Warmoth Neck Tolerances -- How Good (or Bad) Are They?

[solderhead]

I just took delivery on a Warmoth "Boatneck" profile neck with "Modern" construction. It doesn't appear to be anywhere close to meeting their advertised specs for thickness, but before I start complaining with them I thought I'd ask if my expectations are out of line.

TLDR: The neck is advertised to measure (front to back) 1.00" at the 1st fret and 1.00" at the 12th fret. The neck I received measures 0.850" and 0.850", which is dimensionally closer to their "Standard Thin" profile (0.080" and 0.850") than the "Boatneck" profile that I ordered.

Neck #1 -- The Fatback
I have previously purchased one Warmoth neck and one Warmoth body. The previous neck was a "Fatback / Modern construction" neck, which is advertised to have a roundback / baseball bat type of profile, where the thickness of the neck is 1.00" at the first fret, the twelfth fret, and everywhere in between. The neck that I received was a very nice product. It measured 0.975" at the 1st fret, and 0.977" at the 12th fret, which seems to be within manufacturing tolerances, considering that the necks have to be finish sanded, etc. The difference of 25/1000 at the 1st fret and 23/1000 at the 12th fret seems entirely reasonable to me.

Neck #2 -- The Boatneck
I just took delivery on a Warmoth "Boatneck / Modern construction" neck, which is advertised to also have a 1.00" thickness from the 1st to the 12th frets and everywhere in between, with the main difference between it and the Fatback being relieved shoulders, with sort of a V-shape at the bow of the boat (low frets) that gets wider/rounder as you go up the neck. They advertise the neck's shape as being similar to Fender's '52 Tele reissue.

https://warmoth.com/guitar-neck-profiles

The Boatneck that I received is nowhere close to a Vintage Tele profile. It measures 0.850" or less along the entire length of the neck. Now I realize that this is only a difference of 150/1000 along the entire length of the neck, but as far as guitar neck profiles go, 150/1000 is a LOT of difference. The difference is very noticeable, and it sort of negates the entire purpose of ordering a thick "Boatneck" profile (1.00" / 1.00") when the neck you get measures (0.085" / 0.085") and is dimensionally closer to their "Standard Thin" profile (0.080" / 0.850") than the advertised Boatneck specs).

Unfortunately, I've complained about this by email to Warmoth and so far my emails haven't received a response. Before I get all bent out of shape on this, I thought I'd ask for other people's experiences with respect to how close to the advertised specs new-production Warmoth products actually turn out to be. In the past, my Fatback was close enough to it's advertised spec that I was more than happy with it. But in this case the Boatneck profile seems to be really far off from what they advertise it to be. I thought I'd ask about other peoples experiences regarding how close to the advertised specs the Warmoth necks actually turn out to be. In this case, the neck seems very far off from the advertised specs, and it's closer in overall depth to a "Standard Thin" neck, a shape that I find unplayable. The reason that I ordered a thick custom neck was to get away from the Standard Thin profile that I already have (and don't like).

Unfortunately I've heard stories that Warmoth's quality has really gone downhill in recent years (post-Covid) and I'm trying to assess my options. Unfortunately this neck just isn't gonna work for me, but before doing anything I'd like to ask if my expectations that the neck should be closer to the advertised spec are out of line.

How much deviation from specs would you consider reasonable?

Thanks.


https://warmoth.com/guitar-neck-profiles

[jabguit]

Never had a problem with Warmoth when it comes to necks. If I don't make one myself I sometimes go to them. They've always been superb.


cheers,

[jabguit]

How much deviation from specs would you consider reasonable?

Thanks.


https://warmoth.com/guitar-neck-profiles

I'd say about + or - 0.020" should be an acceptable tolerance.

cheers,

[alnight]

I have had good luck with Warmoth necks and find them to feel fairly consistent (to each other, at least). According to them, the profile/thickness will vary slightly depending on the nut width selected. Fretboard and radius can also play a part in overall thickness. There are many contributing factors to the final form of the finished product.

[TUBEDUDE]

Call them/Send it back. I have had good luck with the necks they've built for me, but .850 is not acceptable.

[Roe]

The Boatneck that I received ...measures 0.850" or less along the entire length of the neck.

a clear mistake, return it

[jabguit]

The Boatneck that I received ...measures 0.850" or less along the entire length of the neck.

a clear mistake, return it

that, most certainly is NOT a Boatneck! should be well over .900". I would use this carve if in stock and carve it down to the profile I needed.