• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Build a Warmoth or wait for a medium scale MIJ Precision to surface?

What would you do?

  • Wait for a medium scale MIJ Precision?

    Votes: 9 24.3%

  • Build a Warmoth?

    Votes: 28 75.7%
  • Total voters
    37
DJWhitJr

DJWhitJr

Apr 25, 2020
719
775
Smithton, IL
#1
I'm a big fan of medium scale basses. I have an Aerodyne Jazz, Mezzo PJ and a Yamaha Motion. I'm kinda gassing for a MIJ medium scale precision but they aren't very common. When they do come up for sale they are on the pricier side. This has me thinking of maybe building one from Warmoth.

I don't have any experience with Warmoth but read some good reviews on their stuff. How does their stuff stack up to the older MIJ offerings?

Are the Warmoth products assemble and play or do they require a little bit of work like cleaning up the neck pocket, frets and/or file the nut etc.?
 
#5
Warmoth for sure. For me it was assemble and play. Neck pocket fit was perfect. And, while I wouldn't say the fretwork was perfect, it was very, very good. Here's mine:
NBD Warmoth Jazz Bass
If you're going to wait, I'd wait for a Warmoth. You'll get alot of bang for your buck. Still kicking myself for not getting this when I had the chance:
SOLD - Warmoth Mooncaster 32" Medium Scale
Look at this value:
SOLD - Warmoth 32" scale P-bass. Price drop 7/16
It's actually a crime. I'm glad I'll never want to sell mine.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: DJWhitJr
#8
I’m a huge warmoth fan. I’ve got 4 (Jazz, Precision with a Jazz neck, hardtail strat, tele). The Jazz and Strat are my main gigging instruments. I think the quality of their necks and bodies meets or exceeds US fender.

that said, the quality of the final instrument depends on your ability to spec out an instrument that does what you want and the skill of final assembly. The good news is a P is pretty hard to screw up if you stick to normal woods.

As far as the assembly goes, I’ve done some of the work on mine and taken them to a pro for final set up and stuff beyond my abilities. The neck pockets fit perfect as is, but you have to drill for pick guard and tuner screws, do the wiring etc. none of mine have needed fretwork, though I play with a medium action and you would probably need a fret dress or level if you want it truly low. I think all of mine needed nut work. Even if you had somebody do all the assembly, It’s probably under 200 bucks unless they are doing fret stuff.
The one issue I see for you is that I don’t think warmoth does a fender headstock on short scale necks, but I could be wrong. The warhead headstock is fender ish, but not quite the real deal
 
Last edited:
#9
MobileHolmes said:
The one issue I see for you is that I don’t think warmoth does a fender headstock on short scale necks, but I could be wrong. The warhead headstock is fender ish, but not quite the real deal
Click to expand...
The Warhead headstock is close enough for me. Total assembled weight is important—I’d like my finished bass to weigh between 7.5 and 8.0 lbs.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MobileHolmes
#10
Do it. My Warmoth 32" is top of the heap for me now. I still play my other basses on a couple of gigs but the Warmoth is magic.

IMG_20220528_231400.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Type-55, Bassinthemudd, Malak the Mad and 6 others
#11
selowitch said:
The Warhead headstock is close enough for me. Total assembled weight is important—I’d like my finished bass to weigh between 7.5 and 8.0 lbs.
Click to expand...
It can be a little tricky to do warmoth by weight. You can request extra light for an upcharge if you call them, but otherwise you get what you get.
This showcase body might do the trick though. It is 4 lbs, 1 oz, which is about as light as I have seen one of their bass bodies. I think if you got the neck with the graphite bars instead of steel, used ultralight tuners, and a standard bridge, you could probably build up a bass around 8 lbs
 
  • Like
Reactions: selowitch
#12
MobileHolmes said:
It can be a little tricky to do warmoth by weight. You can request extra light for an upcharge if you call them, but otherwise you get what you get.
This showcase body might do the trick though. It is 4 lbs, 1 oz, which is about as light as I have seen one of their bass bodies. I think if you got the neck with the graphite bars instead of steel, used ultralight tuners, and a standard bridge, you could probably build up a bass around 8 lbs
Click to expand...
Thanks, those pointers are very helpful. It's been my observation that 4lbs. is about as low as a short-scale body will go (noting that the “short-scale” body works with both short- and medium-scale Warmoth bass necks).
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: MobileHolmes
#14
DJWhitJr said:
What brand/models “Split Ps” of similar quality are there around $1,000 or less? Caveat I’m not a fan of thick necks. I have small hands.
Click to expand...
Ibanez, Reverend, or a Jag if you can find one.

I know you can get great parts from Warmoth or Sound but if you aren’t comfortable setting necks you’ll end up paying someone so you have to decide your tolerance.
 
#17
MobileHolmes said:
It can be a little tricky to do warmoth by weight. You can request extra light for an upcharge if you call them, but otherwise you get what you get.
This showcase body might do the trick though. It is 4 lbs, 1 oz, which is about as light as I have seen one of their bass bodies. I think if you got the neck with the graphite bars instead of steel, used ultralight tuners, and a standard bridge, you could probably build up a bass around 8 lbs
Click to expand...

I believe this combo would come in well under 8 lbs.
 
#18
I've built quite a few (a couple dozen at this point) Warmoth builds for myself and others. What you get is a bass designed to Fender specs that actually works - no shims, no futzing things here or there to get things to be as they should be. I hear Japanese Fender stuff is pretty good. I know Warmoth stuff is very good. You also get a LOT of custom options with Warmoth that you will never get from Fender, no matter what country they make the thing in.

As far as weight, you want an ultra lite body from Warmoth - it's "off menu", but if you call (ON THE PHONE, NOT over the web), they will do that for you. With roasted necks, graphite reinforcement rods, and a bunch of aluminum hardware, I have a small herd of 5 string basses, all built with Warmoth Wood, that all weigh between 7.17 pounds and 7.75 pounds. A 4 string can be made lighter by about half a pound on average, with the same approach.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: thisheregiraffe, Malak the Mad, selowitch and 2 others
#19
micguy said:
I've built quite a few (a couple dozen at this point) Warmoth builds for myself and others. What you get is a bass designed to Fender specs that actually works - no shims, no futzing things here or there to get things to be as they should be. I hear Japanese Fender stuff is pretty good. I know Warmoth stuff is very good. You also get a LOT of custom options with Warmoth that you will never get from Fender, no matter what country they make the thing in.
Click to expand...
The nut width on the Warmouth 32" scale necks are narrower like a jazz which is right up my alley. I think I'm going to start looking into a Warmoth build.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hot Rats, MobileHolmes and Bassinthemudd

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back