Be honest: Was your Warmoth build worth it?

[TyBo]

Beautiful!

 

[nattiep]

I got an ebony fretless J neck in a couple weeks ago. Lines with dots on maple. Satin finish with a gloss headstock. Simple. It's the best feeling fretless I've played. The downside though is it has the same dead spot at the 5th fret C as the neck I replaced. Feels like it may not have been worth it just for that since that was the reason I replaced the previous neck.

 

[InvisibleMan]

The downside though is it has the same dead spot at the 5th fret C as the neck I replaced. Feels like it may not have been worth it just for that since that was the reason I replaced the previous neck.

I’m sure there are things that can be done to fix this. Try raising bridge saddle a tiny bit to start?

 

[Green Knight]

Mine was, but the body was sourced elsewhere. Love the medium and short scale necks I can use interchangeably, and the bass is a unique beast for sure.

 

[bassclef112]

Warmoth won’t let you down, but the problem is you never know exactly how a project will pan out until it’s done and if you don’t like the result you won’t be able to get out as much as you put in.

That's also true with any "upgrades" done to a production bass.
Sometimes the bass is as good as it's gonna get, regardless of what you change out.

These are facts, even with quality like Warmoth. Each bass is the sum of its parts. When you hit it (I like to think more often than not) it's a beautiful thing. I've built 4 (2 straight J's, a J with Big Singles and a Dinky P with P/MM. I also have 3 necks on "other" bodies. I've not been disappointed with either their performance or looks.

I'd love to build one of the shorter scale basses but I'm out of room...

P.S. On one of my builds the neck developed a twist. Considering how many they make it's bound to happen from time to time. It was within warranty and replaced (vintage tint Maple w/blocked Ebony board and matching headstock). This was a number of years ago and it's still happy as a clam. Everything else remains rock solid.

 

[Ian774]

I just received the Warmoth Jazz body I ordered, slightly ahead of schedule. It is a stock body that matched all I wanted so I asked to have it painted in Charcoal Frost Metallic. It is a stunning color in real life!

Very happy with the finish, looking forward to have it all assembled (Fender neck + Delano humcancelling pickups with VVT passive setup).

 

[TexasEdition]

Yes! Just finished a Warmoth double build - a fretless jazz and an attempt to get a Wooten sound on a passive bass (after 18 months of testing different circuits and pickup positions).

Both are sublime and I’m very happy with the results. Took a while to get the fretless action just right but it sings now. The only thing I wouldn’t order again is a 24 fret fingerboard extension.
View attachment 5200104View attachment 5200107 View attachment 5200108 View attachment 5200109

That head stock is gorgeous. Did Warmoth do that?

 

[Ian774]

I’ve completed my Warmoth Jazz Bass project, and it came along very nicely.
I eventually didn’t use the Player neck I had, I’m keeping it for another project or might sell it.
Instead, I found a very good American Performer Jazz Bass neck on the Stratosphere website.

The final result is a very nice, “simple” Jazz Bass, which plays and sounds great.
Was it worth it? I’d say so, it’s cheaper than a Fender Mod Shop and it’s got good specs, to my taste.
They are as follows:

-Warmoth Alder body, Charcoal Frost Metallic finish
-Fender American Performer Jazz Bass neck, maple with satin finish and rosewood fretboard, Fender light tuners.
-Delano JC4 AL/M2 pickups (hum-cancelling Alnico V)
-V/V/T passive electronics
-Gotoh 203B bridge.

It sounds great in my band, my guitarists were blown away by the sustain and punch.
All in all I’ve got a bass with the looks and sound that I’ve wanted for a while. Happy!

 

[Geri O]

No dog in this hunt whatsoever, but why do some posters feel the need to chide responders into “being honest” with their responses?

 

[InvisibleMan]

No dog in this hunt whatsoever, but why do some posters feel the need to chide responders into “being honest” with their responses?

I don't think it's intended literally. I see it as more of a rhetorical way of acknowledging that the question asks people to potentially reveal some detail that they may not wish to - usually either having made a mistake or having done something that is hard to objectively justify to others. e.g. "I spent lots of money on a really fancy Warmoth build but actually it was all a waste because it sounds bad and better sounding/playing basses are available for far less money" (not at all my experience, I hasten to add!)

 

[Nightsprinter]

Great thread. I just started doing 1 for something to do. Found a diamondback body on reverb recently (hello there if you were the one who sold it to me) and I ordered a Goncalvo Alves neck with an unlined macassar ebony board for it. I like weird and unique things, so even if it isn't the most comfortable or best playing bass in the end, I'm still excited for the experience.

 

[Gervais Cote]

Warmoth neck and alder body, Dimarzio model J pickups, outstanding results :

 

[Nightsprinter]

Warmoth neck and alder body, Dimarzio model J pickups, outstanding results :

Unbelievably tasteful!

 

[Gervais Cote]

Unbelievably tasteful!

I needed a bass for my disco tunes and this one suits the purpose perfectly.

 

[MAJOR METAL]

I've never owned one personally, but I have friends who have built multiple Warmoth instruments. Personally, I think they were all better than any USA Fender I've played.

 

[Siiverado44]

Yes, also did the routing and pot/bridge holes

That's interesting. I asked Warmoth about 9 months ago if they would route Thunderbird pickups into a jazz body and they basically told me to get bent. Maybe that corroborates what people are saying about Warmoth customer service, it just depends on who is answering the phone/email that day.

 

[Thumper]

Sorry, should have added that Warmoth did EMG holes which are very close to Thunderbird PUPs in size, IIRC, the trim rings covered any gaps
If you are really interested, I can confirm with him.

 

[Nightsprinter]

1 thing worth mentioning- I made a couple orders using a VPN linked to Washington state (by total coincidence given that Warmoth is in WA) and they must have some killer scam security software because my orders got put on hold and I had to go through a very odd verification process to proceed with my orders. I bring this up because while it was slightly inconvenient, it was seemingly my bad, but I was impressed that they were that on top of it. Definitely could have prevented someone from getting their credit card smoked had a crook gotten ahold of the #. Also- the person who I dealt with was SUPER friendly and it wound up being no big deal. Got my stuff ahead of schedule. I've since bought 2 more necks and I'm fixing to get the stuff to do a Gecko 5 Wide as soon as I can afford it. I really like Warmoth.

 

[Siiverado44]

Sorry, should have added that Warmoth did EMG holes which are very close to Thunderbird PUPs in size, IIRC, the trim rings covered any gaps
If you are really interested, I can confirm with him.

No need, that makes sense. I had wondered the same (if EMG pickups would fit with the chrome rings) but I kind of gave up after the response I got from Warmoth. Sometimes you just need to get creative to make it work.

I have always thought that a Lull JT4 was such a cool idea but a jazz bass simply isn't worth 5k to me and I always wondered if I could get it done with Warmoth for a fraction of the price.

 

[seang15]

I've never owned one personally, but I have friends who have built multiple Warmoth instruments. Personally, I think they were all better than any USA Fender I've played.

Couldn't agree more. And I am a Fender fan boi! But it is what it is.