Assembling a Warmoth bass?

[topcat2069]

I built my Warmoth with a body and neck (both unfinished) from the show case. I had them finished locally and got a great deal.

The Warmoth neck is slightly heaver but there will be no dead spots or wolf tones due to the steel reinforcing bars under the fret-board.

With top line hardware and electronics my Bass topped out at just $1500.00 .. not bad for a 5 string with a bound and blocked neck and active EQ and Barts (MusicMan and J-Bass) that plays and sounds the way I want.

YMMV

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

I have done several warmoth builds over the years. Here's my take:

The quality of the parts is top notch and the finish work is great. I just don't care for their necks. I like a flatter profile, and since they use graphite bars to re-enforce the necks, they are a bit thicker than I like. HOWEVER, if that doesn't bother you, then do a warmoth build soup to nuts. If you're like me, get a mighty-mite or allparts neck that will be a bit less stable but a bit less thick.

For $500 you can have a *killer* bass body, finished the way you want with a lovely flame/quilt maple top. Hard to beat that!

 

[tranceFusion]

I have done several warmoth builds over the years. Here's my take:

The quality of the parts is top notch and the finish work is great. I just don't care for their necks. I like a flatter profile, and since they use graphite bars to re-enforce the necks, they are a bit thicker than I like. HOWEVER, if that doesn't bother you, then do a warmoth build soup to nuts. If you're like me, get a mighty-mite or allparts neck that will be a bit less stable but a bit less thick.

For $500 you can have a *killer* bass body, finished the way you want with a lovely flame/quilt maple top. Hard to beat that!

But do you find these other necks easy to fit on to the warmoth body?

I don't want to drop the $500 on my killer body, only to turn around and ruin it

 

[tranceFusion]

Ashtray is totally right. I would say a $200 budget for pickups and hardware is on the light side. Maybe if it's only a P Bass and you select lower-end hardware. Hell, a decent set of tuners alone average $50.00. Once again, this is a low estimation. Consider the bridge and pickups, and that $200 goes quickly.

Yeah that is what I was thinking.. 500 for custom finished warmoth body, 200 for an allparts neck, 50 bucks for tuners, 50 bucks for a detuner, 50 bucks for a bridge, 25 for a wiring kit, 50 for screws/string retainer/strap buttons/shielding/etc., 100 bucks for a nordy P pickup, and a 100 bucks for a nut install and full setup. That's $1125 not including shipping for any of that stuff, any tools I might need, etc. for a basic (but hopefully killer) p-bass.

 

[EricF]

But do you find these other necks easy to fit on to the warmoth body?

I don't want to drop the $500 on my killer body, only to turn around and ruin it

A slight bit of trimming in the neck pocket was required for my Warmoth/Allparts J bass. It was easily done by hand with a half-round file and some patience.

 

[tranceFusion]

A slight bit of trimming in the neck pocket was required for my Warmoth/Allparts J bass. It was easily done by hand with a half-round file and some patience.

and you didn't have any intonation issues by deepening the neck pocket?

And you didn't screw up the finish on the outside? Did you just leave the wood bare?

thanks man, I appreciate all the feedback.

 

[EricF]

and you didn't have any intonation issues by deepening the neck pocket?

And you didn't screw up the finish on the outside? Did you just leave the wood bare?

thanks man, I appreciate all the feedback.

Due to a slighly different curve on the heel, the neck wouldn't seat all the way into the pocket. By trimming the corners of the pocket, the neck now seats properly and the neck is in the correct location. We're talking about a very minor adjustment.

Most bridge saddles are adjustable over a fairly wide range, so correct intonation can be achieved even if the neck location is off by a small amount (1/8" or less).

The trimming I did was only on the walls of the neck pocket, so the finish on the face of the body was not damaged.

Building a unique bass selected by your own personal tastes is a greatly satisfying experience - especially when it ends up playing really well.

When you have your parts together, take each step very slowly and carfully, and ask for advice as much as you need to. The TB Luthier's forum is filled with people who have experience in every kind of instrument building and are a great resource.

 

[bassgod76]

Yeah that is what I was thinking.. 500 for custom finished warmoth body, 200 for an allparts neck, 50 bucks for tuners, 50 bucks for a detuner, 50 bucks for a bridge, 25 for a wiring kit, 50 for screws/string retainer/strap buttons/shielding/etc., 100 bucks for a nordy P pickup, and a 100 bucks for a nut install and full setup. That's $1125 not including shipping for any of that stuff, any tools I might need, etc. for a basic (but hopefully killer) p-bass.

Let me know what parts you are looking for. I have made several spreadsheets of prices of stuff I'm looking to buy. Just a little reasearch can save you a good amount of $. Bass parts resource has the most stuff, but sometimes their prices aren't the best. A little research on Ebay allowed me to score a new $80 set of Hipshot HB2 tuners for $56. Also, I found a $58 Fender American deluxe bridge for $37. In other words, there are a lot of vendors out there, and their prices sometimes vary.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

But do you find these other necks easy to fit on to the warmoth body?

I don't want to drop the $500 on my killer body, only to turn around and ruin it

They are, in my experience, all pretty standard. The neck pocket on a fender size, if you follow.

 

[EricF]

They are, in my experience, all pretty standard. The neck pocket on a fender size, if you follow.

Depth, width, and length - yes. However, I have found on a few occasions where the radius of the corners on the butt-end of the neck doesn't quite match. I've found this on matching a Fender CIJ neck to a Fender MIM body, as well as Allparts/MIM Fender and Allparts/Warmoth combinations. Being that Allparts necks are made in Japan, this may where the issue is.

