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How hard is it to make a good warmoth bass
- Thread starter Moopahtroopa
- Start date
Are you talking the kit you got from bestbassgear.com? If so I don't see resistor on that, just two capacitors. Sorry if I'm misunderstanding.That kit has a couple resistors...maybe mine didn't.
Here's a thread I just found where they talk about using different resistors and possibly improving the output. Still skimming thru it-
60s Stack knob Jazz Bass wiring?
That explains it! I just bought a new Am Pro Jazz and the neck sure seems like the old, non-rod type, dead spots and all. Wow, what a rip!
Really sorry to hear that. Haven't played the Pro model yet but was hoping they would make some improvements. Very disappointed to seen them continue to waste resources on the Posiflex instead of making an actual improvement in neck construction.
Well, I reckon it's like-for-like with a Stingray, so I guess the question is whether an MM one would.
From their site Status Graphite. The finest hand-made graphite basses and guitars. Made in England. (Online Shop -> Graphite Necks) they say "The width at the heel is 2.5"... the standard on Fender and Musicman 4-string necks or 2.75" on the MM 5-string. The neck weighs just about the same as a regular maple neck.", so it looks like it's a no to go onto a Fender 4-string body.
I meant onto my Jazz 5ver body....Thanks for your reply and taking time to look into this.
It also has 22 frets, so it won't fit
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There is no comparison between a Warmoth (or USACG or Mighty Mite) and Fender neck. The former are better, in the case of Warmoth, much, much better. They are consistent, no dead spots, and they just sing. I'm talking myself into changing the neck on a brand new Fender. ...
I'm a big fan of heavy basses. Two of my Warmoth bodies are Walnut and the other is Wenge. The walnut paired with the Moses necks and Delano pickups = awesome sustain and articulation. I also like how a heavy bass hangs without movement, freeing my hands to move around.
For all the guys who complain about weight, I just say: lift some weights. You need it for the anti-aging properties anyway. Just do the basic barbell lifts (squat, deadlift, bench press, overhead press, row + chinups), nothing fancy, 20-30 minutes per workout. If you need to learn technique, look into Mark Rippetoe's books or website "Starting Strength." Staying relatively strong and fit is a huge quality of life boost.
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I built this from a body and neck I got from the in-stock gallery. Body is ash (that's Seafoam Green, although it looks blue in this photo) and the neck is wenge. I got almost all the parts from Warmoth too: control plate, neck plate and bolts, Schaller tuners, pickguard, maybe knobs. I had the Fender vintage-style bridge, pots, cap and jack, Dunlop strap locks, and Stew-Mac string retainer already. Pickups are DiMarzio Ultra-Jazz. It sounds like a cliche, but this is just about my favorite bass I've ever owned. I built another one using a Warmoth Jazz neck and a Fender Precision body, which is another favorite.
Many bodies come pre-drilled for the bridge and neck bolts. Here are the holes that are NOT pre-drilled: pickguard, control plate, pickup mounting screws, tuner mounting screws, string retainer, and strap buttons. To build a Warmoth-based instrument you need to be prepared to drill those holes on your own.
If I was doing it over, or if I was ordering custom parts, I think I'd have the tuner holes drilled for Hipshot Ultra-lites. I have them on some other basses and they really make a big difference in weight. That's the one issue with my Warmoth builds: neither of them is particularly light, although they're still not in the range of my friend's Peavey T-40.
I just looked, and the gallery is pretty sparse at the moment. At other times they've had a lot more variety of bodies and finishes, and the bodies they have mostly seem to be on the heavier end of the spectrum. I would expect that's a cyclical phenomenon.
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smallbutmighty
Commercial User
This is Warmoth's busiest time of the year. Stuff is flying out of the in-stock showcase faster than we can build it!
Good to know. I've been watching the Showcase for a slim taper/graphite/rosewood fret board J neck for a while now. I guess I may just have to put in an order.
I just find it hilarious that in a world where some bassists are putting flats with foam on their basses to reduce sustain, other bassists are trying to convince us that heavier basses have such better tone that you need to be a weight lifting man (and I emphasize man) to be the best bass player that one can dream of being.
No, seriously. Spending time in the gym is a great idea, but why bother with weights? You're going to die because your heart fails, not because you're not strong enough. Do cardio. Do strength if you feel like it, but if it's for the sake of bass, just take that time to practice bass and get a lighter bass. You'll sound just fine.
No, seriously. Spending time in the gym is a great idea, but why bother with weights? You're going to die because your heart fails, not because you're not strong enough. Do cardio. Do strength if you feel like it, but if it's for the sake of bass, just take that time to practice bass and get a lighter bass. You'll sound just fine.
I broke my neck. I crushed C4,C5,and C6, and tore every single ligament. I was 100% paralyzed from the neck down. Eventually I got 95% of my motion back, and most people can't tell I broke it unless they see the scars. When I wear too heavy of a bass for a long set it brings on extreme migraines, shoulder and neck pain. No amount of lifting weights will change this fact, but playing lighter weight basses and distributing that weight with a proper strap will. So while I appreciate the point you are trying to make, and I know it was done with good intentions, you cannot simply assume that a "solution for you" is a "solution for everyone".
