I recently received my custom Warmoth guitar parts, including a finished alder Strat body and a finished maple modern Strat neck. Excited to start the assembly, I took all the components to my luthier, as I lack guitar assembly expertise myself.
The first thing my luthier inspected was the Warmoth neck. He identified a slight concave bow of approximately 1/32” when the neck was unstrung and the truss rod was slack. To straighten the neck, he had to significantly tighten the heel-adjust truss rod nut. Even after this adjustment, he expressed concerns and decided to hold off on the full guitar assembly.
His primary concern was that a brand new neck, particularly one from a reputable manufacturer like Warmoth, should ideally be perfectly straight out of the box. He worried that this initial bow and the required truss rod adjustment might lead to future issues. These potential problems could include difficulties in achieving proper neck relief once strung, long-term neck stability problems, and even an increased risk of fretboard issues over time.
I contacted Warmoth to report this observation. Their response indicated that their necks are “intentionally milled with an under bow (string relief) which is apparent when the truss rod is slack.” This statement aligns with what many long-term Warmoth customers have reported experiencing.
This leaves me with a couple of key questions regarding Warmoth Guitar Necks and neck bow:
Firstly, based on experience with Warmoth necks, is a 1/32” concave bow in a new neck cause for concern, justifying my luthier’s reservations?
Secondly, what are the specific manufacturing specifications for neck bow on Warmoth necks? Understanding these specifications would help determine if my neck is within acceptable tolerances and if the luthier’s concerns are warranted.
Any insights or shared experiences regarding Warmoth neck bow and truss rod adjustments would be greatly appreciated as I decide how to proceed with my guitar build. Understanding the typical characteristics of Warmoth guitar necks is crucial before considering a potentially costly return shipment for a warranty inspection.