 

[bwoodman]

Just showing off my parts bass - Fender neck that I've had since around 1990 when Fender was in Brea, CA - so, it's a USA neck; I think it's a '62 reissue, but I had larger frets installed on it. The body is a Warmoth "Dinky J" which I prefer since it's a little smaller. It's about the same shape as the body that Sadowsky uses; swamp ash; quilted maple top, cherry burst finish front and back; Bartolini passive pups, replacement bridge. My only complaint is that this thing weighs freakin' 10 #'s! I like 8# basses! I got swamp ash thinking it would be light. I know there are a lot of '70s Fenders out there that weigh 10# but this was supposed to be my ulitmate J Bass. I found out later that I can specify the weight I want for an upcharge. I would have paid that upcharge. I'm not ready to play games with this bass right now, but the next step is to take it apart and weight the body by itself - then order another one that's 2# less! I'm thiking maybe alder this time. I'll probably do the same maple top and cherry burst finish. I must say the Warmoth has really good finishes. This is the best cherry burst out there. It's not too yellow in the center - more like amber.

 

[tranceFusion]

Due to a slighly different curve on the heel, the neck wouldn't seat all the way into the pocket. By trimming the corners of the pocket, the neck now seats properly and the neck is in the correct location. We're talking about a very minor adjustment.

So it fit nice and tight after the filing?

 

[ishouldbeking]

gonna go a wee bit off topic here, but someone above mentioned basspartsresource... and I have to say DO NOT order from them. First time I ordered was just some simple hardware, and i got it no problem. Next time there was several issues with the order. Didn't respond to email, never once answered the phone. There are threads on here positing that they resell factory reject pre-cut Tusq nuts, since many of us have gotten them with nut slots cut far too deep, or in my case, the nut itself was cut about 3/16" too short.

Sorry to digress.

 

[EricF]

So it fit nice and tight after the filing?

Absolutely! Like the proverbial glove. The trimming was really very minor, but necessary to get a proper fit. You might not have the same issue.

gonna go a wee bit off topic here, but someone above mentioned basspartsresource... and I have to say DO NOT order from them. First time I ordered was just some simple hardware, and i got it no problem. Next time there was several issues with the order. Didn't respond to email, never once answered the phone. There are threads on here positing that they resell factory reject pre-cut Tusq nuts, since many of us have gotten them with nut slots cut far too deep, or in my case, the nut itself was cut about 3/16" too short.

Sorry to digress.

With one small exception of a lost shipment (not their fault), I have had zero problems with BPR in the many, many orders I've placed with them.

 

[bassgod76]

gonna go a wee bit off topic here, but someone above mentioned basspartsresource... and I have to say DO NOT order from them. First time I ordered was just some simple hardware, and i got it no problem. Next time there was several issues with the order. Didn't respond to email, never once answered the phone. There are threads on here positing that they resell factory reject pre-cut Tusq nuts, since many of us have gotten them with nut slots cut far too deep, or in my case, the nut itself was cut about 3/16" too short.

Sorry to digress.

I've never purchased nuts from BP Resource. I bought hipshot tuners, pickguard blank, round string retainer, battery box, and neck plate. They came in fine with zero issues, but I will definitely look up reviews on them from fellow TBers.

 

[tranceFusion]

I think the hardest thing about this project is going to be committing to just a single finish from all those options..

I see multiple Warmoth builds in my future

 

[EricF]

I think the hardest thing about this project is going to be committing to just a single finish from all those options..

I see multiple Warmoth builds in my future

Oh, yeah. The possibilities are really endless.

 

[bassgod76]

I think the hardest thing about this project is going to be committing to just a single finish from all those options..

I see multiple Warmoth builds in my future

Yeah, you know it's bad when you use the phrase, "When I do my next build" even before you're done with the first bass. LOL

 

[tranceFusion]

Yeah, you know it's bad when you use the phrase, "When I do my next build" even before you're done with the first bass. LOL

I'm like ready to sell all my current basses to fund Warmoth builds without even having ordered a single part yet. haha. I need to go see a shrink.

 

[ishouldbeking]

Absolutely! Like the proverbial glove. The trimming was really very minor, but necessary to get a proper fit. You might not have the same issue.



With one small exception of a lost shipment (not their fault), I have had zero problems with BPR in the many, many orders I've placed with them.

Like I said, my first order was fine. It was my second that became a gigantic mess. I placed an order for a slew of parts, and then minutes later I realized i needed to add some knobs to the order. Admittedly, my bad, not theirs. I sent an email immediately, i called, and no one answered so i left a message. The next day i followed up by phone and email, no answer, no response. This went on for about a week, at which point i realized they have no customer service whatsoever. I wasn't sending threatening emails, and i only left that first voicemail. I find it hard to understand why they wouldn't respond to someone wanting to purchase additional items.

Several days later my order arrived with all the parts as requested. The tusq nut, however arrived loose in the box with no markings or packaging whatsoever, and if you've seen a tusq nut, they look an awful lot like a corian nut, or a plastic one. Who knows what it was I actually got, but it was cut (or shaped, i should say) far too small to be usable on any bass. I wrote emails, i called daily to no avail. I accepted the loss as a lesson in where I do my future parts-buying business, since it wasn't expensive. From all that I can tell, the company seems to run on autopilot, with not even a hint of customer support should they or you make a mistake. I hit up my trusty TB several times during all this and spoke to a number of others who had had similar issues. After comparing notes with some fellow Tusq nut-purchasers, we theorized that they might be factory rejects since we all received unusable nuts. I'm not saying they're evil, or that you can't get what you want from them at a good price, but at the end of the day, it certainly wasn't a positive buying experience for me, and i'm still out the cost of that tusq nut. Obviously YMMV.

Again, sorry to derail, just hoping to save some trouble down the road.