Fender 51 RI or Warmoth build?

[Muddslide]

The local GC has a '51 reissue that I've been playing a lot lately. I really love it aside from the garish "school bus yellow" finish.

I've always had a thing for the slab-bodied single coil P-basses and this is a very nice bass.

I'm wondering, though, if I shouldn't maybe just slowly piece together a Warmoth build as I can afford parts here and there (easier for me financially than buying the whole Fender '52 bass at one pop) AND that way I can make it the exact color I want, etc.

I'm good at doing paint jobs.

Which way would you guys go?

[muzikman7]

If you can do the work yourself its far cheaper to paint it yourself than buying parts from Warmoth. Putting a parts bass together from Warmoth isn't that cheap.

[theleteri]

I considered the same thing... putting together a bass on warmoth rather than getting a 51 RI or a sting or mike dirnt bass and just for the neck and body it was going to be $1100... that does not include hardware or electronics.

side note... it would be nice if warmoth had a pic of the bass you were building... kindof like how tirerack.com puts rims and tires on a pic of your cars make and model.

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by theleteri

I considered the same thing... putting together a bass on warmoth rather than getting a 51 RI or a sting or mike dirnt bass and just for the neck and body it was going to be $1100... that does not include hardware or electronics.

side note... it would be nice if warmoth had a pic of the bass you were building... kindof like how tirerack.com puts rims and tires on a pic of your cars make and model.

+1

I thought about doing the same thing a while back, and although the price wasn't nearly as high as this guy's, the body and neck (unfinished) alone was going to run me around $500. Add in parts and there's an additional $300 or so. Plus paint and finish around $100. And then the ultimate factor - your time.

For me it was cheaper to wait for one to pop up used, and boy was it worth it. I just snagged one for $450 and it's amazing! My bass search is over with this baby

[GlennW]

If I'm not mistaken the Warmoth doesn't have the squared off neck heel like the Fender, so that might bug you. Plus, you'll NEVER get your money back out of a parts bass. I'd go with a Fender if you like the neck.

[ghostdog93]

Warmoth '51 P body, swamp ash, top rout, unfinished - $185.

Warmoth Tele bass neck, maple/maple, 21 frets, black dot inlays, unfinished - $180

Warmoth '51 P pickguard - $30

SD '51 SCPB QP pickup - $65

Fender original Tele Bass bridge + ferrules - $75

Grover Vintage bass tuners - $50

Control plate + knobs - $20

Pots, wiring, misc - $30

TOTAL = $635, plus finishing supplies and your own labor


On the other hand, a Fender '51 RI = $950. Plug and play.


If it was me, I would go with the Warmoth, and buy a few pieces at a time. That $635 hit doesn't seem so bad spread out over the course of 6 months or a year. It's also roughly $300 cheaper than the Fender, and yes, it will have no resale value. But if you want an Ocean Turquoise '51 P with a matching headstock and white pickguard, well...