Activator Tele Build

[fivestringdan]

I have a set of Tele Activators that Greg sold me a couple of years ago. Finally thinking about putting a tele together.
I have a roasted pine body that is cut to shape that I'm going to use. I also wanted to ask if anyone in the club has tried a Klos guitar neck. I think a graphite neck would be sweet with the Activators. Plus, I don't have to make a neck...lol

Hopefully they will start offering baritone necks as well.
https://klosguitars.com/products/carbon-neck-upgrade

[lbpesq]

Hi Dan.  I'm curious to hear your review of the Klos neck.  While I've never tried one, my #1 gigging guitar sports Alembic guts and an old Modulus Blackknife graphite neck.  I LOVE it!  I also have an Alembicized American Standard Tele.   Again, LOVE the Alembic PUs/electronics in the Tele.  Good luck with your build.

Bill, tgo

[cozmik_cowboy]

Having played both of the guitars Bill mentions, I can confirm that they are amazing!  Do, indeed, keep us posted.
I have never heard of Klos; I will now repair to Google......

Peter

[dannobasso]

I have a custom KLOS 5 string bass. I highly recommend them. I have many graphite necked instruments including Status, Moses, Modulus and now KLOS. There are also Flaxwood necks that are composite including wood fibers that behave like graphite.

https://www.flaxwood.com

https://www.flaxwood.com/product/aija-blak29-dt-signature/. My custom Flaxwood signature guitar.

[fivestringdan]

The Klos website say about 4 week build time for the neck. So that will give me time to machine the body. Next time I'm at the shop I'll snap a picture of the body.
I have owned several Modulus basses so this will be interesting for sure. The Flaxwood necks look cool. Maybe worth a try in the future. I was happy to find a company that make OEM graphite necks that are priced reasonably.
I have a couple of necks I'm finishing and not looking forward to it. If anyone could recommend other OEM neck manufactures that would help.

[lbpesq]

There's a company called Aluminati that makes aluminum necks.  Never seen one in the flesh.   About $1K each.   For something more modest, I’ve purchased several necks from Freestone Guitars on eBay.   A lot of bang for the buck.  And they are always coming out with interesting woods. 

Bill, tgo

[cozmik_cowboy]

I heard many good things about USA Custom Guitars necks & bodies - but a few years back, they sold to MJT Guitar Finishes, and the USACG part of the MJT site has remained the same since (while I have what I want all figured out*, I don't have the filthy lucre for it, so haven't called or written to get the straight poop).
A guy on another forum built a Tele from USACG's  roasted quarter-sawn maple neck, clear satin nitro with gloss headstock, and roasted swap ash body, clear gloss nitro.  Made a mouthwatering piece, and he said it played & sounded just as good.
Anybody wanting to build something like that, check them out (and report back......)

*They were the only place I found that would build you a type F neck with a 7.25" radius and an accessible TRN.

Peter (who will add that it wasn't just Teles; Strats, S & T Thinlines, Jag/J-master; P, J, etc.)

[fivestringdan]

Bill, I have ordered a bunch of necks from Freestone. They do good work for the money. Several hundred dollars less than Warmoth in some cases. I do my own finish work so I'm okay with the raw necks. 

There's a company called Aluminati that makes aluminum necks.  Never seen one in the flesh.   About $1K each.   For something more modest, I’ve purchased several necks from Freestone Guitars on eBay.   A lot of bang for the buck.  And they are always coming out with interesting woods. 

Bill, tgo

[fivestringdan]

I looked into USACG a few years ago. They were a bit higher than I wanted to spend. A friend recommended them and said they do really good work. Bit more hands off type of manufacture I guess. Now the graphite neck is completely hands off as well but the novelty justifies the expense.

I heard many good things about USA Custom Guitars necks & bodies - but a few years back, they sold to MJT Guitar Finishes, and the USACG part of the MJT site has remained the same since (while I have what I want all figured out*, I don't have the filthy lucre for it, so haven't called or written to get the straight poop).
A guy on another forum built a Tele from USACG's  roasted quarter-sawn maple neck, clear satin nitro with gloss headstock, and roasted swap ash body, clear gloss nitro.  Made a mouthwatering piece, and he said it played & sounded just as good.
Anybody wanting to build something like that, check them out (and report back......)

*They were the only place I found that would build you a type F neck with a 7.25" radius and an accessible TRN.

Peter (who will add that it wasn't just Teles; Strats, S & T Thinlines, Jag/J-master; P, J, etc.)

[cozmik_cowboy]

I looked into USACG a few years ago. They were a bit higher than I wanted to spend.

Interesting.  Part of what caught my attention was that they would build exactly the neck I wanted - for almost 50% less than what Warmouth, Musikraft, et al, wanted for something close (OK on 7.25" 'board or accessible TRC - but no one else would put both on the same neck).

Peter

[fivestringdan]

Yeah that makes sense about warmoth pricing. Anything out of their norm they tag a big price jump and wait time in my experience. At the time was getting plain maple of rosewood board necks for a little over $100 from freestone so at the time I just bought from them

I looked into USACG a few years ago. They were a bit higher than I wanted to spend.

Interesting.  Part of what caught my attention was that they would build exactly the neck I wanted - for almost 50% less than what Warmouth, Musikraft, et al, wanted for something close (OK on 7.25" 'board or accessible TRC - but no one else would put both on the same neck).

Peter