Fell in love with a Warmoth build...if only it was cheaper!

[Myrriad]

Custom build idea I've had rolling around.

J Bass, 2 jazz pickup routes
Red dye over maple with a flame maple top
Black binding
Schaller bridge

Flame maple neck/fretboard
Black blocks/blinding
Matching red dyed headstock
Hipshot ultralites

Some Lindy Fralin J Bass Pickups

Oooooh if only I had about $1300 or a rich family member >.>

[WoodyG3]

Yeah, it's not cheap to go that route, and the resale value will be pretty low if you decide to sell it down the road. On the other hand, you get just what you want, and there are plenty of options to change out hardware and electronics if you want to s=change things up. Just be sure you like the Warmoth neck before you build one, though. Some people don't like the profile and feel they are heavy.

[Liam76]

I did my first Warmoth build over the course of 3-4 months, ordering parts along the way instead of all at once, which was easier on the wallet.

Really didn't have much of a choice since I ordered all the wood custom instead from their showcase. Body took two weeks to arrive, and during the time I spent prepping and finishing the body, I ordered the neck and that one took a little longer to arrive. While waiting for the neck, I ordered the hardware.

Besides the neck, the electronics were the second most expensive part of the build, so I took a month off the build to save up enough spare money. I did end up assembling the bass minus the electronics, and was getting impatient waiting to hear it. When I finally got the money for the pickups and preamp, I called up Warmoth in the middle of the week and told my guy that I just HAVE to hear this thing plugged in by the weekend, and I got a good deal on expedited shipping.

So basically, yeah, I did spend $1200+ on it, but that amount was spread out for 4 months, about every other payday.

[bikeplate]

Save a couple more bucks and but a used boutique jazz. Many great makers and you won't lose hardly anything on it if you sell down the road

[vondran]

Another option is find a good used bass on which you like the neck, electronics, and hardware and then replace the body only with a warmoth. I did this with a MIM 5 string Jazz and it was much cheaper. Decent used basses are cheap now and you don't get nickel and dimed on all the parts for a build from scratch. And really the body is the main part you want custom. Later you can then decide if you want to swap the neck or other parts.

[chuck norriss]

You can get pretty close if you do it yourself. Taht is, take a plain body & add the veneer yourself. Warmoth flamed maple body is $$$$ you're right about that.
Not as pro as Warmoth but whatever.