here’s the spec sheet :

 

[The~Kid]

A lot of nice stuff here....... Go for Gotoh Hardware *_*

 

[rsm]

I don't have the time, patience, skills to build a partscaster, never mind a high end one.

My only Strat is a used MIM. I got a MIJ Jaguar, lake placid blue; my son tried it, and asked to borrow it / use it when he was at my house, so I bought him one, he wanted Candy Apple Red. All of these guitars are better than anything I'd build/assemble/finish; not to mention the plethora of frustration and tedium throughout the build process.

 

[Fusionbear]

Here is my last "high-end" partscaster:

Here is what it sounds like:

 

[Harry Dunne]

Here is my last "high-end" partscaster:

View attachment 455912


Here is what it sounds like:

Great color!

 

[Geo]

Well, here is the latest. Everything new. Ultra body, Professional neck and trem, Professional ll pickups.

If you have not yet tried the V-Mod 2 pickups, do so, very cool indeed.

Everything totals about 1K.

 

[Uzi Nein Millimetah]

I finished this one today while I am recovering from a cold....


View attachment 452997


View attachment 452998


It plays and sounds amazing. Suhr Thornbuckers,roasted Swamp Ash body, Roasted Maple neck with Indian Rosewood fretboard. Gibson conversion.

I have parts for one more. But it will be a while before I'll have time to assemble...

I have some shoes that I think will go well with it...lol

What do you think? @VonBonfire

View attachment 453003

Which costs more, the guitars or the shoes?

 

[reignman454]

I'm thinking about building a higher end 24 3/4 SSS parts caster . How many of you have done it? What was the approximate total cost? And do you think it was worth it?

Sorry not sorry... most parts casters are/play better than genuine fender stuff. Shits always been hit or miss with them.

 

[Fusionbear]

I prefer Warmoth. Probably closer to 1.5k overall. But worth it, IMO...

Here are a few I have assembled and love!

A baritone

A couple of Gibson scale Meadowhawks:

My latest with a nod to the Frankenstein:

 

[DanTravis62]

Sorry not sorry... most parts casters are/play better than genuine fender stuff. Shits always been hit or miss with them.

Fender makes good stuff, their QC has struggled mightily the last few years though

If you can find a series or model that has specs you like fender can be great, but that's a really, really big "if" - they seem determined to only make specs for guitars that I dislike immensely

All in all, I think if you can find something off the shelf that has specs you want, you wouldn't be looking at warmoth anyways

 

[Music&Chaos]

Well, here is the latest. Everything new. Ultra body, Professional neck and trem, Professional ll pickups.

If you have not yet tried the V-Mod 2 pickups, do so, very cool indeed.

Everything totals about 1K.

View attachment 457243

That looks great. The matching headstock pulls it all together really well.

 

[Geo]

That looks great. The matching headstock pulls it all together really well.

Thanks, I usually build to sell but this one is a keeper.

It just plays and sounds amazing.

I was very pleasantly surprised with the pickups. Fender got it right with these.

 

[reignman454]

Fender makes good stuff, their QC has struggled mightily the last few years though

If you can find a series or model that has specs you like fender can be great, but that's a really, really big "if" - they seem determined to only make specs for guitars that I dislike immensely

All in all, I think if you can find something off the shelf that has specs you want, you wouldn't be looking at warmoth anyways

Sorry but to "Gamble" off the shelf with a "Tier 1" brand as US production to me is ridiculous. There just isn't an excuse for the QC issues with all the chest pounding and touting....

 

[Music&Chaos]

I never really have dished out a ton for parts for a 'high end' build, just keep my eyes open for deals on nice parts and eventually things just come together I guess.

Here are a few. Surprised me how they have added up. They all cost me around $500 avg.


Tele:

Next up is my Telebird (bad pics but whatever

The first one I ever did. Has been a journey with Zed but it is my main guitar and strat:

This Moss green one will have a change soon that you will see a new thread on....

Does this Harley Benton count? Only thing left that is original is the body, changed all the hardware, electronics, etc.

 

[Geo]

I never really have dished out a ton for parts for a 'high end' build, just keep my eyes open for deals on nice parts and eventually things just come together I guess.

Here are a few. Surprised me how they have added up. They all cost me around $500 avg.


Tele:
View attachment 457436


Next up is my Telebird (bad pics but whatever

View attachment 457437

The first one I ever did. Has been a journey with Zed but it is my main guitar and strat:

View attachment 457438

This Moss green one will have a change soon that you will see a new thread on....
View attachment 457439

Does this Harley Benton count? Only thing left that is original is the body, changed all the hardware, electronics, etc.

View attachment 457441

$500 is a tight budget. Parts prices are crazy right now. GOTOH is always the best bang for the buck.

 

[Music&Chaos]

$500 is a tight budget. Parts prices are crazy right now. GOTOH is always the best bang for the buck.

Oh I know man, I didn't budget these out like that, I just happen to only look out for great deals. I was able to get a Warmoth Body and neck through a trade deal for a guitar I spent a whopping $140 on, set up and cleaned up. The guitar was worth well over what I paid for it but still, I got a sweet deal. The Moss green body you see there and the Birdseye maple/rosewood neck on the first tele. I grabbed some Gotoh vintage keys on sale for abt $50 recently for example, and this is how it goes.

I am also able to use Planet Tone pickups that I really enjoy and are cost effective.

Hell, I have a few US hand made Nitro necks here...I think the most expensive one was around $250? Actually all of my guitar necks are Hand made in US now that I look. Most of them have thin nitro and there is one that is oil finished.

Just great deals and time. If I were hunting to build one, no way I could do it this cheap.

 

[Findthetone1]

My Musikraft conversion neck came last week for my Warmoth Soloist body. Once I get that together and see how it plays and sounds, I'll decide whether or not to do an SSS parts build.