• 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.

How Are Warmoth P-Bass Necks?

TMart99

TMart99

Sep 22, 2010
605
9
Rockwell, NC
#1
I have an old Mako TPB-2 P-bass. The Mako TPB-1 was my first bass when I was 16-17 years old, so I bought the TPB-2 (couldn't find a TPB-1). Looks and feels exactly like the TPB-1. It''s strictly a sentimental and nostalgic thing, so any money I spend on it is done with no concern for resale value.

The body of this bass has a really comfortable feel. Back in December/January I had the electronics gutted, everything replaced and upgraded to quality pots, the jack and had Seymour Duncans SPB-2 installed (with Cream pickup covers). So I want to make this the best it can be.

This bass is roughly 30 years old and the neck isn't doing it for me. It's a vintage C neck and it's much too fat/thick for me to play comfortably for any extended amount of time. The frets are pretty worn down and there are some other issues with this neck.

I'm looking to find a nice high quality maple neck to replace it. Something more along the lines of the new modern C necks which are slightly thinner than the vintage C are much easier on my hands. I don't want anything too thin.

Something that will work well in the neck pocket of this bass.

I see that Warmoth has many necks available.

So how are their necks? Are they high quality necks? How about their quality control and durability?

Anyone have experience with Warmoth necks? Are their other options out there, besides Warmoth?

For anyone who may be interested, here's some pics of the Mako TPB-2 and it's new look....

MakoTPB2.jpg


DSCF1754.jpg


MakoTPBa.jpg
 
#2
If its a Fender sized neck pocket, any Fender LIC neck will do. I personally don't like warmoth as its absurdly heavy. If you want to do it on the cheap, look into MightyMite. In a similar price range and, IMHO, better quality there is also USACG Musikraft and Allparts.
 
#4
I am here to say I have had several Warmoth necks, all were excellent quality. They have great a selection of options of wood and frets. The weight issue is often overstated in my opinion but they now offer graphite stiffening rods which are lighter than their steel ones.

I have Warmoth P width neck on my Oly/Tort P the whole thing weighs in at 9 lbs and practically zero neck dive. Not uber light but not what I'd categorize as absurd either.

The neck feels great in my hands and the bass has a superb tone. A bit chunky for some but I have big mitts and it is a perfect fit.
 
#6
TMart99 said:
I have an old Mako TPB-2 P-bass. The Mako TPB-1 was my first bass when I was 16-17 years old, so I bought the TPB-2 (couldn't find a TPB-1). Looks and feels exactly like the TPB-1. It''s strictly a sentimental and nostalgic thing, so any money I spend on it is done with no concern for resale value.

The body of this bass has a really comfortable feel. Back in December/January I had the electronics gutted, everything replaced and upgraded to quality pots, the jack and had Seymour Duncans SPB-2 installed (with Cream pickup covers). So I want to make this the best it can be.

This bass is roughly 30 years old and the neck isn't doing it for me. It's a vintage C neck and it's much too fat/thick for me to play comfortably for any extended amount of time. The frets are pretty worn down and there are some other issues with this neck.

I'm looking to find a nice high quality maple neck to replace it. Something more along the lines of the new modern C necks which are slightly thinner than the vintage C are much easier on my hands. I don't want anything too thin.

Something that will work well in the neck pocket of this bass.

I see that Warmoth has many necks available.

So how are their necks? Are they high quality necks? How about their quality control and durability?

Anyone have experience with Warmoth necks? Are their other options out there, besides Warmoth?

For anyone who may be interested, here's some pics of the Mako TPB-2 and it's new look....

MakoTPB2.jpg


DSCF1754.jpg


MakoTPBa.jpg
Click to expand...

I am looking for a P neck at the moment.
the reason why it is not going to be a warmoth is the rods they put in.
Without those I might get one as all the ones I have seen looked good.
 
#8
The ones I've tried, seen, and/or owned have been consistently quite good. My Warmoth experience has actually killed my interest in pretty much anything from Fender, especially their domestic gear. I'd say that Warmoth is my convincing winner in the bang-for-my-buck contest.

