Any player who has had the opportunity to try a variety of instruments has almost certainly experienced at least one neck heavy guitar or bass. They are easy to spot: any time you let go of the neck the headstock rotates towards the ground, spinning the entire axe like a giant compa... See More »

Because of its beautiful dark color, density, and durability, Ebony (Diospyros melanoxylon) has been a highly valued wood since ancient times. It has a long heritage of use in furniture, sculpture, and fine woodcraft. Ebony carvings have even been found in Egyptian tombs. Ebony... See More »

There’s an old parable of a woodsman chopping down trees in the forest. He labors for hours, chopping furiously, with little progress. As he toils, a passing traveler observes his situation. “I couldn’t help but notice how hard you’re working, with so little to show for it,... See More »

Checking for proper neck relief (or neck “bow”) is a fundamental part of setting up a guitar. When necessary, relief can be adjusted using the guitar’s truss rod. However, the thought of adjusting a truss rod can be a bit intimidating to those who have never done it. If you are a first-timer,... See More »

I’ve been a guitar nut for over 35 years, and I’ve been married to one woman for 28 of those. That makes me an expert at one thing: negotiating the acquisition of new gear. I love my wife more than anything, but let’s face it: even the best marriages sometimes involve hostile negotiat... See More »

If you have ever purchased a Warmoth guitar or bass neck, you have no doubt noticed the little cartoon turtle branded into the heel. You’ve probably seen him in ads and on our website as well. The turtle has been around since Warmoth’s beginning. In fact, he has been around since befo... See More »

The English language is an interesting thing. It’s full of contradicting terms, colloquialisms, and misnomers that confuse and mislead. The name “tremolo bar”, for example. The word “tremolo” refers to a fluctuation in volume, but a tremolo bar alters pitch. It should therefore techni... See More »

‘Twas the night before Axe-mas, and all through the gig, My neck was too skinny, my frets were too big. Playing was difficult, chords were a chore, But I finished the set, though my fingers were sore. Then put my guitar back all snug in its case, Packed up my ge... See More »

Rivers Cuomo, guitarist and lead vocalist for the multi-platinum rock band Weezer, has played many guitars over the course of his career. One thing most of them have in common is that they are covered with stickers. Lots and lots of stickers. Another is that many of them are constru... See More »

The world is full of misnomers - names for things that are inaccurate or misleading. Examples include starfish and Guinea pigs, white chocolate and French fries, and - closer to home for us guitar players - tremolo bars and input jacks. It’s that last one that I aim to talk about tod... See More »