Turtles and Guitars - The Warmoth Story 

Up until a few years ago I lived a few miles from the shop and drove by it nearly every day.

I did not know that Ken had passed away. I retired from the military in 1998 and took up guitar repair and luthery against every friend’s and relatives advice but I was determined to begin a career that I enjoyed. As a guitar tech in a small music store, I thought that if I could show off instruments that I had built myself it would back up that I knew what I was doing. I began using necks from Warmoth and had a number of great conversations with Ken Warmoth who always was ready to answer questions and was patient with me. Ken gave me encouragement and never held back about things that I needed to know sharing with me good advice. Eventually I was able to build my own bodies and necks. I didn’t make a lot of money but I made a good living in luthery and instrument repair. Now I’m semi retired with clients who still look me up sometimes. I didn’t get famous but I was able to pay the bills doing what I loved. I call this a success. On many occasions I have recommended Warmoth to those who want to dip their toes into guitar making and I still do today. Thank you Ken if you’re listening and it makes me happy to know that Warmoth is still a family business.

Can I just say the soundtrack to this video is incredible!

Congrats on 40 years! Bring back the neckthroughs!

Jim Warmoth seemed like the guy that took so much pleasure in hand work. Just like any musician.

Every bit of this was interesting, done pro with love. You can never leave Warmoth, Aaron. 👍✌

At a time when our country's small businesses and entrepreneurial spirit have been put under extraordinary pressure, this video is a nice reminder of why owning a small business, working for a small business, and being part of America's entrepreneurial passion is worth it. This is what it is all about. So glad Warmoth exists for me to do business with and get inspiration from! Nice work Aaron. Much appreciated.

I ordered my first Warmoth guitar from one of those printed catalogs back in 1992. A double bound, tobacco sunburst left handed Tele that is still one of my favorites to this day. I keep her tuned to open G with the low E string removed and use it for all my Stones covers! I have bought / assembled 8 more Warmoth guitars since and currently have yet ANOTHER on order as we speak! Can't wait to build my fiesta red '60s Strat with roasted maple neck...

Aaron is awesome, thanks you so much for the history of warmoth, tradition is so important to me, and found this video 📹inspiring 😀, as usual I enjoy these videos 📹, and by the end I was in tears of joy when I saw that guitar 🎸in the end. Simply the finest crafted instrument I have ever seen 😳😍🙌😀

I was a Warmoth customer, then worked at Warmoth for 2.5 years, then back to being a Warmoth customer. Proud to play my handful of guitars and basses with their Warmoth parts and proud to have worked there as well. And, thankful to have so many Warmoth family as my friends and neighbors!

Aaron, Ken would be proud of this work. I've been a Warmoth customer for over 20 years and knew little of this info. Thank you for this labor of your appreciation for all that is Warmoth.

very cool to see this history!

Powerful story. I've known about Warmoth since I started playing guitar. Always meant to welcome the turtle in to my home. Some day. Here's to another 40 years of true American craftsmanship.

Not me crying over a RU-vid video at work rn

Glad to see them letting you do more and more vids. More Aaron please :).

I'm not your biggest customer, but the Daphne Blue SoCal I built because of your fantastic company would be impossibly expensive anywhere else. Great customer service and a perfect shade of Daphne Blue!

What a great frickin' video! Excellent work as always, but this one was above and beyond!! Thank you Aaron and thank you Warmoth 🤘 Aaaaaaannndd, now I'm gonna start my next order...

Nice job on the video, Aaron. As an amateur luthier, I have always been fascinated with Warmoth. This filled in a lot of the gaps of history about it that I didn't know.

Warmoth is literally my favorite guitar company. I don't buy a whole guitar anymore. If I want something really nice I can budget, save up, get the parts one by one. Just did a baritone diamondback....I'm very happy with it.

Makes me proud to own all Warmoth guitars!!! I love them, all 3

I bought a Strat style body, neck and all hardware, including EMG single coils from Ken in 1987, when he was still working out of his home shop. I was living in Tacoma then and remember him letting me select the neck from his inventory, what he referred to as "curly maple," with a maple fretboard. I took the body (alder)and neck up to my then brother-in-law's home in Everett, where he owned a body shop, and sprayed several coats of clear on them. I still have that guitar, even though I have replaced the neck with a new Warmoth neck, and I play it at gigs. I keep that original neck, with the turtle engraved on her, on my mantle. Thanks for this video.

nice video Aaron..been a customer since the early eighties, i still have those old adds also ,,everything has always been great..top quality..sorry to hear about the passing of Ken he will be missed,,keep up the great work..

