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Build it, or have it built?

Jakedog

Jakedog

Nov 22, 2016
164
407
53
Cleveland, OH
www.jwhandsomedevils.com
#1
I will preface this by saying I am in no way ready to do anything at all for the foreseeable future. The very soonest this would happen might be a year? So I don’t want to mislead anyone. This is not something that’s happening right now.

Anyhow. I started looking at parts today to build myself a custom bass. I was on the Warmoth site, and spec’d out a neck and a body. Between the two of them I’m at roughly $900. By the time I buy pickups, electronics, hardware, control cover and pickguard, and a case, I’m at least $1500. By the time I consider my labor for assembly, final fret and nut finishing, and setup, which I have more than adequate skills to handle, I’m at $2k. That’s a lot for a DIY considering what I can buy off the rack for $2k.

I know in the guitar world, there are some very good custom guys who could make me Tele or Strat instrument that would make me very happy for $2k. And I wouldn’t have to do anything but play it. Ya see, I can do the work, but I’m kinda lazy.

I’m not as familiar with the bass building world. I’ve always just found a good one at the store and gone with it. Is the same thing possible? Are there people doing that?

I don’t want anything crazy. I’m not into exotic wood, or wild designs, or crazy electronics, or multi-scale stuff. I just basically want a mid-50’s P with the Tele style headstock. But a jazz neck, a PJ setup, a beefy string-thru bridge, rear route for controls, and a cool color (like seafoam or fiesta red) in nitro.

I do like some modern features. Like two-way truss rods and graphite reinforcement.

Im gonna be turning 50 in May of ‘23. I’d like to get myself something really unique. There’s still a chance I might just go hog wild and order up a Fender CS, or similar. But I wonder if there are some really good small builders that present a particularly good bang for the buck.
 
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#3
There are lots of nice basses you can get between $1500 and $2500 off the shelf. For my 50th I got a custom build. Wood was not exotic, maple and walnut with a winge fretboard. Was not as expensive as I thought it was going to be. Since I made payments through the build it did not hit all at once so a good bit more manageable. It is a one of a kind.
66B781B8-265E-46B1-9CBF-75D850A3B38B.jpeg
 
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#4
Jakedog said:
I just basically want a mid-50’s P with the Tele style headstock.
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Jakedog said:
I’d like to get myself something really unique.
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I see a large contradiction in the two things I quoted. It's all Fender cookie cutter stuff.

Plenty of other parts sources for Fender bits besides Warmoth.

hypercarrots said:
Once you get all those parts together, assembling and soldering shouldn't be too hard.
Click to expand...
Yep, and you'll learn the skills of how to set up and repair which can be invaluable.
 
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#5
I would not recommend doing the setup if you choose to build one. IMHO, your 50th birthday bass is not the instrument to start learning setups on; too many special tools needed for fret leveling, cutting a nut, etc., let alone experience at the task. If you have a Plek available, bite the bullet and get one, then get a good setup by a trusted luthier. Of course, a good luthier can do it without the Plek.

As for parts, since you want a custom body, check out bestguitarparts.com, great folks that should be able to make the body you're looking for and I assume it would be less expensive than Warmoth. If you want alder, get the 3 piece body, it will be fine, and most likely lighter in weight. If Fender headstock is required, I would go Musikraft or AllParts over Warmoth. My Musikraft & AllParts necks without graphite rods are rock solid. Else, get a neck from bestguitarparts. Graphite rods are standard in their bass necks, and you won't have to worry about possibly shimming the neck if you get their body. You just have to choose their headstock, which could be sanded to be closer to a Fender style (they have a sharp point on one of the contours). Their double action truss rod is adjusted at the headstock. MJT does good nitro relic finishing; find someone else if you want NOS. Many good finishers to choose from. Of course shipping back and forth adds to the cost. A custom headstock decal from Rothko & Frost or others is a fun addition. I used fossilized mammoth ivory for the nut on mine to get a huge mammoth tone, and it worked. The nut blank was cut to shape by the Plek.

Other than that, know the details of the neck you want; first fret depth preference, rolled edges, fret wire size, radius, etc. All will add to your satisfaction in the final product, whether custom ordered parts or custom built.
 
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#7
Simple : don’t consider your “labor costs” (I don’t think any of us do). Now, your price is still at 1500.

Now, start buying the cheaper stuff (tuners , electronics) while you wait for the right body and neck on eBay, tb classifieds, or warmoth. I’d be tempted to find a lawsuit mij bass and use that as the base for your build.
 
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#10
This wouldn’t be my first assembly or setup. I have skills. I thought I made that clear in the first post.


