Assembling your own basses vs buying production basses vs modding

[DarkStar90]

Local stores hardly ever stock the exact instrument i'm looking for. And buying an instrument online presents its own challenges. I don't want to buy a production instrument that has to be modded. For example, I really don't get why people will buy an MIM Fender to save money over an American built one, only to mod all the important hardware, wishing it sounded and played as good. The results can be great, but why not just allot that money to the upgraded purchase in the first place? Impatience? I dunno.

I've always felt that if you can use a screwdriver and a soldering iron, you can build a parts bass. After putting it together, learn how to do a proper setup, and thats it. You also save money, or not.

I've built many parts basses. I started with Warmoth bodies and Fender necks. Now that the Stratosphere exists, I just buy bodies and necks from there. Warmoth bodies are good, but they are not exact Fender dimensions, they are thicker and the contours are slightly different (if you want to get picky). And I've noticed that on a couple of my bodies, the neck pocket was cut too deep, I shimmed them and moved on.

I also have production basses, left stock, which I love just as much.

My favourite/cheapest build was an unfinished Warmoth P-Bass body that I finished with 12 coats of Tru-Oil. The neck is a MIJ 60s reissue P neck that I ordered off Ebay for 120$. All in, I payed around 500 for a great P-Bass.

I just put together a J-Bass from the Stratosphere. A 60s reissue Jazz neck on a 70s reissue body:

And my Darkstar Jazz has a Warmoth body:

 

[Todd Grendon]

There is another option here. Have luthiers build basses to your specifications. Boutique shops as well as Custom shops ie Fender do this with great results.

 

[Rockbobmel]

The first neck for this bass was an Allparts Jazz (same config), but it was a 20 fret neck and the intonation was funky. I could have lived with it, but a Deluxe (21 fret with 5 bolt back) came up and I grabbed it. It was expensive, but I have not seen one since- not one! So, I'm glad I bought it then.

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

The first neck for this bass was an Allparts Jazz (same config), but it was a 20 fret neck and the intonation was funky. I could have lived with it, but a Deluxe (21 fret with 5 bolt back) came up and I grabbed it. It was expensive, but I have not seen one since- not one! So, I'm glad I bought it then. View attachment 3654892 View attachment 3654893

OK...this 21 fret neck is NOT for a standard Jazz Bass (Vintage 20 fret - 34" scale specificatiin) This is for some "special" or "deluxe" type of situation. If you look at the heel of the neck there is no CANTILEVER fretboard extension. Look at Warmoth Fender specification 21 fret 34" scale Bass necks. ALL have a cantilever extension. This pictured neck on a standard P or J Fender standard specification 34" scale (vintage/original) will either require the bridge to be moved back OR the saddles dragged all the way to the back of the bridge that can choke the string and possibly cause intonation issues.

If a 5 bolt neck like this fit the body you have and the intonation is BETTER, then a standard 20 fret Fender specification neck from ALLPARTS was not correct to start with, let alone any possible construction quality issues!

 

[Rockbobmel]

Exactly! I wish I talked to you first! All is well now.

 

[James Collins]

Making a bass is fun, but I don't do it as well as the best manufacturers and it is a lot of work I don't have the space and time for. The worst part is final finishing if you do something like lacquer and want a nice polish.

 

[SactoBass]

OK...this 21 fret neck is NOT for a standard Jazz Bass (Vintage 20 fret - 34" scale specificatiin) This is for some "special" or "deluxe" type of situation. If you look at the heel of the neck there is no CANTILEVER fretboard extension. Look at Warmoth Fender specification 21 fret 34" scale Bass necks. ALL have a cantilever extension. This pictured neck on a standard P or J Fender standard specification 34" scale (vintage/original) will either require the bridge to be moved back OR the saddles dragged all the way to the back of the bridge that can choke the string and possibly cause intonation issues.

If a 5 bolt neck like this fit the body you have and the intonation is BETTER, then a standard 20 fret Fender specification neck from ALLPARTS was not correct to start with, let alone any possible construction quality issues!

Correct!

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

Many people would be surprised to know that there are Fender Custom Shop customers who order a Warmoth neck to be used on their order. It's a better neck!

Finish work pricing at Warmoth is real fair...it takes time and they have the BEST Black gloss I have ever seen!

 

[chadhargis]

I enjoy assembling things...especially basses.

I built a Warmoth Precision bass the way I wanted it and I freakin' love it. Spent about $800 less than than a US Fender I based my build on only my bass has a MUCH more beautiful neck.

I used Fender tuners, a Fender neck plate, Fender string retainers, and a Fender logo. I did all the neck finishing myself. Bought the body already finished.

 

[Bobhmcs]

I enjoy assembling things...especially basses.

I built a Warmoth Precision bass the way I wanted it and I freakin' love it. Spent about $800 less than than a US Fender I based my build on only my bass has a MUCH more beautiful neck.