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Ok, back to Warmoth...a average build can be done in the $700-1000 range using showcase parts, and the quality is excellent. Of course the final product will only be as good as the person assembling it, so if the buyer of the warmoth parts is not a competent tech, I'd suggest hiring one (or getting some practice time in by working on less expensive instruments like
Squiers).
Best of luck to all the assemblers out there !
Yah, I didn't mean to get involved in any debate on sustain and wood or anything like that. I have only my own anecdotal experience to go on there. Someone like Doug Parent has a much better idea of all the pros and cons. I just thought it was worth adding my two cents. For the most part, I avoid internet debates or even active participation. TalkBass is one of only two forums I participate in, and it's mostly passive.
For weights however, I am absolutely convinced of their value, in particular compound barbell lifts with medium grips and stances and maximal leverages, for men, women, and everyone in between or outside. But most of my artist, musician, and intellectual friends don't want to hear any of it, so I'm not about to try to convince strangers on the internet of my opinion. If you're interested, here's a good article to start with: Invalid Link Removed. Like most people in the strength business, Rippetoe is a potty mouth and writes in a blunt, macho style, but if you can get past that, he has a lot of useful information to offer.
Indeed, the main problem with weights is their association with bodybuilders, action stars, and pro wrestlers, which is a big turn-off for a lot of people. But like it or not, a good part of your body is composed of muscle, bone, ligaments, and tendons, and keeping them fit is a huge quality of life issue. Healthy muscle and bone tissue also helps regulate things like your body's hormonal milieu, immune system, cognitive function, mood, sleep, appetite, and so on. You don't need a lot of weight or time, just get something in. If anyone wants me to give a fuller account of my approach, just PM me. Basically, I think there are three pillars in fitness: strength, conditioning, and mobility.
I broke my neck. ... So while I appreciate the point you are trying to make, and I know it was done with good intentions, you cannot simply assume that a "solution for you" is a "solution for everyone".
Yes, of course, the ability to lift weights will depend on your current health and biography. I'm sorry to hear of your situation, but it's great you've recovered as well as you have.
I had to give up running two years ago because I found out I have degenerative menisci. Two out of the three orthos I saw also told me to give up barbell squats and deadlifts. But one (who is also one of the Twin Cities top guys, operating on local sports stars) said no, one of the reasons I hadn't had trouble with my knees earlier is because the joint is otherwise pretty strong, thanks to squats and deadlifts. (On a separate occasion, a different ortho told me I have the shoulder health of a 25-year-old.)
Since finding out about the degenerative meniscus tissue issue, I've found I've been able to continue with squats and deadlifts, just have to monitor the situation and back off at the first sign of trouble, "live to fight another day" as it were. And I've been able to replace running with cycling, sled work, and other conditioning exercises, although nothing gives me quite the same exhilaration as a good run. Anyway, I didn't mean to "blame the victim" for whomever is simply not capable of lifting weights, although I've heard and read enough anecdotal evidence to think that in many, but by no means all, cases, some weight training, programmed smartly and with caution, could still be of some benefit.
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Doug Parent
Supporting Member
[/QUOTE]
......although I've heard and read enough anecdotal evidence to think that in many, but by no means all, cases, some weight training, programmed smartly and with caution, could still be of some benefit.[/QUOTE]
Yeah THIS. It's such a relevant topic. When I was 21 it wasn't an issue. But at 60, with a Grade 1 spondylolisthesis herniated disc and other spinal madness going on it's only a matter of WHEN not IF that weight training and flexibility becomes necessary. And I do it because I rather play a heavier bass that puts a smile on my face every single time I pedal a low D compared to a lighter bass that sounds blurred and indistinct in comparison. To me that experience isn't fine at all and I'm unwilling to compromise. I hear the difference and I have friends in the club and on stage that hear the difference and comment as well.
......although I've heard and read enough anecdotal evidence to think that in many, but by no means all, cases, some weight training, programmed smartly and with caution, could still be of some benefit.[/QUOTE]
Yeah THIS. It's such a relevant topic. When I was 21 it wasn't an issue. But at 60, with a Grade 1 spondylolisthesis herniated disc and other spinal madness going on it's only a matter of WHEN not IF that weight training and flexibility becomes necessary. And I do it because I rather play a heavier bass that puts a smile on my face every single time I pedal a low D compared to a lighter bass that sounds blurred and indistinct in comparison. To me that experience isn't fine at all and I'm unwilling to compromise. I hear the difference and I have friends in the club and on stage that hear the difference and comment as well.
Yah, I think if you can maintain a relatively strong back, along with healthy shoulders, hips, and knees, aging gracefully becomes a lot easier, although it still sucks. Seven years ago I began to have shoulder problems (hence my trip to an ortho and shoulder x-rays). Like a lot of guys, I had always placed too much importance on benching, and had always done it with a wide grip, like the bodybuilders and powerlifters do. I read that this, along with sitting at a desk all day, can lead to impingement. So began training my back 2:1 to my front. Shoulder issue gone within a few months. Forget the "mirror muscles," it's all about the posterior chain and joint health.
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Doug Parent
Supporting Member
You still in St Paul? I grew up around St Louis Park across the river from you.
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