The literal American Dream right here! Warmoth rocks!!

This is amazing stuff. Thank you for sharing. Next guitar will be a Warmoth for sure.

This needs to be shared!

This video makes me proud to have 3 Warmoth guitars in my collection. Thanks to all the hard-working people at Warmoth that make our guitar dreams come true.

Thanks so much for giving credit for the turtle drawings to my nephew, Barry Hochstrasser, who was working with us at Highstreet Advertising at that time. We had fun working with Ken and Paul, putting the creative magazine ads and printed catalogs together back then, when computers and related programs didn't have the creative capabilities that they do today. I was so sorry to hear about Ken's passing.

Love your products! Best in the biz. Thank you for being here!

I met Ken while manning my Kharma Bodies NAMM booth in the late ‘70’s. We spent quite a bit of time gabbing about the history of Boogie Bodies and Charvel parts and who the real manufacturer was. It was the original Charvel ads in Guitar Player Magazine that inspired me to launch my own body and neck company. Ken was a down to earth genuinely nice guy to talk to. We shared manufacturing stories and solutions we had come up with and the business and marketing difficulties we experienced. I attribute his comfortable attitude with his distance from the hyper crazy guitar culture of LA, same with me being on the East Coast. Even though NY is considered high pressure business environment, in the go go music business, it takes a back seat to the ruthless inauthentic goings on of some of the LA folks. Anyway, I’m sorry to learn of his passing. Even though I left my guitar business behind in the early’80’s, Ken was still helpful in getting me sorted with a bass guitar neck I purchased about 10 years ago, for a friend to go along with a leftover body that I gave to him. I’ll always remember him fondly. And his company always had a well earned reputation for quality replacement parts.

It's always good to know who you're dealing with, their history, their spirit. Proud to be a, small, Warmoth customer

Was aware of this company for years but finally made by first custom neck order; what a great history overview of a great family owned company.

That was fantastic! Aaron you are a man of many talents! Warmoth is lucky to have you. Great company and great people behind the company! I have been using Warmoth parts for decades and making some of the best guitars I have ever owned or played. I am happy to see that the rest of the world is catching up to the fact that Warmoth guitars are absolutely the way to go. You get to design and build the exact guitar you want from frets, to radius to scale length, to neck profile... to pickup routing... it really just doesn't get any better!

I remember seeing Warmoth ads in guitar magazines, but Aaron is the face and voice of Warmoth to me because of RU-vid. I plan on getting a Warmoth custom soloist body VERY soon 🙂

Aaron, you’re the best part of Warmoth. Keep on picking’ and producing these videos 👍🏼

What a cool history. For those who have worked there over the years, like threads woven in and out over time, to look back at what has been created, and is lasting, is a blessing and an honor.

Right in my back yard hold ole Puyallup Washington. I placed my first order for a telecaster build a week ago. 🎉🎉🎉

I live not far from the factory...and am a customer... I'm so happy to have you guys near and am thoroughly impressed with your guitars! Cheers and God bless!

I remember seeing those Boogie Body guitars in a shop in Lakewood when I was a youngster. I`m 62 now.

Made me understand the ups and downs of life and a company, as long you are doing what you love, you’ll see it as part of the ride! And keep on picking !

Great story telling, sir. Musical score is inspired. Nice way to showcase the artists, both graphically and musically.

Took me over 10 years to finally bite the bullet and order myself a Warmoth neck and body. Best decision I made, it turned out to be the best guitar I've ever had and will stay with me till hopefully, I pass it on to my daughter (if she ever decides to play). Long may Warmoth continue to be one of the best companies in the world.

*stands up* 👏👏👏👏👏👏 Nice one Aaron, you’re like the David Attenborough of guitar build story telling. Such an awesome story, I’m so glad to be part of the family. A company with good intentions is unstoppable. To many more years 🍻 Sidefact: in the UK, a turtle (well, tortoise) featured prominently in the title sequence of a comedy TV show about a grumpy old man called One Foot In The Grave. Quality show.

