Be honest: Was your Warmoth build worth it?

[MVE]

I built this Jazz bass relic starting from a used Warmoth body purchased from a fellow TB'er plus a few new parts and some parts I already had. Cost me about $300.

View attachment 1009576 View attachment 1009577 View attachment 1009579 View attachment 1009581

I've been gassing for a goldly for a while now... very nice.

 

[BusyFingers]

Done it twice, and it's a no.

Why wasn't it worth it?

 

[otp57]

I'm looking into making my dream bass via Warmoth parts, but if I made the ultimate dream bass it would cost over $1,000 and that's not including the fact that it still needs to be put together.

I may be able to get away with a version that isn't my ultimate, but I'm still looking at just under $1,000 bucks.

How much did you spend on your Warmoth build and was it worth it to you? Pics are appreciated, too, because I know there are probably some cool basses conceived out there.

Well I forgot what my Warmoth cost me years ago but at well over 30 years old s/n 50 it is the BEST BASS I HAVE.

 

[mpdd]

i haven't played one, but i'd hope that they were on par with a usa g&l or a bacchus japan for the amount of money and effort it would require

 

[Pocket4]

Definitely worth the $1000 on the 51 P Bass for the joy of the project. Sold off as parts long ago. I shop their bodies from time to time and they are super nice.

 

[Charlzm]

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I bought an AllParts official Fender Jazz Bass lined fretless neck once upon a time and put it on a Jazz Bass I had. After a while, I wanted to switch that bass back to its original neck, so I had a leftover fretless neck.

Enter Warmoth...

I bought a body from them, added the pickups I wanted, the bridge I wanted... now I have a custom fretless bass that sounds great, looks good and probably cost too much. But, it is mine...

First pic is pre-assembly (duh), second is out in the sun on a cloudy day (???).

 

[bassclef112]

Definitely worth every nickel. The quality of their parts is exceptional.

I have 4 complete Warmoths and a few more with necks/bodies in other combos.

Though I do try to frequent the in-house store (I remember when they called it the Thrift Shop), 2 of the builds were
ordered to my spec. I use my favorite tech to do all the final assembly as I do not have the means nor that level of skill
I will add that I don't really keep track of the cost. All the pieces are acquired as I'm able to get them, and
it is usually across several months before I get it to assembly. No rushing a good thing.

This one was a BD present to myself. I had ordered the neck several months before I got the body, which was also ordered new.
All Maccassar ebony neck/fingerboard; Mahogany body with AAA quilt upgrade.

This was something I always wanted - a Jazz in CAR with matching headstock, maple/ebony board with blocks.

 

[KyleSerlington]

mine were worth it, although there were a few things I learned along the way. the green p-bass in this pic was my first bass i put together, and if I had to do it over I would have picked a body out of the showcase instead of building from scratch, and I would have gone with a standard p neck instead of the warmoth designed neck, and also I would have gone with different pickups. the 2nd bass I put together was the brown p-bass, which is probably the best instrument I put together. I was going for a 70's vibe and sound and I think I nailed it, it's the best sounding bass I have. Both of those basses were over a grand each but still more than $100 cheaper than an American Fender would have been. The jazz bass and the guitar were both instruments I put together this year and I used warmoth bodies but mighty mite necks. the jazz is an ash body that I finished in tung oil and it's a VERY bright sounding bass! both of those were I think in the $800 range, maybe a little less. I wish I would have gone with a Warmoth neck for the jazz bass, but the MM neck works fine on the guitar

 

[ThudThudThud]

Mine absolutely was worth it, although my back doesn't think so. It's a walnut Jazz, with birdseye maple/rosewood neck. It's heavy. Really heavy.
It plays amazing. It sounds amazing.
The learning curve in putting it together was beyond value, having my good friend (and favourite luthier) Mike Haney hanging over my shoulder pointing out how much better I could be sanding; where I'd missed a spot; showing me how to finish with Tru-Oil/Wax; showing me defects in my workmanship that cannot be seen with the human eye; working out the specs/parts I wanted/needed. That kind of thing you never forget. The experience out-values the worth of the bass, which is a fantastic bass. Mike also inlaid a lovely mother-of-pearl and abalone rose into the headstock.
Also, we had the neck finished by Phil Kubicki in shellac, which is 'winning.' Lovely finish.

 

[JGR]

I built a pair of 5'ers this year and they are worth every penny.

 

[darwin-bass]

Very detailed thread, loved the pictures. The final product turned out great! What did you end up spending?

