Replacement neck for Fender Telecaster

**p1p** · 02-13-2018, 07:40 AM

Hoping to get a few opinions on the best value Tele neck replacement.

I've had this old MIM neck that is twisted, yes twisted, on there for some time now and it annoys the hell out of me. The action is only JUST low enough to actually play, but not exactly ideal.

I'm looking for something CHUNKY.. the MIM one was always too thin for my liking. I suppose I'll have to consider the setup costs of a new neck as well :/

Thoughts on rosewood vs maple fretboard would also be appreciated. I'm in the UK, so I need to consider what's available this side of the pond.

Cheers

**Boston Joe** · 02-13-2018, 08:16 AM

It might be a little spendy, but you can get pretty much any kind of replacement neck you want from Warmoth.com. You can buy one of their "off the shelf" necks or have one custom made to your specs.

I don't know what your "value" equation is, but in terms of quality, they're hard to beat. I'm sure you can find other ones at a lower price though.

The rub would be shipping. I'm sure they'd ship to you, but shipping from Seattle to UK might not be cheap.

I prefer rosewood for fretboards. I like the darker tone and softer feel. However, you could run into export/import problems depending on the type of wood you choose.

**vinlander** · 02-13-2018, 01:21 PM

+1 for Warmoth
A bit pricey but very good quality.
Have a look at their screaming deal section, I got a neck that would have cost me 558 for 290$ this way last year for my Franken Tele

**Boston Joe** · 02-13-2018, 03:20 PM

Another option might be to scour craigslist (or whatever equivalent you've got over there), find someone's cheap used Tele and cannibalize the neck.

**p1p** · 02-13-2018, 03:25 PM

Originally Posted by Boston Joe

Another option might be to scour craigslist (or whatever equivalent you've got over there), find someone's cheap used Tele and cannibalize the neck.

Yeah I've been checking heh..

**Hep To The Jive** · 02-13-2018, 03:34 PM

All Parts neck is good on my tele, and chunky too. I've heard Warmoth necks are pretty heavy due to dual trussrod or something like that. Is it true?

**Frank67** · 02-13-2018, 03:39 PM

Warmoth „Screaming Deal“ rather than custom made
try unfinished roasted Maple - it is sooo good!
thank me later :-)

**omphalopsychos** · 02-13-2018, 03:40 PM

- 1 for warmoth. My Musikraft neck was a million times better than the warmoth I got.

**Al_F** · 02-13-2018, 03:41 PM

Squier classic vibe 50s necks are just right

**JohanAbrandt** · 02-13-2018, 03:41 PM

I got an allparts TMO-V on one of my telecasters, cant recommend it enough. Couple of coats of oil, and it was ready to go.

Skickat från min iPad med Tapatalk

**p1p** · 02-13-2018, 04:10 PM

Any of these not require a setup, or is that just super wishful thinking?

**mr. beaumont** · 02-13-2018, 04:24 PM

Warmoth boat neck on my tele. Love it, very little setup required...took 2.5 beers to screw it on and string it up.

**p1p** · 02-13-2018, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Warmoth boat neck on my tele. Love it, very little setup required...took 2.5 beers to screw it on and string it up.

Definitely like the sounds of that!

Really though, no fretwork or nut setup?

**Frank67** · 02-13-2018, 04:43 PM

Warmoth typically is ok out of the box, but they comment themselves that fret leveling and final setup is left to the customer. I took all of my Warmoth‘s to the shop and definitely haven‘t regretted it. Just factor it in. The quality is great (despite the ‚-1‘ ... what defines „a million times better neck“?)

**omphalopsychos** · 02-13-2018, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by Frank67

(despite the ‚-1‘ ... what defines „a million times better neck“?)

Sorry for my unclear first post. Ultimately a neck is a neck, and you like or dislike it. But I meant in terms of out-of-the-box playability.

On my warmoth, I had to file the nut because the slot were too high and too narrow, even though I specified the string gauge that I use. I had to remove lacquer from the frets (this is insane to me). I had to raise the action higher than I otherwise would have (or pay for a fret level). I haven't been bugged too much by it, but the fret ends are very sharp compared to my Musikraft.

On the Musikraft I had to do none of these. I screwed the neck in and adjusted the truss rod and saddles a bit. I was playing my guitar 30 minutes after the neck came. Haven't changed the setup since.

Maybe my warmoth was a dud.

**p1p** · 02-13-2018, 06:00 PM

Thanks everyone.