I used Fender tuners, a Fender neck plate, Fender string retainers, and a Fender logo. I did all the neck finishing myself. Bought the body already finished.

View attachment 3655063 View attachment 3655064 View attachment 3655065 View attachment 3655066 View attachment 3655067 View attachment 3655068 View attachment 3655069 View attachment 3655070 View attachment 3655071

That is almost exactly like the one I just bid on except mine is a PJ.
Same coloring though
Bob

 

[chadhargis]

That is almost exactly like the one I just bid on except mine is a PJ.
Same coloring though
Bob

Patterned it after this bass:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...VjLbICh3rww7sEAQYASABEgJNofD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Bobhmcs]

Patterned it after this bass:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...VjLbICh3rww7sEAQYASABEgJNofD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Of course my build won't have quite the same neck. No wood like that in N. Nevada and definitely not the same woodworking talent in these old hands. ;[)
Bob

 

[Sands]

I enjoy assembling things...

Super nice looking neck/headstock. Freaking gorgeous. B

 

[Yellow Bang66]

There's nothing like a killer mutt. For those of us with less than desirable woodworking skills, the ability to obtain some of the high quality parts we aren't able to make for ourselves along with hand picked electronics to create a unique, functional instrument is sheer bliss. Some of my favorite instruments are mutts. I am about to build to a bass from scratch, but there is no guarantee it will be as good an instrument as one made by a skilled luthier instead of a hobbyist.

It's so Fun, hot rodding an otherwise kinda meh instrument. Thinking of modding the eletronics on my #1 right now (series wiring,a PJ)! if it works out well,the other 2, backups will get similar mod! who knows maybe I stumble upon a "happy accident" and come up with something totally badass! like they say, nothing ventured... already experimenting with a stellartone knob.& Love it!

 

[Cuzzie]

Stellartone rules - I have a bass ten in a P and popped the Tele plate v4 in the jazz I routed for Rickenbacker pick ups

works a treat

 

[Marlon Carbone]

you don’t need a luthier, you can just order the body you want with the routing that you want, a neck, frets oof your choice installed,and in the various parts, a little bit of soldering and a screwdriver and you can do it at your kitchen table. I use Warmoth and can get most directly from them. Other choices in parts are easy to source.

LOL. If only that were possible. See my avatar? Those are my basses. I can't order my bodies and necks from anybody. Everything is custom or, at the very least, not orderable.

I have a set neck, two neck throughs, a bolt on and my acoustic (which, I guess, is technically a set neck). I have seen 7 string bridges on Allparts and some on Warmoth, but that's all I've seen.

 

[13bass]

FYI I will be building a Fender style P bass 30” short scale with Warmoth body and neck, so I’ve begun to order parts.
Just received my Gotoh Res-O-Lite GB350 tuners, and have a roasted maple short scale tiltback neck on the way
Right now I’m thinking I’m going to move the cable jack to a side mount like a tele, instead of through the pick guard.
The body will be lake placid blue in a satin finish.

 

[SactoBass]

FYI I will be building a Fender style P bass 30” short scale with Warmoth body and neck, so I’ve begun to order parts.
Just received my Gotoh Res-O-Lite GB350 tuners, and have a roasted maple short scale tiltback neck on the way
Right now I’m thinking I’m going to move the cable jack to a side mount like a tele, instead of through the pick guard.
The body will be lake placid blue in a satin finish.

saWEET!

 

[Crystalman85]

In the past, I use to buy different production basses and leave them stocked. but in recent years, I've been developing an interest in modifying the bass guitars that I currently own(which they cost under $500). I've never modded a bass before and I am interested in doing so. at this moment, I plan to modify my Ibanez sr305b bass with an aguilar obp-3 tk preamp along with a passive/active switch. I also plan to get a set of bartolini pickups for that bass. next, I plan to modify my yamaha trbx305 and I plan to do the same sort of thing. only I would probably get a bartolini preamp and pickups for that bass. I should mention that I was inspired by youtube clips where they demos of basses that has an aguilar opb-3 preamp along with bartolini pickups. and there's another one from zlatoyar bass where he demos basses with bartolini preamps and pickups. I was really impressed with how incredibly versatile those basses sounded with those preamps and pickups. anywho, here are one the clips that inspired me in modifying my bass guitars.

 

[Sands]

Thinking about getting a P Bass or Jazz Bass body and refinishing in nitro. It is a long process and I don’t really have a good place to do it, but it’s f ai am going to do it, maybe when it warms up. I’m not gifted enough to do a metal flake but maybe another Olympic White. Or black? That may not even make sense. I wouldn’t mind a taking advantage of another MiM or USA neck with a good truss rod that needs refret. Maybe even try putting a new ebony(!) fretboard on! That could be awesome.

Anyway... Build from there.