I found that if i call USACG, there are things they can do that they don't advertise. For example, I got a super lightweight body, made of paulownia but with a swamp ash center block. Warmoth doesn't do anything like that, but USACG does.
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Be honest: Was your Warmoth build worth it?
- Thread starter BusyFingers
- Start date
Doner Designs
Steve Doner
- Jun 2, 2012
- 5,784
- 6,819
- Disclosures
- Doner Designs is an alias for Steve Doner
Warmoth does do some custom stuff though there is an up charge as you would expect.
My experiments with scratch builds using Warmoth components have been pretty successful. I've done four: a J-bass, a P-bass, a Strat and a Tele. The basses turned out to be among the best I have ever played. This one came under a grand:
I got all the parts except the bridge and straplock buttons from Warmoth. The neck (wenge/wenge) and body (ash, Seafoam Green---not as blue as it looks in this picture) were from the showcase---I didn't custom order them, but at current prices I think I could still bring this in under $1K. (Pickups are DiMarzio Ultra Jazz; bridge is a vintage-style Fender bridge.) (Not sure why this picture is upside down, but oh well.)
This one was built on a Sage Green Fender body with a Warmoth J-width neck. Again, one of my favorite basses ever.
The J-bass above was simply not available if I didn't build it myself: as far as I'm aware, nobody makes a production J-bass with a wenge neck. The rest of it's not that exotic, but for the convenience of getting a new body finished in a color I liked right away, I don't think I overpaid at all. Even if you don't focus on the specific characteristics, I am skeptical that I could have found a better playing and sounding J-bass of similar quality for much less. Regarding the second bass, some companies make P-basses with J necks, but again, it's not common and especially not common in green, which was a key factor in that bass. I probably could have gotten a cheaper neck---I got that one out of the showcase and to get the features I wanted I paid a little extra because the one that was available was more figured wood than standard. But I liked how it looked, and I didn't want to wait while they custom-built one for me.
After I had bought these necks, I built a bass for a friend that used a Mighty Mite neck, and it was really quite nice, for a lot less than Warmoth would charge. Depending on what I was doing, I would certainly consider that. But they, and USACG, for all their virtues, are basically in the "we do both kinds of necks: maple/maple AND maple/rosewood!" school of production. If you want something different, they are not really options.
So, I think that my Warmoth bass builds were definitely worth what I put into them, even if I might have been able to reach approximately the same place for less money with the P-bass, because I am really very happy with how they turned out. I don't know that I would go to the effort, expense, and time expenditure necessary to build a bass if it was a configuration that was readily available. For instance, if I was really jonesing for a black alder-bodied P with a maple/rosewood neck, I'd just buy a Fender. But to get something with an atypical configuration or from more exotic wood, Warmoth is a good option.
I got all the parts except the bridge and straplock buttons from Warmoth. The neck (wenge/wenge) and body (ash, Seafoam Green---not as blue as it looks in this picture) were from the showcase---I didn't custom order them, but at current prices I think I could still bring this in under $1K. (Pickups are DiMarzio Ultra Jazz; bridge is a vintage-style Fender bridge.) (Not sure why this picture is upside down, but oh well.)
This one was built on a Sage Green Fender body with a Warmoth J-width neck. Again, one of my favorite basses ever.
The J-bass above was simply not available if I didn't build it myself: as far as I'm aware, nobody makes a production J-bass with a wenge neck. The rest of it's not that exotic, but for the convenience of getting a new body finished in a color I liked right away, I don't think I overpaid at all. Even if you don't focus on the specific characteristics, I am skeptical that I could have found a better playing and sounding J-bass of similar quality for much less. Regarding the second bass, some companies make P-basses with J necks, but again, it's not common and especially not common in green, which was a key factor in that bass. I probably could have gotten a cheaper neck---I got that one out of the showcase and to get the features I wanted I paid a little extra because the one that was available was more figured wood than standard. But I liked how it looked, and I didn't want to wait while they custom-built one for me.
After I had bought these necks, I built a bass for a friend that used a Mighty Mite neck, and it was really quite nice, for a lot less than Warmoth would charge. Depending on what I was doing, I would certainly consider that. But they, and USACG, for all their virtues, are basically in the "we do both kinds of necks: maple/maple AND maple/rosewood!" school of production. If you want something different, they are not really options.
So, I think that my Warmoth bass builds were definitely worth what I put into them, even if I might have been able to reach approximately the same place for less money with the P-bass, because I am really very happy with how they turned out. I don't know that I would go to the effort, expense, and time expenditure necessary to build a bass if it was a configuration that was readily available. For instance, if I was really jonesing for a black alder-bodied P with a maple/rosewood neck, I'd just buy a Fender. But to get something with an atypical configuration or from more exotic wood, Warmoth is a good option.
Just ordered parts for another build. So far it's coming in well under $1k ...but I have no illusions it's gonna stay that way!
