Oh, yummmmm ...! Warmoth definitely has some good stuff. I've gotten a roasted maple neck for a Strat build I'm gonna put together - just beautiful, maybe the best feeling neck I've ever held.
Your 50's P really came together great ... superb.
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Do what they say cant' be done...A Warmoth Build
- Thread starter chadhargis
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Oh, yummmmm ...! Warmoth definitely has some good stuff. I've gotten a roasted maple neck for a Strat build I'm gonna put together - just beautiful, maybe the best feeling neck I've ever held.
Your 50's P really came together great ... superb.
Oh yeah...the Warmoth stuff is really top shelf. I've been playing this thing all day and tweaking pickup height and such. She's a big girl at nearly 10lbs. But it balances pretty well. Oh but it sounds great. I've been jamming along to classic songs featuring a P bass...and even with no rig to run through (I'm going direct to a instrument level input on my mixer) it sounds amazing. I've always heard good things about the Fralin P pickup, and it's all true! I'm normally a Nordstrand guy, but I wanted this bass to sound as authentic 60's P as it could. The only place I didn't go that direction was the bridge. I wanted a high mass over a bent steel.
I’ve done three parts guitars... The first was a Carvin kit. There is a story behind it but suffice to say, I loved that guitar. Sold it to finance the second - all top shelf parts - warmoth neck (quartersawn maple with pau ferro fingerboard and SS frets), USA Custom Guitar body (alder with AAAA flamed maple top), high quality boutique pups and excellent hardware. I liked it... but didn’t love it even as much as the Carvin. Parted it out and sold it and bought another Carvin kit which I upgraded a bit and still have.
First, while the parts guitars do not hold the same resale as a factory built, I found that by parting the one out I actually made out better than selling the completed guitar. Obviously that requires top shelf parts.
For someone considering a first parts bass, the Kiesel bass kit is quite good for the price. The wood parts are very well shaped and high quality wood with multiple options. The pickups are what they are but the electronics are easily replaced if one wants. You may or may not be satisfied with them as included with the kit. The hardware likewise is mid quality level but not junk... but you can end up with a nice playing parts bass for well under $800 - $519 currently for the base model which includes an ebony fretboard and stainless frets.
First, while the parts guitars do not hold the same resale as a factory built, I found that by parting the one out I actually made out better than selling the completed guitar. Obviously that requires top shelf parts.
For someone considering a first parts bass, the Kiesel bass kit is quite good for the price. The wood parts are very well shaped and high quality wood with multiple options. The pickups are what they are but the electronics are easily replaced if one wants. You may or may not be satisfied with them as included with the kit. The hardware likewise is mid quality level but not junk... but you can end up with a nice playing parts bass for well under $800 - $519 currently for the base model which includes an ebony fretboard and stainless frets.
Update...
Having started out playing bass on a five string, I've never really had an affinity for 4 bangers. I owned a 4 string Jazz bass once and it hung on the wall unplayed in favor of my 5 string version. Same with my old MIJ P bass I had years back. I ended up buying a 5 string P and never played the 4.
But I have to say, there is something different about 4 vs 5 string. Not just in feel (which is still very odd to me), but something about not having to mute the extra string or something. I'm not ever giving up 5ers, but there is a really cool tone to the 4 string P. I've been playing along to familiar songs that I know feature a P bass and I am able to get the exact same tone easily. There is something to be said for a volume/tone setup. Not a lot of options.
On another note, the GHS Precision Flats I have on the bass are nice. A bit higher in tension than I was expecting. I'm used to Labella DTFs which I have on another bass, and the difference is noticible. I sort of enjoy higher tension strings. Lets me be a bit more ham fisted without string buzz.
According to the Tru Oil website, I can't do final buffing of the neck for a month. It actually feels pretty good. Only a light scuff and buff should be required to make it feel slick.
Having started out playing bass on a five string, I've never really had an affinity for 4 bangers. I owned a 4 string Jazz bass once and it hung on the wall unplayed in favor of my 5 string version. Same with my old MIJ P bass I had years back. I ended up buying a 5 string P and never played the 4.
But I have to say, there is something different about 4 vs 5 string. Not just in feel (which is still very odd to me), but something about not having to mute the extra string or something. I'm not ever giving up 5ers, but there is a really cool tone to the 4 string P. I've been playing along to familiar songs that I know feature a P bass and I am able to get the exact same tone easily. There is something to be said for a volume/tone setup. Not a lot of options.
On another note, the GHS Precision Flats I have on the bass are nice. A bit higher in tension than I was expecting. I'm used to Labella DTFs which I have on another bass, and the difference is noticible. I sort of enjoy higher tension strings. Lets me be a bit more ham fisted without string buzz.
According to the Tru Oil website, I can't do final buffing of the neck for a month. It actually feels pretty good. Only a light scuff and buff should be required to make it feel slick.
You can find used warmoth parts here in the classifieds on a reg.basis,usually at a very good discount.
That is gorgeous man! It's actually fairly similar to my planned P build I'm hoping I can do next year. Building a 5 string Jazz this year. My plan is a LPB '54 body, with split P GZR pickups. Though I was thinking of possibly springing for a genuine Fender American Neck. It's very nice.
Sorry if I didn't read it, was the neck custom? Or was it a showcase find?
My 5-String in the end will be a beast. The body alone is 5 lbs 11 oz, before pickups, bridge and a neck.
If I knew how the hell to play with one I would. But dropping my E string a full step would be absolutely mind numbing for my feeble brain.