On the heavy side with the steel rods included, but my passive Jazz has a standard size body and no neck dive. When I first got that bass (a parts bass, not a Fender, etc.), it had a Warmoth P neck, which seemed terrific when I sat with it once or twice. Nice and SOLID... seemed to really contribute to both decent tone and good general "response".

I eventually decided that I wanted a Jazz neck, so I ordered one in the same maple/rosewood layout as my P neck. The great feature here was that I could pick out the fret size that I wanted. I opted a little on the smaller size and LOVED how it turned out.

A nice wide strap helped with the weight of that bass just fine, but I'd at least consider a graphite reinforced neck if I got another one. One downside with my neck is that the truss rod access is down at the heel and my bass isn't routed to get to it. I need to physically unscrew the neck from the body to get a screwdriver in there, so I can't just tweak my neck relief without a small production.

A few years back, I tried out a fretless 5-string Jazz with a Warmoth maple/ebony neck and EMG's. The solidness of that neck made for a phenomenal player with fantastic response and resonance that was honestly surprising in a fretless, at least for me. Super ultra-warm sound and wonderful action.

I'd say that like anything else, you'll only know what sort of fit you'll get with their necks when you sit with one.
 
#13
Like you are considering, I bought a Warmoth P neck to put it on an old P body that had sentimental value to me. The problem was that the gorgeous neck made the old body look like crap in comparison. So I put the old, bad neck back on the old, beat body, put the sentimental bass under the bed, and got a new Warmoth body for the nice neck! :bassist:

The neck is maple with a pau ferro fingerboard and the steel bars. It is the single nicest piece of equipment I have ever owned in 30 years of bass playing. It's beautiful, it's comfortable, it feels insanely rigid, and the frets are perfect.

FWIW, I also have a Warmoth J neck with the graphite rods, and it IS lighter, but it's just OK feeling and sounding. Warmoth is great but not every piece of work is going to be a winner every time.
 
#16
Grabow said:
isn't it funny that all the guys who don't own Warmoth necks slag them off as heavy???
i would hesitate to comment on anything i didn't own
Click to expand...

i've owned a few and installed 100+ of them or so for others in the past, so i think that many that comment about them (i.e. "slag them off as heavy") have actually owned them but no longer own one due to their weight or shape.
 
#17
Copied from my post in another thread two days ago about Warmoth necks:

Morten_B said:
Some are saying that the Warmoth necks are heavy, too thick (front to back) etc. All I can say is, that I don't understand the criticism and the Warmoth neck I have on my Warmoth jazz is the best I have ever played.
Click to expand...

Yup. When I went looking for a fretless maple neck for my p-bass, I did some research, spoke to a bunch of knowledgable TBers, and chose Warmoth over the others. The workmanship is fantastic and i dont notice any negative effect with the steel rods... tone-wise.

Two other points about Warmoth. Their customer service is stellar. Every interaction I had with them, I got the feeling that all they cared about was that I was happy with their product and with them. Yes to both.

The downside...for whatever reason...is that once you've spent your money, don't expect to see much of it back if/when you decide to sell.
 
#18
I have Warmoth,USACG,AllParts,MightyMite,and Fender necks. My preference is Warmoth,hands down. USACG comes in at a very close second. The reason is the attention to detail that comes from making one piece at a time,instead of stamping out hundreds per shift to meet quota like the other three.

As to the weight "issue"..it's true..my AAA Birdseye Maple neck w/matched fretboard is a little heavier than it's boring Fen. counterpart,but that's to be expected..Plain and simple,the Birdseye is a much denser grained maple (and from a better cut) than the bulk-supplied 4x4 stock my Fender/AllParts/MM necks are milled from. And heavier in the terms of GRAMS..it's not like they're filled with lead and dipped in concrete..grams!!

The only drawback is in re-sale value. I can't figure it out,but apparently the determining factor isn't quality,for most it's the decal on the headstock.. Kinda sad really..
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back