"loaded" body + aftermarket neck?

[ConcreteVampire]

Anyone do this?

Looking to get/build a Tele.
$600-$800 price point, gotta be American. Love for it to have a FAT neck.

Looking at Highway One, or American Specials (Used), as they fit the "Cheaper American", but not the Fat neck aspect.
The "Texas" Highway One came with a fat neck, and I'd buy one it a heartbeat, but impossible to find...

What about a "loaded" Highway one body. $350/$400, and add a Warmoth aftermarket neck. (They have a Wenge/Wenge, 58 profile for $224, then spend $50 in tuners, and $50 for set up.... Dunno, That dark colored fat neck, on a flat black body, with a bakelight guards, got me losin sleep!

 

[vultures]

I've done this. I bought a Fender Highway One MIA body (I was really adamant on getting all MIA stuff), and bought a custom Musikraft neck. I got the fully loaded body for around $300-350 brand new condition off an ebay store, and I got the neck for around $380. Spent about another $100-200 upgrading pickups and getting locking tuners. I really wanted a Tele with a thin neck, and FLAT radius. It was one of those kind of things I didn't even realize how much I spent until I added it all up in the end

Let me tell ya man, this thing is AWESOME. I don't regret a thing, the Highway One Tele body sounds amazing, and the neck is to die for. I used a Chopper-T in the bridge and Area-T in the neck. This thing can get that Tele clean "Twang" EASY, and can get some good crunch/rock. I wanted this guitar to have something really fun for rock type music, and it more than fits the bill.

Here are some pics: (yeah, it's birdseye maple board )

Specs on the neck
Head Stock Orientation: Right for Right Handed Players
Scale: 25-1/2" Standard Fender
Number of Frets: 22 With FB Extenion
Nut Width: 1-11/16"
Heel Width: Standard Fender 2-3/16"
Neck Wood: Quarter Sawn Maple + $65
Finger Board Wood: BE Maple Premium + $25
Finger Board Style: Slab Style .25" Thick
Tuner Hole Size: Gotoh/Scaller/Sperzel 10 mm
Trussrod Option: Single Acting Adjust at Heel
Finger Board Radius: 16"
Finger Board Inlay Top: None (No Holes Drilled)
Finger Board Inlay Side Markers: Black
12th Dot Spacing: Wide 1.035 Pre 1964 Style
Fret Size and Type: Jumbo Stainless + $25
Nut Style: Fender Style Flat Bottom
Back Profile: Thin D .75 to .81
Custom Up-Charges: None
Nut Installation Option: Slotted TUSQ Nut NATURAL +$35
Finish: Sealed with Shellac
Additional Options: Semi Rolled Finger Board Edges, 4 Neck Mouting Holes Drilled, Fake Walnut Plug at head

 

[ConcreteVampire]

Killer! I like the "Modern C' proflie they have, but having played a fat neck Nash at Lugo's last summer, I got spoiled...

I can see in your case the radius was the deal... NICE BOARD!


I'm gonna "Have to be ok with the stock pickups" to keep the cost down... ( But I will do the 4 way switch cause I can)

 

[rupe]

Nothing like rolling your own...its far and away the easiest way to get the exact spec that you want without breaking the bank.

 

[boost]

Check USA Custom Guitars under the neck and body specials. You might be able to pick up a tele body for under $100. I've also seen fatback necks once in a while on there too. Gotta jump when you see something you want as they don't seem to last too long.

I haven't built a guitar in a while, but if I needed a neck, this is the place I would go. Never bought from them before, but have heard alot of good things. I like the way you can customize the neck alot before you start getting into extra charges.

 

[vultures]

Killer! I like the "Modern C' proflie they have, but having played a fat neck Nash at Lugo's last summer, I got spoiled...

I can see in your case the radius was the deal... NICE BOARD!


I'm gonna "Have to be ok with the stock pickups" to keep the cost down... ( But I will do the 4 way switch cause I can)

Yeah dude, custom necks are where it's at. Can't speak for other companies, but with Musikraft you get your money's worth. I just made the choice with them because their NJ local and had a whole lot of options to choose from.

And don't worry about upgrading the pickups. If you get a loaded MIA Fender body, the stock pickups are usually pretty damn good by themselves.

 

[ConcreteVampire]

Check USA Custom Guitars under the neck and body specials. You might be able to pick up a tele body for under $100. I've also seen fatback necks once in a while on there too. Gotta jump when you see something you want as they don't seem to last too long.

I haven't built a guitar in a while, but if I needed a neck, this is the place I would go. Never bought from them before, but have heard alot of good things. I like the way you can customize the neck alot before you start getting into extra charges.

Thanks for heads up, reason I'm doin loaded body though is by the time your done with finish and parts, your $$ into the build....

I can tung oil the neck, and only need tuners and a set then....

 

[TeleBlaster]

I've done this with a Fender Roadworn '72 Deluxe Tele and a USA Custom Guitars neck, so I could have "my" neck profile, and 22 frets.

 

[stevemorse]

i think its a great way to go.. I just recently finished mine. I used a loaded japanese san dimas body and had a neck made to my specs by musikraft. Things got more expensive because I had a pro assemble it, install new pickups, and set it up. (a custom neck was crucial for me because i wanted a 16" radius and 24.75" scale).

 

[sixstringking713]

My first custom order neck was thru warmoth.. I was new to the whole building your own guitar thing, and didn't realize they FFF'D up the nut route. its too wide by a noticable amount. I ordered 1 11/16 and the R3 nut has room on the right side of the nut... I never called to complain because I didn't know any better and now it's probably too late (been about 4 years) Probably will never order another warmoth neck..

2nd experience with custom necks was thru musikraft. I think the guy who helped me was named scott? He was a huge help and once I got the neck, I LOVE it. In fact, I'm looking toward buying ANOTHER ONE to replace the shitty job warmoth did and throw that one up on ebay for whatever it fetches.. This neck is currently on my EVH replica...

I would definitely do business with musikraft again..