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Warmoth gecko comments?
- Thread starter bassman74
- Start date
I'm a little interested in this as well. Also would like to hear thoughts on other prefab builds, like USA Custom Guitars, such as build quality, material quality, etc.
- Jul 11, 2005
- 3,113
- 1,446
- Disclosures
- Gecko Leatherworks
This was my main bass for about 5 years.
I had this bass longer then any other. Its where I got my user name
Being the idiot I am, its true....I am. I sold it.
A couple weeks ago, someone in a thread asked me about it.
I ngot to thinking about it. I contacted the guy that bought it on Ebay. Long story short, I'm getting it back after first of the year.
Its got a Mahogany body. So nice and light.
Super comfortable neck. Its a medium.
The only thing I never took a liking to were the pickups.
They were passive, Schallers. Stewert-McDonald used to sell them.
I found when I was trying to sell mine that they are considered "kit basses". I don't know how well they keep their value. Oddly enough, I got a great deal on mine. I sold it for exactly what I paid. I played the HELL out of that bass.
I had this bass longer then any other. Its where I got my user name
Being the idiot I am, its true....I am. I sold it.
A couple weeks ago, someone in a thread asked me about it.
I ngot to thinking about it. I contacted the guy that bought it on Ebay. Long story short, I'm getting it back after first of the year.
Its got a Mahogany body. So nice and light.
Super comfortable neck. Its a medium.
The only thing I never took a liking to were the pickups.
They were passive, Schallers. Stewert-McDonald used to sell them.
I found when I was trying to sell mine that they are considered "kit basses". I don't know how well they keep their value. Oddly enough, I got a great deal on mine. I sold it for exactly what I paid. I played the HELL out of that bass.
Mine is almost complete and i cant wait to start using it. I decided to just go with a gecko body and have someone else build a neck for me. The main reason for this is IMO warmoths neck options for anything but fender style necks is pretty weak. The body i ordered was top notch and looks amazing. It was pretty much exactly what i was looking for in a body except for the minor changes i had done to it. I can get some pics up a little later or you can find it in the luthier forum.
AMEN!!
I cannot understand Warmoths continued refusal to offer the Geckos in a lefty config. I think that it would be very popular, I've always wanted a Gecko 5 and would build one (probably more) in a heartbeat!
Come on Warmoth, GIVE US LEFTY GECKOS!!
I really enjoy playing (and building) my fretless Geckos. Number 12 is almost complete.
Wow, do you prefer the single pup, or dual pups?
It depends on the bass and the pickups. I usually prefer the sound of one pickup at a time.
Here's my latest project, a single pickup Gecko:
I'm currently using this bass to test several different Jazz bridge pickups. The picture shows a Bartolini "59K" pickup (bright tone) and the bass currently has a Lace Aluma-J bridge pickup. I've got a few others that I will be testing soon.
Eventually, I will expand the pickup cavity to hold one Delano "Xtender" 5-string pickup (large oval shape).
- Jul 11, 2005
- 3,113
- 1,446
- Disclosures
- Gecko Leatherworks
It depends on the bass and the pickups. I usually prefer the sound of one pickup at a time.
Here's my latest project, a single pickup Gecko:
I'm currently using this bass to test several different Jazz bridge pickups. The picture shows a Bartolini "59K" pickup (bright tone) and the bass currently has a Lace Aluma-J bridge pickup. I've got a few others that I will be testing soon.
Eventually, I will expand the pickup cavity to hold one Delano "Xtender" 5-string pickup (large oval shape).
Nice top and color!!!
It's pretty nice, so far. It is a hot pickup with a very strong signal. It has a clear, rich midrange with a noticeable peak in the upper mids near 800Hz or so. The treble doesn't go up as far as I would like, but the strength of the midrange and fundamental makes up for it.
I like the Aluma-J better than their Bass Bar (EMG soapbar shape) which I've been testing in another bass: it sounds way too hot and dark, and has very little treble detail.
I'm considering a Gecko 5 build and weight is one of my big concerns. What is the range of weight for your Geckos? I'm thinking of a swamp ash body with maple neck (ebony board) but I'm hoping I can keep it under 9. They now have a $60 option for graphite rods in the neck which should help some. Do you have one with a samp body and if so, what is the weight?
They offer the neck in at least two (or is it three) widths, so be sure what your buying... And they're all 35" scale. Stuff to keep in mind when preparing to spend $$$
That question about weight was to Tubby...since he has so many! But anyone else with a Gecko 5 (medium is what I'll get)...weight estimates (especially with swamp body)?
Tubby was kind enough to loan me an Aluma-J, and I must admit, I can't stand it! It's stupid hot, very dark sounding, and aesthetically, the thing looks like a cheap toy.
When I played it passive, it was almost as if every note had some sort of notch filter on it. Active, it sounded much better, but was still way too dark for my taste.
Tubby was kind enough to loan me an Aluma-J, and I must admit, I can't stand it! It's stupid hot, very dark sounding, and aesthetically, the thing looks like a cheap toy.
If you liked that, then you'll love the Bass Bar series.
I relied via PM, but I'll post here as well. I'm going to estimate just under 9 pounds for a Gecko 5 (medium) with a maple neck and swamp ash body. I may be able to confirm this in a few weeks, when I get a chance to swap a few necks around and put this combination on a scale.
Thanks Tubby! I did notice that Warmoth doesn't list the weight on their necks on the website (although they do for the bodies). However, you can still sort by weight in the gallery and the sorting pattern makes sense (4 stringers lightest, rosewood 5 Gecko the heaviest). Tubby, if you get a chance and happen to have a maple Gecko 5 neck, would you weigh it? If I pull the trigger on building one, I want to make sure it is light! I'm starting to feel the 10.4 lbs of my jazz V and would really like to drop at 1.5 lbs for the new project. I assume body finish would also matter. I was thinking of doing an oil/wax hand finish but now that I think about it, that really loads the body up with heavy oils. Hmmm...yes, I'm obsessing on the weight thing!
Sure, I can do that for you. My all-maple fretless neck is not currently attached to a body. I'll weigh it and let you know.