I have skills. I have tools. I have a bench. Nobody else has worked on one of my guitars or basses in decades unless it was a road emergency where I didn’t have my stuff available. I do my own frets, nuts, heavy repairs, everything. It’s absolutely not an issue getting the work done. I’m very good at it. I just don’t enjoy doing it. Never have. It’s just been a necessity as most (not all) people who call themselves “techs” or “luthiers” are miserable hacks, at best.


I also know there are some very skilled and caring small and independent builders out there. I’ve seen their work. In the guitar world they’re guys like Ron Kirk and Bob Logan. MJT does nice stuff. Surely there are guys like that who build basses as well? That’s what I’m curious about.


And you always have to figure in your labor costs. It’s work. Don’t do it for free. If I do work on somebody else’s instrument, they pay for it. Don’t fool yourself- If you’re good at what you do, your time is worth money. Time spent doing that stuff, is time I’m not doing something fun with my kids or my wife or my friends. Time I won’t get back or get reimbursed for. That’s not nothing.
 
#11
two fingers said:
I would simply sesrch a little harder than Warmoth. Yes, they make great stuff. But they're not the only parts makers of good quality.

Plus, once you put it together you'll enjoy it more.

That said, it's your money. Have fun with it however you like.
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Sourcing is a little tough because what I want is so unique. If I’m doing this, I’m doing it right. I want a ‘55 style P-bass body, rear routed, string through, P/J route. I’m rigid on that. I don’t want a compromise, or something “close enough”. I also want a Tele bass headstock, but with a Jazz profile.

I know for sure Warmoth can do what I want. And I’m super familiar with their quality. I will look around, though. As that’s good advice, always. If somebody else can do exactly what I want, at a similar quality level, for less money, I’d be a fool not to take advantage of it.
 
#12
A Warmoth build (I've done a lot of them) is not something you should do if you don't KNOW exactly what you want. You can (if you really know what you want, and you do your own finishing) make something from their parts that's much cheaper than something comparable (we're talking relatively expensive stuff on both sides of this equation), but....if it isn't your cup of tea, like any custom bass (Fender Custom Shop builds included), it's a failed attempt at your dream bass, and it's not someone else's dream bass, so you'll take a hit if you try to flip it.

All that said, I have build my entire current herd from Warmoth wood, Hipshot hardware, etc. I have some awesome basses that suit me perfectly. When a bass is your dream bass, the money you spent to buy or make it, and the potential resale value....are completely meaningless.
 
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#13
Jakedog said:
And you always have to figure in your labor costs. It’s work. Don’t do it for free. If I do work on somebody else’s instrument, they pay for it. Don’t fool yourself- If you’re good at what you do, your time is worth money. Time spent doing that stuff, is time I’m not doing something fun with my kids or my wife or my friends. Time I won’t get back or get reimbursed for. That’s not nothing.
Click to expand...

I completely understand your point of view, but there are some of us who view our talents and abilities as things we were put here on this Earth to share. I don't advertise my services freely, but within a certain community, I'm not only one of the bass players (who volunteers a lot of that talent and time), but I'm also the guy that will help you get your gear up to snuff. I've rewired a bunch of basses for folks (my specialty), done setups for people, etc. A full build I will charge something for, but those don't come up too often. I'm in a position where I don't need more money; connecting with folks by helping them is more valuable to me than the next hundred dollars.
 
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#16
I get the hobby aspect. I truly do. But I’ve never really had a job outside of playing music. Not for the last 25 years or so, anyhow. I’m not a Scrooge, I’ll help out a friend in need for sure. But I made the mistake many years ago of being the guy that would do anything for anyone, and the next thing I knew I was doing everything for everyone. Lol.

I don’t have a day job to subsidize stuff. I’m a bar musician with a mortgage to pay and kids to get through school. I make it work pretty well. But I have to value my time and labor and be realistic about it all or I’d be sunk.
 
#18
Bluesman vintage is right up your alley for the specs you want, they make really lightweight stuff too, like 7 pounds light. If you want to assemble a parts bass, it really isn’t too hard if you are patient and order good parts. Check out Musikraft for your neck needs and MJT for your body needs. MJT usually has some bass bodies on their ebay as well. Mjt can finish the Musikraft neck as well, which I’ve done. Here is a 66 P clone I made with mjt and musikraft parts.
465B518B-AC7D-497C-8EE3-4B687279DB18.jpeg
 
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#20
gln1955 said:
Check out Maruszczyk. What you wants would be right up their alley and within your budget. You can play on the configurator all day, plus Adrian will do things not in the configurator options.

Maruszczyk Instruments | Public Peace
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Where are these guys? I know the EU, but where specifically? Any history or background? Their stuff looks fantastic, and seems to be very fairly priced, but I’ve never heard of them. I’d love to get some more info. I’m very intrigued.
 
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