Loaded Warmoth 5-string "medium" Gecko body

[TimBosby]

So, I'm thinking of selling my Gecko body to get another Gecko body. Why? Two reasons: pickups and color. I really DO like the color of mine, but it's almost EXACTLY the same as my '78 Jazz and ideally I want something maybe in a lighter wood or something entirely obnoxious like gold flake.

The pickups are active EMGs. They are great sounding pickups but a little too modern for my taste. I got a new EMG preamp for it (something seemed to be crackling with the old one so I bought a new version of the same preamp - EMG "BQC" system) but it is not installed yet. I will have it installed, or sell it at a slight discount if you want to install it yourself. Yes, I could take out the pickups, but I think this bass is routed for these exact pickups.

Ideally I'd like to build my own Gecko from the ground up and be able to customize everything myself.

This bass was on TB at one point, owned by "The Crusader" and "Rapisme." It went through at least one or two other people before it got to me..I ended up snagging it on Ebay.

Hope The Crusader doesn't mind me linking his Photobucket, since his pics are pretty good:

http://s15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...assPix/Geckos/

I have replaced the knobs with gold knobs but everything else is the same.

The neck I think I will keep.

Body is ash, stained brown, with a rosewood top. Clear gloss finish.

I'm thinking, for the loaded body, $500 shipped with the preamp installed, or $475 shipped if you want to install the preamp yourself. I reserve the right to change my mind and pull this post at any time - like I said, I don't REALLY want to sell this bass body but I'd kinda like to build/customize my own Gecko from the ground up. The neck is too nice to get rid of, though. I will CONSIDER offers on the whole bass but at this point I'm only officially listing the body.

Open to offers, but no trades...unless you have another Gecko medium body to swap

[bassguyky48]

If I'm correct this body would fit the neck that has a 1 7/8" spacing at the nut and I believe is around 3 inches where the neck joins the body. Bridge spacing is 3/4"s.

Do you find this size neck comfortable? Also how thick (front to back) is the neck up at the nut? I know these questions are not about the body.........but a Warmoth neck would prob be the next step after someone buys your body..........which by the way looks like a great deal.

I love EMG's and with a BQS or BQC preamp..........you can get almost any tone...........they're different than passive of course, (yes, very bright) but sometimes EMG's work where no other pickups seems to be able to cut through.............the preamp system has a lot to do with that.

Wish I had enough extra money to make you an offer. Good luck with the sale!

[TimBosby]

You are correct about the dimensions as far as I can tell. The neck is about 1 inch thick front to back at the nut.

Gecko necks are unique due to the angled parallelogram shape of the neck pocket - so not any Warmoth neck would do - it would have to be a Gecko "medium" neck. Fortunately there are some great looking "medium" Gecko necks for pretty good prices in the Warmoth showcase, or you could build your own.

Here are the ones in the Showcase:

http://www.warmoth.com/Pages/Classic...k,Gecko,Medium

I also bought the Macassar ebony one.

Here is everything you need to know about Gecko 5 bodies:

http://www.warmoth.com/Gecko/Gecko5.aspx

... and Gecko 5 medium necks:

http://www.warmoth.com/Gecko/Gecko5Neck.aspx

The Gecko medium 5 is definitely the most comfortable 5-string neck I've played. I have large hands so I like the chunky feel but it doesn't FEEL too wide.

I wouldn't be heartbroken if I had to keep the body, but I'm really jonesin' for a solid black korina body

Originally Posted by bassguyky48

If I'm correct this body would fit the neck that has a 1 7/8" spacing at the nut and I believe is around 3 inches where the neck joins the body. Bridge spacing is 3/4"s.

Do you find this size neck comfortable? Also how thick (front to back) is the neck up at the nut? I know these questions are not about the body.........but a Warmoth neck would prob be the next step after someone buys your body..........which by the way looks like a great deal.

I love EMG's and with a BQS or BQC preamp..........you can get almost any tone...........they're different than passive of course, (yes, very bright) but sometimes EMG's work where no other pickups seems to be able to cut through.............the preamp system has a lot to do with that.

Wish I had enough extra money to make you an offer. Good luck with the sale!

[rpatter]

I don't know what Tim thinks of his, but on the two Geckos that I've had I found the necks to be way too thick (front to back). I actually took mine in to my local luthier and had him reshape the back of the neck. They were very comfortable after that.

Ralf

Originally Posted by bassguyky48

If I'm correct this body would fit the neck that has a 1 7/8" spacing at the nut and I believe is around 3 inches where the neck joins the body. Bridge spacing is 3/4"s.

