Musikraft guys: come tell me about them

[cardinal]

So Musikraft is the only parts-type maker that can do the specs I want, and I know a few folks have done Musikraft builds here.

How did it go? Any one have them cut the nut? How good was it? How was the fretwork and level of the board, particularly once it was under tension?

I've put together a number of other parts guitars and can easily take apart/put together/set up parts from guitars that were made well to start with, but I've had some very frustrating experiences using more "random" parts.

And I'm happy to take stuff to a luthier to have them do it, but I've tried several with big time positive recommendations, and they all do sloppy work.

So, if the Musikraft parts can't go together smoothly, I don't even want to bother with the frustration.

Thanks!

 

[Doughboy]

I wanted to buy a Kramer baretta body & neck from them, but had a few questions. I called at least 1/2 a dozen times & always got voice mail. Left msgs, never got a response, so I went with Warmoth.

Their stuff looks good, but no responses is not cool, imo.

 

[cardinal]

Yeah for whatever reason I'd be more confident with Warmoth, but they can't do the specs I'd want.

 

[paulyc]

I've ALWAYS heard back from the Musikraft guys...I've bought quite a bit of stuff from them, and I'll continue to do so. For Kramer or Charvel type stuff they're a no brainer...

 

[sixstringking713]

Musikraft is GARBAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=169882

I just received my USACG neck and it's PERFECT. I'm assembling the guitar still so I dont have good pics yet. I would definitely order from USACG again in the future! Plus they were $100 cheaper than my order with musikraft

 

[cardinal]

Yeah, that's then stuff that scares me. I like tinkering with this stuff because it's fun. But once it becomes frustrating like that it drives me nuts.

Unfortunately, I've called both USACG and Warmoth, and they won't do what I want.

 

[cardinal]

Bump to see if anyone else has experiences with Musikraft.

 

[ras1988]

I recently picked up two necks from them in an ebay auction. I will be installing them and finishing my builds with MJT bodies sometime in the next week or two. On initial inspection the necks were pretty spot on. One of the necks had slightly different carve than advertised it felt like a very soft V instead of the medium C that was advertised (could be an issue with final sanding or just a mix up on the specs posted on the auction). It feels like a C with a mild apex right down the center and it's consistent through the length of the neck. The fret-work and leveling on both necks was fantastic and there weren't the fret slot gap issues show on the linked thread. I will have a tech install and cut an unbleached bone nut so I can't speak about the quality of their nut-work. If there are any issues with the final set up or neck instability I will post in the next week or so. I went for 1-piece roasted maple necks (one being dark flamed quarter-sawn the other being medium dark figured/somewhat rift-sawn) so there shouldn't be too much instability from moisture/climate as they are roasted and sealed in lacquer, if the trussrod is off it'll show pretty quickly.

May I ask what specs you are going for? I'm a sucker for custom partscaster stuff.

 

[paulyc]

Ask sah5150, he's had good luck with Musikraft...

 

[Anonymous]

Here are two of my Musikraft projects and I'm doing another one right now. The first one is both Musikraft body and neck. The second one is Musikraft neck and a KNE Franky body. Everything fit together perfectly, they did exactly what I wanted and the parts were GREAT!

The only issue I've ever had with Musikraft is the roasted neck on the white relic I posted pics of below had such a bad twist in it that it was unusable when I went to put the guitar together. Now, I can't necessarily say that it came that way from Musikraft as it sat for months in conditions that I can't document in any way, however, a roasted neck is supposed to be more stable, so it is likely that the neck came screwed up from Musikraft. I sent the neck to the guys at warpedpeck.com and they worked their magic (for $150, I believe) and the neck is perfect now. I never contacted Musikraft because by the time I assembled the guitar, the warranty period was up and I couldn't account for the conditions the neck was kept in for the months the body was being painted/reclic'd...

Anyway, I love Musikraft's products and have done even more builds than these and have in all cases (except the one) had good luck with their stuff, even with other manufacturer's bodies. I don't hold the neck issue I discussed above against them. I will do business with them again at some point for sure... You have to understand that almost certainly some fret leveling/work is going to need to be done. After I get my guitars assembled and play them awhile, they all end up at my luthier for some minor fretwork, since I don't do that stuff. IMO, there is no getting around this with the necks from any manufacturer, unless you aren't very picky about how your guitars play....

I do think Kyle (sixstringking713) was treated badly though and there is no way his neck should have been so screwed up for the price he paid.

Steve

 

[rupe]

My two favorite mutts have Musikraft necks...they are right there with any of the vintage Charvel necks that I have/had.

 

[///MK]

Funny enough I have a heavily birds eyed musikraft neck that had a nasty twist in it as well. Had serveral musikraft necks and they were all amazing. I swear its something about a slim birdseye neck that is just prone to warp. I got to check out http://www.warpedneck.com/ thanks for the link..

 

[sixstringking713]

My birdseye maple neck from them back in 2009 (I think it was 2009) was 100% perfect, first try. Couldn't be happier with that neck.

However, the order I placed last year was a JOKE with the product and service I received, especially given I spent $600 on it. Glad I sent it back and ordered with USACG.

I am fine if there is a small gap under the frets but the gap on that 2nd neck they sent me was a F'in HOLE

 

[cardinal]

Sounds kinda hit or miss. I really don't want to deal with a warped or twisted neck or bad frets.

I would just get plain quartersawn. No birdseye or flame.

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds kinda hit or miss. I really don't want to deal with a warped or twisted neck or bad frets.

I would just get plain quartersawn. No birdseye or flame.

If you go plain quertsawn, I don't think you'll have any issue... Seems to be flame and birdseye stuff that can be an issue, as it can be for any neck manufacturer...

Steve

 

[sixstringking713]

Here's my USACG 5A roasted birdseye neck I just had made

 

[rupe]

Flame shouldn't make much of a difference, but birdseye is a complete crap shoot by it's very nature...imperfections/inconsistencies in the wood.
IMO, quartersawn is clearly the way to go if you plan to go unfinished or oiled.

 

[ras1988]

Put together two partscasters with musikraft roasted maple figured necks, one was quartersawn the other seemed to get quite a few growth rings across it but wasn't quartersawn. They make a great product for the money, I picked both necks for under $300 each on ebay. Fretwork is fine and they have been stable here in East central Texas. We had the remnants of a hurricane blow in then another storm system sweep through recently and both necks are holding stable from their initial set up. They do feel better than MIM and a lot of the MIA fender necks I have played.

 

[messenger]

I had a musikraft neck. After a year in the middle of winter the fret ends sprouted (which is common with unfinished necks) and I contacted them about it to see the best way to deal with it and they offered to fix the issue for free. I didn't take them up on the offer but I thought they had great customer service. No other issue with the neck.

 

[snowdog]

I am curious as to what you want done that the others can't/won't do ?