Heh-heh... Well, not including shipping it came to $1,079.85
That also doesn't include a trip to my guitar tech for a complete re-build/set-up after I completely screw up the assembly, something I'm definitely factoring in!
Anyone have experience with asking for custom pickup routings? I’m thinking of doing a bound vintage white ‘72 Tele Bass next year with a Curtis Novak darkstar. Think they could do it?
I requested reverse-P routings a few months back (not on the options list) and they were quite willing to accommodate my request. Warmoth builds are always huge money pits for me (poor resale value!) But if they turn out to be "keepers" then they are worth every penny (quality is extremely good!).
I have not built a bass, but have done two strats. I think you need to plan on keeping it and don’t go cheap. If you want cost reduced parts, wood, and quality, might as well just buy it assembled.
The biggest mistake is buying a cheap instrument and replacing everything, senseless.
The biggest mistake is buying a cheap instrument and replacing everything, senseless.
Really? I'm surprised. 4 or 5 years ago I requested a custom pickup route -- P Bass body with a MusicMan humbucker routed slightly closer to the bridge than a Stingray would be -- and they told me they could not do it because they were restricted to a very limited list of CNC "recipes". Their comment was a rather explicit "we don't do 'Custom' at all."
Yeah, it's only the slightest bit closer. The idea was to get one of the coils of a splittable pickup in the 70's Jazz position. (Or wait, maybe it was the 60s Jazz position? And to be honest, now I don't even remember whether it's the front or the back coil that I was obsessing about!) Anyway, I bought the body unrouted and had a local luthier do the work.
- Nov 12, 2007
- 350
- 140
- Disclosures
- Former Ampeg Regional Touring Artist, Currently Playing Overwater Basses
My two Warmoth 32-inch scale basses are the favorite basses I own (the L-2000 clone being my #1). And trust me, I have A LOT of basses to choose from lol (you can see the 32-inch scale Warmoth PJ peeking out in the background)
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Mine has its own gravitational field. Walnut jazz with birdseye maple neck (with steel rods!), rosewood fingerboard. Built in the early 1990s when I was a younger Thud, and strong as an ox (and half as clever).Meh. I love my bass, but not the company. I wish they chose a lighter body but hey; what are you going to do...
Mine was (a) heavily discounted due to some nice contacts at the time, (b) finished beautifully due to some nice contacts at the time [Shellac finished neck, a custom inlay, and modified fingerboard end], (c) experimental for me and my luthier friend [such as machine bolts through ferrules into inserts instead of neck plate and screws, and endpin jack], (d) completed over a long period due to budget and life constraints.
To me, it's beautiful. It's heavy! I has a nice voice. I nowadays prefer a modern C shaped neck which this one doesn't have.
Would I sell it? No.
There's been some talk of Warmoth slipping a bit on the QC. And maybe so - I recently ordered a Strat pickguard through them, and it arrived without a slot for the pickup selector. That being said, they were very responsive, quickly shipping out a replacement, no questions asked. Should be arriving soon. That's the only problem I've had with them, over several projects. So I'll still give 'em a thumbs up, customer service was super. 
Building your own instrument is not a good way to save money. It'll ALWAYS cost more than an instrument from a store because you have no access to a brand's supply chain, economies of scale, automation, etc. Even valuing your labour at $0, it'll still cost more. But, at the end of the process, you'll be playing a thing that you made yourself.
I suppose I'll have to agree with you... more or less. IME, though, a lot of building your own, isn't that you built it yourself; it's simply not being able to get what you want, otherwise. In my case, I was looking for a passive 4 string, short scale, solid body bass in the $750 - $1900 range. A left-handed one. While there may be one or two of them now? At the time, there weren't any that I could find - that weren't old, "Vintage" MIJ basses that were overpriced, and usually of... "questionable"... quality. And, there were/are damned few of those, too. So, I bought a Warmoth neck and body; and had one built. I got exactly what I wanted - a new bass - for $1400. So... considering my other options? Yes, it was definitely "worth it"...
Yea, a Warmoth is not and apples to apples comparison to a production instrument price wise. It's not truly custom either, but offers you options and combinations that you might not find from a production bass. Do you want a 50's P Bass body with a Jazz neck and active music man pickups? No problem. And you can get it for less than a true 1-off custom will cost.
My favorite bass, Warmoth lightweight mahogany body (4 lb 4 oz), Musikraft (only way to get 1.65" neck with 7.25 radius, banjo frets, highly rolled fingerboard, and roasted maple), CTS pots, Thunderbird PUPs, Gotoh bridge, Res-O-Light tuners, Hipshot Drop D tuner, 8 lbs 6 ozs total weight. $1,000 invested, including assembly. It kicked my Lull Thunderbird 5, Roscoe Custom SKB 3005, Custom built Dingwall SJ5XXX, Custom Order Fender Custom Shop '59 NOS P, '66J, and Custom Built Fender JPJ to the curb (most expensive was $4,700). So yeah, worth it to me.
Yes, also did the routing and pot/bridge holes
