Warmoth conversion necks - hope for short scale players?

[Bluesking]

I've had one hell of a time playing anything but a short scale guitar for years. I learned on a Gibson 335 and I've never been able to adjust to a Strat scale, no matter how long I tried.

I've long been a fan of the late 60s players, especially Hendrix. In fact, I think that a Strat through a cranked, screaming Marshall is probably my reference point for all things godlike in toneland. I've tried chasing that style, but the scale issue has left me out of luck.

Recently, I had to send back a killer T51 to BCR because I just couldn't get comfortable on the neck- which sucks, because it was maybe the best Tele tone I've ever heard.

So, I stumbled across the Warmoth site and discovered they sell conversion necks so you can have a short scale on your Strat or Tele.

Here they are: Warmoth Conversion Necks

Has anyone had any experience with conversion necks? I know that the scale will affect the tone, but will I still be able to get a good Strat or Tele tone from a shorter neck? Can I simply stick one of these onto a Strat body and let it rip?

I know there's a ton of knowledge on this board - any ideas or inputs?

[cmatthes]

It may get you closer to what you're looking for, but I don't think it will be dead-on. Remember that the nodes are at set intervals with each scale length. On a longer scale neck, they're in different places than on a shorter scale, so will sound slightly different. Where the nodes line up relative to stock pickup and bridge positions will also have an influence on the sound. There is also a stiffer/tougher feel on the longer scale necks that you'll notice in an A/B comparison.

Definitely worth a try though!

[fruhike]

I have always wanted to do this myself. I am interested in hearing the HFC's wisdom on this as well.

[Steve Haynie]

I want a Kramer Nightswan. It was a bolt-neck shredder with a 24.75" scale. What I remember about the one we tried in the music store is that it did have more of the Gibson scale tones that would be expected.

So, Bluesking, you can try the conversion neck, but you will not get all the Strat mojo that you are hoping to find. Chris nailed the technical reasons for you.

[duncans]

Nothing about conversion necks here but I have some experience with their true short scale guitars (24 3/4"). I've built a strat and a tele with 24 3/4", 24 fret necks. The strat body is 7/8 size and alder with a bathtup route, no trem. I've used gold lace sensors and to me sounded very straty, altho' I dont' have a Fender to compare it to. The tele has Humbucker/strat routing so can't say it sounds like a tele.

[geoff_hartwell]

I have two strats and a tele with Warmoth conversion necks and I LOVE them.

As far as "nodes" go, if you're referring to the harmonic nodes,

there right where they should be- on a 24 3/4 neck.

I got the tele neck because I'm used to Hamers, and I was looking

for the Danny Gatton spank. So I put a set of Bardens in the tele body,

got the Warmoth conversion neck made and have been very happy with it ever since.

The first strat was a Fender Chrome Red body with the David Gilmour DG-20 pickup set

and a warmoth conversion neck. That guitar RULES. I'm a not-so-closet Floyd fanatic (I played guitar and

musical directed a full stage production of The Wall in the late 90's among other things...) and

I wanted this guitar for the late period stuff. When I saw Gilmour last april

he was still using his red strat for "Shine On" live.

The other strat with the conversion neck is for the earlier "Tuxedo" work (Gilmour refers to that one just as "Black Strat") with one-ply pickguard. Though he used that one for the bulk of the last tour.

The feel is to die for, and the tone is killer.

The biggest feel-oriented difference is that your bends will naturally be in MUCH better tune,

because you'll be applying the right amount of force for the tension. As opposed to the increased

tension on the longer scale.

Go for it. I've got three, and no intentions of stopping there.

Geoff

[Jimbilly]

Do they still do 3/4 scale strats? I know 2 guys with older Warmoth 3/4 super strats (single hum, strat trem, koa bodies, maple/maple necks), but those are probably 20 years old or older now.

I would think someone would still do those, I'm sure there's boogie bodies parts around to do one of those, but the 'wait' is kind of long for boogie bodies these days...

[hamersandstrats]

I've built 2 warmoths with conversions necks-the first is a tele with humbuckers and a semi-hollow mahogany body, and the second was a strat. The strat sounded like any other strat I've owned. I didn't notice any tonal difference with the conversion neck, although i was expecting too. The pickups, IMO, have much more to do with the tone the the scale of the neck.