Question on bolt on builds

[ClintN667]

How hard is it to build a bolt on neck guitar? I mean let's say you had a fully painted body and all you really had to do was assemble it? I know it's been discussed before but just curious what are the gotchas with doing this? What makes one build a success and another a failure.

 

[LP Freak]

It’s pretty easy but you still need some knowledge and skill for it to play good. It’s not very likely that you will buy a body, bolt on a neck and it’s going to play flawless. You still need to properly cut the nut and level the frets among other things. You‘ll also need the proper tools. It’s definitely fun to learn though.

 

[GOHOINC]

If you are piecing together parts from many different sources or manufacturers the skill level required goes up in my opinion. My last warmoth build required 0 intonation adjustments, the only skills required were soldering and balancing the gotoh 510 to float. But I used a warmoth neck and a warmoth body, both new production and the nut installation/cutting is tailored to your fret choice so the necks are pretty perfect from the start.

Edited to remove plek comparison...

 

[cobrahead1030]

It’s pretty easy but you still need some knowledge and skill for it to play good. It’s not very likely that you will buy a body, bolt on a neck and it’s going to play flawless. You still need to properly cut the nut and level the frets among other things. You‘ll also need the proper tools. It’s definitely fun to learn though.

This has been my experience as well.

I bought an MJT body for a tele build ages ago, then a neck from warmoth, and sourced the other parts from everywhere. I was able to assemble a working playable guitar easily enough, but I was far from impressed with the end result. I ended up taking it to a tech, who did about $150 worth of minor setup tweaks and I couldn't believe what an improvement that made.

 

[BesaMoogie]

It really depends on if the holes on the body and neck are both predrilled. If not, joining the neck with the body with perfect alignment is a crutial part of the build.
You can bypass some of the steps by getting a neck that for example already has a nut installed. If you want to have it perfect, you would level the frets but that is not always necessary. Warmoth sells their necks and tells people to do it, but a lot of people are fine without.

If you really plan on going to do work on your guitar, buying tools is an option. If it`s only a build for some fun, try avoid steps in the build process that need luthier tools. They are expensive.

 

[BesaMoogie]

If you are piecing together parts from many different sources or manufacturers the skill level required goes up in my opinion. My last warmoth build required 0 intonation adjustments, the only skills required were soldering and balancing the gotoh 510 to float. But I used a warmoth neck and a warmoth body, both new production and they have their version of a plek now I believe so the necks are pretty perfect from the start.

Didn`t know the are now plecking their necks.

 

[Geo]

If you go Warmoth body and neck, it's a plug n play.

Otherwise, shimming the neck and adjusting the nut will most likely need to be done.

 

[LP Freak]

If you are piecing together parts from many different sources or manufacturers the skill level required goes up in my opinion. My last warmoth build required 0 intonation adjustments, the only skills required were soldering and balancing the gotoh 510 to float. But I used a warmoth neck and a warmoth body, both new production and they have their version of a plek now I believe so the necks are pretty perfect from the start.

Where did you read that they were plecking the necks now? I’m trying to find something and can’t

 

[GOHOINC]

Didn`t know the are now plecking their necks.

Its not a plek. I shouldn't have said plek. it's how they cut the nut when you order, it's tailored to your fret choice and is more or less perfect out of the box in my experience. In my brain the end result is what a plek aims to do, just does it without really touching the frets like a plek... Sorry should have been more specific.

 

[JohnnyGtar]

Its not a plek. I shouldn't have said plek. it's how they cut the nut when you order, it's tailored to your fret choice and is more or less perfect out of the box in my experience. In my brain the end result is what a plek aims to do, just does it without really touching the frets like a plek... Sorry should have been more specific.

Great idea to do that with the nut. That will come in handy, especially with stainless frets. Maybe it's time I took the plunge and build the Star body guitar I've had in my head for 40 years. (Yep, 40 years. I know that because I sketched it out before my first kid was born. I'm old! LOL)

 

[LP Freak]

Its not a plek. I shouldn't have said plek. it's how they cut the nut when you order, it's tailored to your fret choice and is more or less perfect out of the box in my experience. In my brain the end result is what a plek aims to do, just does it without really touching the frets like a plek... Sorry should have been more specific.

The slots are always high in my experience but maybe some like that

 

[fek]

Good to hear about Warmoth. A build is most likely going to be my next guitar and my skills are minimal.

 

[ewill52]

I've built one that was a Warmoth neck and body and it was pretty damn simple. Playability was very good with minimal adjustment. My second build was from another manufacturer's body and different brand of neck, and it's been a pain in the ass lol. no matter what I do, I just can't seem to get to the level of playability. Unfortunately my first build set the bar unrealistically high

 

[BesaMoogie]

Its not a plek. I shouldn't have said plek. it's how they cut the nut when you order, it's tailored to your fret choice and is more or less perfect out of the box in my experience. In my brain the end result is what a plek aims to do, just does it without really touching the frets like a plek... Sorry should have been more specific.

ok, made me think for a second about the plek thing. Pleking only makes sense if the guitar is put together and all is set up. This incudes neck relief as well as your favourite tuning and string size/tension.

 

[SpiderWars]

There are so many videos out there that you can take it as far as you want. I agree with going with same mfr for both body and neck and Warmoth is good. IME, with Warmoth you usually can get away with out fret leveling.

I’d also keep it fairly simple. Some folks build their first partscaster thinking it’s going to be this perfectly customized dream guitar when done. No matter how good you build it, it might sound like a turd. It’s wood, it’s variable. Just build something simple that you would like to play.

 

[Geo]

Here are a couple of Warmoth builds I have done in the last couple years.

Note in the first pic that right out of the box, the trem and neck were just perfect.

The first pic is a recessed floyd and the second pic is top mounted.

 

[SoooRad]

I've done a build with Musikraft neck-KNE body, and that turned out good, and most recently a Butala neck and body, and that turned out good as well. Using a Floyd Rose nut and bridge I think makes things easier

 

[PDC]

I absolutely love building (assembling) my own builds. It can become addictive! Get a quality body and neck from Musikraft or Warmoth and you are 90% of the way there. As long as you understand the basics of action / intonation and truss rod adjustment you will be fine. Lots of very good YouTube tutorials out there. After decades of EMG use, I really needed to up my soldering skills and basic wiring trouble shooting. I’ve improved in that department - but it’s all a process. Again, youtube is your friend. Another option is to get a body and neck of the same / matching brand from stratosphere - some necks come with tuners and nuts installed and some bodies come with the bridge and pickups installed. That really gets you most of the way there for a first project.

Also, if you do feel more comfortable taking your guitar to a known good local shop for wiring, ask the tech if you can watch and ask a few questions. Offer to pay extra. Most techs really enjoy what they do and are happy to explain the basics to a fellow enthusiast.

 

[Devin]

I've only assembled a Warmoth build but it was very easy and came out great. Went with a floyd/locking nut which simplifies things a bit IMO