I don't remember. Had to go search my own thread LOL! Looks like under $900.
Warmoth low-cost light-weight 32" scale P bass build - Done!

 

[Doner Designs]

That warmoth in your sig a beauty.

Thank you, but if you are referring the aircraft carrier theme which is my avatar, that was a Fender body and an Allparts neck (significantly modified ).

Maybe you mean in my profile. I'll have to look and see what I have there - has not been changed in a very long time.

 

[Gord_oh]

Man this thread is killing me. I want to do another Warmoth so bad.

 

[Flaked Beans]

Yes. I love my Warmoth Jazz. It took 7 years, several homes, a wife, and a kid to get it this far.

-Warmoth mahogany body
-Warmoth maple/maple neck, before they offered slim taper
-Fender Super 55 pickups, changing them DiMarzio Ultra Jazz this week
-Custom wiring harness, CTS, swiftcraft, vitamin q
-Hipshot kickass bridge, hipshot ultra lites plus extender
-Fender pick guard, chrome cover, knobs
-Schaller strap locks
-My own business logo, Midtown Guitars

Her name is Lila, she started out purple.

I'm thinking about going active with an Audere preamp.

I got exactly what I wanted. No bass off a shelf could have done that. Plus now with as long as I have had it and as much time (and money) has gone into it, it feels good being proud of what I am playing. Like a proud dad.

As is, guessing I have about $800 or so wrapped up in it. I went with all USA parts and feel I got what I paid for.

I like the brown mahogany body/maple/tort combo and that headstock logo is huge!

What kind of bridge is that? Never seen one like that before.

Kahler. I have one on my Warmoth Gecko 6:

Definitely worth every nickel. The quality of their parts is exceptional.

I have 4 complete Warmoths and a few more with necks/bodies in other combos.

Though I do try to frequent the in-house store (I remember when they called it the Thrift Shop), 2 of the builds were
ordered to my spec. I use my favorite tech to do all the final assembly as I do not have the means nor that level of skill
I will add that I don't really keep track of the cost. All the pieces are acquired as I'm able to get them, and
it is usually across several months before I get it to assembly. No rushing a good thing.

This one was a BD present to myself. I had ordered the neck several months before I got the body, which was also ordered new.
All Maccassar ebony neck/fingerboard; Mahogany body with AAA quilt upgrade.
View attachment 1009782

This was something I always wanted - a Jazz in CAR with matching headstock, maple/ebony board with blocks.
View attachment 1009783

Your grass is greener than mine, sir!

 

[Gord_oh]

I like the brown mahogany body/maple/tort combo and that headstock logo is huge!

Huge as in good? I wanted something more modern and obvious. It's hard to tell but the bottom of the letters are actually the silhouette of a city skyline. Hence, Midtown.

 

[Flaked Beans]

Huge as in good? I wanted something more modern and obvious. It's hard to tell but the bottom of the letters are actually the silhouette of a city skyline. Hence, Midtown.

Yeah, good looking huge logo it is!

 

[garciawork]

Around $800
Yes.

Mind if I ask what that sucker cost? I REALLY want a P, and being a lefty like you, not a heck of a lot of options out there.

 

[Clearwave]

I've only done one Warmoth build, but it was worth it. It's my favorite bass and I'll do another build. It was really fun to put together.

It's a risk to do a build. It might suck. But if you use good parts, have lot's of patience and are prepared to use a "backup plan", the risk is greatly diminished. .....and you have to accept it's not gonna have a worthwhile resale value.

I had a luthier with a PLEK machine do the final fret finishing. The neck on this is perfect. It was probably "good enough" from the factory but it was the icing on the cake for me.

 

[BusyFingers]

I've only done one Warmoth build, but it was worth it. It's my favorite bass and I'll do another build. It was really fun to put together.

It's a risk to do a build. It might suck. But if you use good parts, have lot's of patience and are prepared to use a "backup plan", the risk is greatly diminished. .....and you have to accept it's not gonna have a worthwhile resale value.

I had a luthier with a PLEK machine do the final fret finishing. The neck on this is perfect. It was probably "good enough" from the factory but it was the icing on the cake for me.
View attachment 1011374

nice

 

[wraub]

Of the five basses I own all but one has Warmoth parts but none are complete Warmoth builds. One was intended to be a full build from Warmoth but that neck just didn't fit the body it was intended for, so I switched necks with another parts bass that had a Mighty Mite neck. That bass has become my main bass. View attachment 1009637

Totally solid.