Any opinions on Fender's? I'm looking at this: Fender Vintage Style 50's Telecaster Neck - Maple Fingerboard - Andertons Music Co.

Prob the most I'd be willing to spend. They want around £600 for american made ones...

**Frank67** · 02-13-2018, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by omphalopsychos

Sorry for my unclear first post. Ultimately a neck is a neck, and you like or dislike it. But I meant in terms of out-of-the-box playability.

On my warmoth, I had to file the nut because the slot were too high and too narrow, even though I specified the string gauge that I use. I had to remove lacquer from the frets (this is insane to me). I had to raise the action higher than I otherwise would have (or pay for a fret level). I haven't been bugged too much by it, but the fret ends are very sharp compared to my Musikraft.

On the Musikraft I had to do none of these. I screwed the neck in and adjusted the truss rod and saddles a bit. I was playing my guitar 30 minutes after the neck came. Haven't changed the setup since.

Maybe my warmoth was a dud.

Warmoth explitly tells you on their website that they‘ll leave it to you to do that! (except for the nut ... but none of of my five had that issue). 70 bucks is what it takes around here to get a perfect guitar ... add that to the Warmoth price and you‘re good to go. If it is too much, then other options may get you there even cheaper - At least I am ok with what I got given what I paid - I had custom shop Fenders that I sold in a hurry since my Warmoth‘s were as good or better for a third or so of the money ... sounds like a good deal to me - even after the fret dress bill :-)

**omphalopsychos** · 02-13-2018, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by Frank67

Warmoth explitly tells you on their website that they‘ll leave it to you to do that! (except for the nut ... but none of of my five had that issue). 70 bucks is what it takes around here to get a perfect guitar ... add that to the Warmoth price and you‘re good to go. If it is too much, then other options may get you there even cheaper - At least I am ok with what I got given what I paid - I had custom shop Fenders that I sold in a hurry since my Warmoth‘s were as good or better for a third or so of the money ... sounds like a good deal to me - even after the fret dress bill :-)

I'm aware they tell you to do it. But at least one competitor includes the service in the cost of their product. That's enough for me to prefer their competitor.

**Frank67** · 02-13-2018, 06:41 PM

Fair enough

**feet** · 02-13-2018, 07:17 PM

given warmoth can get spendy fast if you are looking for something particular (i easily passed $400 pricing out a tele neck with some fairly standard options) i would take stock of the things i needed to have (neck shape, radius, nut width, wood choice) and either see if fender ever made anything similar and try to pick up one of those necks off reverb or ebay. or just hope to find one in warmoth's premade pile. but pickings are pretty slim if you aren't after the most basic of feature sets.

**jads57** · 02-13-2018, 07:36 PM

Chunky Telecaster Neck | Allparts.com

**jads57** · 02-13-2018, 07:39 PM

I have the above neck in a parts caster Tele build. I finished it with Tru Oil myself and installed a nut with a freinds help. I've owned a bunch of different replacement necks from Warmoth,USA,Guitar Mill, etc. This one is equally as good and hasn't moved at all ,even w/out hard finish. I live in Minnesota USA Viking Weather,LOL!

**fireglo** · 02-13-2018, 08:27 PM

You might also check out "The Stratosphere" store on eBay. This guy takes factory fresh Fenders and parts them out and sells the parts on eBay. Not particularly cheap but would give you quite a variety of genuine fender stuff.

The STRATosphere | eBay Stores

**Skip Ellis** · 02-13-2018, 11:28 PM

I've got an old Allparts neck that's been bouncing back and forth between bodies for about 30 years. I think I sprayed a couple coats of nitro on it when I got and and it's been perfect ever since. About once a year, I sand the frets to get rid of any flat spots (I have a light touch). I recommend them highly. I did purchase a Canadian neck (E-bay) for a customer recently for $99 and, notwithstanding the rather heavy finish, it's made well and has a dual action truss rod. I've had Warmoth, too - they're nice but too pricey for me.

**Cunamara** · 02-14-2018, 12:18 AM

I've had read luck with Warmoth necks and really like the compound radius fingerboard. I don't like 7.5" radius boards in particular. Shipping to the EU from the US ain't going to be cheap and there there is the CITES stuff, etc. There's got to be someone in Europe making good Tele/Strat necks. Allparts apparently has a UK division, but that will soon not be in the EU so don't be caught napping!

http://www.allparts.co.uk

Good luck!