Do you find this size neck comfortable? Also how thick (front to back) is the neck up at the nut? I know these questions are not about the body.........but a Warmoth neck would prob be the next step after someone buys your body..........which by the way looks like a great deal.

I love EMG's and with a BQS or BQC preamp..........you can get almost any tone...........they're different than passive of course, (yes, very bright) but sometimes EMG's work where no other pickups seems to be able to cut through.............the preamp system has a lot to do with that.

Wish I had enough extra money to make you an offer. Good luck with the sale!

[TimBosby]

Well Geckos come in three sizes: small, medium, and large.

I have very large hands, and find the medium neck to be wide but comfortable...then again, I hate narrow string spacing...

I imagine the "large" would be too big but someone with smaller hands might opt for a "small"

I seriously do have huge hands though

Originally Posted by rpatter

I don't know what Tim thinks of his, but on the two Geckos that I've had I found the necks to be way too thick (front to back). I actually took mine in to my local luthier and had him reshape the back of the neck. They were very comfortable after that.

Ralf

[rpatter]

I wish there was a way to post mental pictures. I read this post and in my minds eye I could see Tim's giant hands making a bass neck look like the neck of a ukelelee!

Ralf

Originally Posted by TimBosby

Well Geckos come in three sizes: small, medium, and large.

I have very large hands, and find the medium neck to be wide but comfortable...then again, I hate narrow string spacing...

I imagine the "large" would be too big but someone with smaller hands might opt for a "small"

I seriously do have huge hands though

[tubby.twins]

Warmoth's website lists the thickness measurements.

Average Thickness:
* Thickness at 1st fret = .875" (22.23mm)
* Thickness at 12th fret = .975" (24.77mm)

http://www.warmoth.com/Bass/Necks/NeckBackShape.aspx

That said, I do have a few necks which seem to be a bit thicker or a bit thinner than the average listed here. Gecko necks are hand-sanded, so there is some variance. The measurements above don't include the height of the frets.

The Gecko necks are a bit thicker than some smaller 5-string bass necks (e.g. Ibanez) but I don't think they're unwieldy at all. I have wide hands with relatively short fingers, and I don't have any trouble playing mine.

[TimBosby]

Hahahahahahahahahh

Originally Posted by rpatter

I wish there was a way to post mental pictures. I read this post and in my minds eye I could see Tim's giant hands making a bass neck look like the neck of a ukelelee!

Ralf

[rpatter]

Interesting - I had been playing an Ibanez BTB1005 before I got the first Gecko. I found the Ibanez neck to be very comfortable, I just couldn't get the sound I wanted out of the bass. Spec-wise, the large Gecko neck was very close so I thought I'd be good, but that extra front to back thickness was significant to me. I had the neck profile of my current bass modeled after the Ibanez. The next time I change strings I'm going to measure to see what the 1st fret thickness is. 7/8" doesn't sound that thick to me, but to me it felt like a baseball bat on the Gecko neck.

Ralf

Originally Posted by tubby.twins

Warmoth's website lists the thickness measurements.


http://www.warmoth.com/Bass/Necks/NeckBackShape.aspx

That said, I do have a few necks which seem to be a bit thicker or a bit thinner than the average listed here. Gecko necks are hand-sanded, so there is some variance. The measurements above don't include the height of the frets.

The Gecko necks are a bit thicker than some smaller 5-string bass necks (e.g. Ibanez) but I don't think they're unwieldy at all. I have wide hands with relatively short fingers, and I don't have any trouble playing mine.

[TimBosby]

I think the fact that Gecko necks are asymmetrical make them easier to play for me, but that may not be for everyone.

[bassguyky48]

I have smaller hands but the bass I play now has a 2 inch width at the neck. I am used to it, so smaller widths seem too little. Lakland makes a great feeling neck but I wish it was wider at the nut..............1 7/8's seems right too me. The truth is...........it's what you get used too. If one neck was right, everybody would play the same bass/neck type.

[TimBosby]

Good point.

Originally Posted by bassguyky48

I have smaller hands but the bass I play now has a 2 inch width at the neck. I am used to it, so smaller widths seem too little. Lakland makes a great feeling neck but I wish it was wider at the nut..............1 7/8's seems right too me. The truth is...........it's what you get used too. If one neck was right, everybody would play the same bass/neck type.

[bassguyky48]

Just checking in to see what the "deals" are for today. Warmoth makes the best parts in the world except I guess for the hand-made luthier items/parts/instruments. My guess is that Lakland and Sadowsky buy from them also to put together their fine instruments. This piece should bring top dollar.