Thoughts on Allen Eden bodies and necks, or other budget sources

[jtcnj]

I didn't want to derail Randy's MIM 60th anninv. strat thread.

How about this yellow? I don't have any experience with AE bodies but maybe someone here does:

https://aeguitars.com/products/s-style- ... iti-yellow

Thanks for the link!
I'm tempted....

I have bought a few items from them (mainly necks) & have been very satisfied. YMMV

@ILuvTeles - I'm curious about these too. How would you describe the neck profile? slim, medium C, Chunky like SX strat necks, etc.?

This is the one I am consdering:
https://aeguitars.com/products/ae-guita ... d-22-frets

I'm thinking of building an HH strat hardtail / maple fret board. I was thinking to buy the neck and body from the same source, if that matters with fitment.
Pre finished body, as painting and sanding are no fun to me.

The AE looks ok, but any other partscaster builder's source suggestions are welcome, Guitarfetish bodies, necks, etc.
Looking to keep the price down (will likely be a solid black body), but no junk.

@Partscaster ?

I was thinking to get a used / cheapy or mid level Squier and fill the trem cavity with sawdust and wood glue, but "can of worms" comes to mind.

[rrobbone]

I'll chime in: anything cheap is a crapshoot. Order from a place with an excellent return/exchange policy.

I don't have much experience with replacement bodies, but from my research on the subject - you should be prepared to do a lot of final sanding work. The cheaper you go, the more likely you'll have to deal with problems. You could get lucky and have things/parts fall into place perfectly, but that's not the norm. If you don't mind or enjoy the work to get parts ready for final assembly, then go cheap.

Sources like Warmoth are expensive, but you're significantly raising the chances you'll get a nice body. They also offer wider choice in material and routing options, and you know exactly what parts will fit. They also guarantee their work - a big deal when ordering items sight unseen IMO.

I don't enjoy making necks, so I have more to say on going cheap here. If this "Eden" brand is the same as the Eden brand that shows up on Amazon from time to time, then I can speak to it. I've ordered two necks from them: One was fine, the other one I sent back three times due to major defects. Amazon made things right, and I finally got one I could use. Kmise is decent, Yinfente is decent, and by "decent" I mean that they show up straight and workable. Fret work and some light sanding are usually necessary, and the possibility of neck pocket fitment issues is moderate.

The best middle ground I know of is Mighty Mite. They have a good selection of options at better price points than Warmoth or Fender replacenents - while having the same "official" seal of approval. I've had to do minor fret work on these necks, mostly finish work. Never a major problem, and the neck pocket always fits as long as I've routed to standard Fender specs. They are a consistent maker. They have increased in price recently, but what hasn't? Expect around $200, sometimes they go on sale for less at Amazon.

The used guitar option is a smart way to go if you don't want to do anything more than assemble/upgrade parts. Squier has made hardtail Strats, and Thomann has an all black one that has been fairly well received.

[Rollin Hand]

I've running a Mighty Mite neck on one guitar for many years now. It could stand to have more available truss rod adjustment, but plays well anyway.

[Partscaster]

I have gotten most of my bodies from Woodtech Routing LLC. A CNC outfit n Ohio, two brothers, very nice folks. Many wood and body choices. I called once and asked one brother to tap body blanks for good highs and lows. He was happy to help.

They have their own website https://woodtechrouting.com

I use their reverb website. https://reverb.com/shop/woodtech-routing-llc. A few pics of every body available.

They should have hardtail options. --- edit: I see hardtail in Alder or White Pine at 145$ and Swamp Ash 215$ (ouch last year prices were about 20% lower.)



I get my Allparts MIJ necks at Stratosphere. They fit the Woodtech pockets like dove-tail joints. Perfect Fender spec. You have to tip the heal into the pocket due to real dove tail design.

There are a bunch of radius differences. I got all 7.25, and am familiar with those
Neck contour and fb variations: SRO regular slab rw fb w/c-contour, SRO-V soft-v w/slab fb, SR0-62 regular contour w/veneer fb. I think maple fb is SMO.

Perhaps unnecesary FWIW: I use tru-oil on neck backs and bodies. Its linseed based so watch out for spontaneous combustion of rags, spills onto cloth materials etc. It doesnt smell, it goes on light, coats well. It can be colored with artisan linseed oil based paints (cheap). Good for trans finishes, or use the paint tubes straight for solid color and tru oil clear coat after it dries for some days. Used rags need to be thrown into something like a wood stove immediately to prevent spontaneous combustion. People space out and leave them and hours later....poooof, flames. I'm paranoid about losing everything I own, so it works for me. Anything it touches, rag, q-tips, t-shirt...goes into wood stove.

[ILuvTeles]

@ILuvTeles - I'm curious about these too. How would you describe the neck profile? slim, medium C, Chunky like SX strat necks, etc.?

IIRC the necks were a medium C. The things I liked were the 43 mm width & the 10" radius. Fretwork seemed to be pretty good. Nut needed filing (no surprise). The one down side was the neck width at the body seemed to be a little wider than the bodies I was using.

More recently I have purchased several necks from howellguitar on eBay. That are a bit more, but very nice necks. Nice snug fit in the body.

[nomadh]

I got a good deal on an ash lightly reliced closet classic mjt strat body. It fit my usa neck flawlessly and the aged nitro feel of the body was amazing