There’s a special place in my heart reserved for Warmoth.

Just a couple weeks away from receiving my first full build from you, I new the quality would be great and this video made me even happier that I can support a great company. Thanks for putting this out!!

I remember visiting that facility on 112th regularly back when I was in local bands. 😎 Every time a part broke, or someone sat on a guitar neck and broke the headstock, it was a trip to Warmoth! 😎😎😎 I still miss the ability to walk in and buy parts in person. Living 5 miles down the road and having to mail order sucks.

Thanks on the video. I remember about a year ago requesting if you could do a video about the history of the company. Always was curious about the turtle logo'd guitar neck/body replacement company.

You cannot go wrong with Turtles.

Everything a about Warmoth is awesome. I've NEVER read anything bad about these guys. I bet everyone is proud to work there, beautiful story, killer company.

I will be watching this again and again. Fantastic video.

I wish you a really happy birthday, and promised when i got a small piece of this crazy thing called time, i’ll make you build THE Lescaster of my dreams. Love you Warmoth’ girls and boys. Keep on ... dreaming, BL.

Wow so awesome. I’ve been building your guitars since 2001. I’ve done about six. Every single one is immaculately crafted. Thanks Warmoth.

I was just playing the P-bass I built in 1996 from Warmoth parts, then this pops up in my RU-vid feed! I remember the catalogs and the long wait for snail mail transactions. I bought my first parts in the '90s, and just bought a nice Vintage Strat body last month. Guess I'm hooked! Great video Aaron, Thanks.

I went to the old facility in 1984, my friend who was driving turned left right into on coming traffic and we narrowly avoided a giant wreck. I was like a kid in a candy shop, I have 2 amazing Gibson scale length necks. One is older from grumpy the hoarder. The other I got in 2021 ... probably going to get a Gibson scale length maple board with stainless frets on my next trip to America

I own 12 guitars that are made by Fender and Peavey and all of them have your necks. They are of the first order in quality and functionality. Thank you for all the great years of playing using your products!!!

This is how the free market economy is ment to work but sadly very rarely does .A decent honest family business well done folks reguards from Ireland .

Just bought my very first strat Warmoth neck. First build ever! Super exited! Thanks for sharing this awesome story :)

Loving the story, loving my Warmoth guitar, you guys rock!

Independent of the content, which is frankly excellent, this is very well done. Props to all involved with the production.

Awesome Story!! Currently own a Warmoth custom guitar and love it. RIP Ken.....

Very nice work to see some of the history of Warmoth. I still remember the mailorder days, going through the catalog night after night to decide how I am going to build my guitar. Greetings from Belgium.

I loved this one. I bought my first Warmoth neck from the catalog in 1994/1995. Made me feel connected to you guys, seeing where I landed in the timeline. That neck with a strat body from Stew Mac was my first partscaster. Never heard Puyallup said out loud before :)

That was a lovely movie!

Fantastic. Such a great company, great story, and great products. Here's to another 40 years! (I wish I had known of Warmoth when I was stationed at nearby Ft Lewis in the late 1990s.)

I was glad to see this video and learn about where my favorite necks really come from.

Finally got my first Warmoth neck installed and setup on my Squier Classic Vibe Thinline yesterday. It definitely won't be my last! Absolutely blows away the official Fender neck replacements I've bought.

Great job on this production! Very well written. Thank you Warmoth!

Really well done. Engaging throughout. Aaron - excellent voiceover.

Been playin my Warmoth Tele for years now - love it. Great Axe !!

I've been playing guitar for over 20yrs and has been dreaming for the day I can build my dream bass guitar I remember see my first catalog and my mind was blown away as I sat in high school that day I told myself some day I would build that dream even now I still have that dream but just keeps getting in the way kids,money,stroke,heart-attack and death.some day guys some day.but keep up peoples dreams.

I appreciate you guys. I’ve been able to build several extremely high quality American made instruments on a reasonable budget because of you.

Can't wait to build a warmoth strat. Much love from Italy.

Awesome man, phew.... blown away!!! What a story!!!

All this time I thought this stuff was made over seas. Now I want to build one of these American parts guitars. Here’s to the turtle

This was so great and answered so many questions I had about Warmoth. Nice job, Aaron!

Your parts built my first custom guitar (in profile pic) that has since been played for almost 10 years across the globe. Proud to be part of the Warmoth story!

Really great piece on Warmoth, Aaron! Makes me realize how much I have appreciated Warmoth over the last 20 years of using their products. Super glad that you’re the face of Warmoth, I always love watching the RU-vid vids!

I got my first Warmoth neck back in the 80s through Subway Guitars. Strat neck made from some dark wood (Shedua?) with ebony fretboard. That thing still plays/sounds great and I gave it to a friend who adapted it to a Tele body. I currently have a few other Warmoth bodies and necks, most recently, a Fatback total vintage Tele neck. Thanks for the great parts over the years

Welp, now I’m going to become a Warmoth customer. What a story. This was fantastic. Time to order and a galaxy sparkle tele and flame maple neck 🔥 🍁 🎸

So interesting. I have a few Warmoth builds. Always wanting more.

This was great! For a while I subscribed to ToneQuest. The issue on Warmoth motivated me to assemble 2 Warmoth Strats. I got chambered bodies with contoured heels, extra wide compound radius boatnecks, and stainless frets. Best decision I ever made. Super comfortable, great feel, fantastic tone.

Awesome history. I am thoroughly impressed with my strat conversion neck.

Beautiful video Aron! Proud customer for more than 30 years!

loved the logo guitar being now structurally correcto

Man! I love this! And, I love Warmoth necks and bodies!

I’m always proud to tell people my basses are Warmoth

What a great video- I have know about your guys for a while but this concise version of the history of Warmoth is just wonderful to watch. Please do the through-necks again, and please can we have the turtle that is making the sign of the horns, in decals and t-shirts? I want a tutrle luggage tag or label for my guitar case - when I finally have my Warmoth guitar!!

Great video. It’s nice to know the history of the company. You guys will always be my go to for whatever I need. Keep on pickin’ 🐢🎸

Finally, I now know why the logo is a turtle and most importantly, how to pronounce Puyallup. I've wondered for years.

One of my first Guitars was a walnut Explorer style both the body and neck were Warmoth one of the finest examples of an instrument I have ever owned and held in my hands. I was crushed when my folks split and found out that my guitar was sold in the auction during there divorce... someday when I can decide on exactly what I want to build next it's going to be a Warmoth build. Also hoping to see a replacement neck for the American Ultra Strat happen soon. I just feel an Ultra should have a crazy flamed roasted maple neck. You'd think for the premium fender charges it would come factory but that's why you guys are around and I'm glad I hope Warmoth produces parts for another 40 or even better yet 100 years. .... once more American Ultra Replacement Neck......😉 I need one in my life soooo bad.

Woohoo! Loved this video..make me proud to be building my 3rd Warmoth build. This third time I'm went custom order on a body, can't wait till it gets here!

Such a great video! Thanks to Aaron and Warmoth for putting this together!

Awesome story, very inspirational. Thanks Aaron for creating the video. I have only purchased a single item from Warmoth; a roasted maple Tele neck, made extra wide to accommodate my Neanderthal sized hands. It’s a fantastic piece of work and I have spent countless hours just noodling, the neck has no finish and no logo ( even tho’ Warmoth did include a water decal, I never did apply it ). It’s very basic, but it’s a slick, player focussed hunk of wood, with excellent stability, stays in tune and I’m capable of squeezing out the types of notes that perhaps only other guitar nerds like me would be able to appreciate. Congratulations on your work ethic and wishing you continued success.

I often wondered about the logo and why it was hidden once the guitar was built. Thanks for sharing!

Truly a great story of a great company. Thank you for sharing this! I will also call this your best nontechnical video. You have had so many great technical video I just don't want to mix the two.

Awesome video. Such a good success story. I love my Warmoth tele body.

Exceptionally fine work, Aaron!

Well done. Very well done. Thank you.

If I need parts or decide to build, I'm using Warmoth. Heck, I may buy one Warmoths production models (T-type) ALL BECAUSE OF THIS CHANNEL

This was really cool and interesting, well done and thank you Aaron!

Wow. That was a awesome showcase of yalls company.