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Keep or sell my Warmoth Telebass? Advice needed

T

Thurisarz

Aug 20, 2004
824
2
Sweden
#1
I bought my Warmoth Telebass exactly 7 years ago and it's been my no 1 bass all these years. But during this time my taste in basses has changed, and i'm not so sure what to do with my bass. Alot of basses has come and gone thru the years but i tend to hold on to this bass. One of the reasons is that it was a gift from my father, which passed away a few years ago.

The thing is, i'm not so sure if i like the estethical shapes of the body, neck and head and the overall sound. Thru years of bass testing i've come to like "ergonomic" basses like the Ibanez SR which is lighter in weight, has a flatter neck shape and offers a 2/3-band EQ instead of my bass V/T controls. I bought a Washburn 5 string RB bass a couple of months ago, and to be honest, it fits me like a glove. It has that sound i want, nice body shape, love the neck and the 5th string is what i have been looking for.

The positive things with my bass is that it holds the tuning superb, the intonation is perfect and it has a nice old school neck which produces nice bends. And when i try Fender basses and look-a-likes in stores i always come back to my Warmoth thinking it has the best sound for these kind of basses, but still, it doesn't offer My sound and tone.

Should you keep a bass that doesn't play the way you like it but is emotionally connected to you? I don't want this thread to be a discussion of the ups and downs of the telebass, i would like to get objective views of my gear struggle.
 
#9
+1 for the "if it holds sentimental value, keep it!" camp.

Secondarily, I have lots of variants on my tone across bands and genres. I change basses, EQ, amps, and everything else. I've got a bass or two with high action to get more dynamics, one with low action for slapping and tapping, one with a big mudbucker for old school tones, and everything inbetween. I'm a jack of all trades but my point is try to make the bass work for you no matter what it is. If nothing else, find inspiration in it. Find challenge in trying to master it as a unique instrument, not as something that's just not your main player or familiar. I have things that I like playing more than others but they all have their little characters and quirks that brings out something different from me. Make it your something different bass!
 
#11
i'd personally, leave it as it is and keep it (it was your father's bass afterall!), but you can wire a series/parallel push pull pot on an MM4.2. (in series it'll have more low end and volume)

if you want it to be more 'modern' you could also install a 2 band stingray preamp (Nordstand makes them or you could build one of them) and run a stacked treble and bass pot instead of the tone control.
 
#14
Aside from the priceless factor of it being attached to your father, you will, as stated before, get next to nothing for it due to it being a Warmoth. This is in no way attibutable to the quality of the components or playability, just 'cause it don't say 'Fender' on the headstock.

P.S. I think that many 'build' basses (Warmoth, U.S. Parts, builders liike Atkinson etc.) do a more consistent job regarding Q.C.-- I have bought such basses at a great $$ and value. My current favorite P is an Atkinson ;)

Would love to see a picture of the bass your dad gifted you.

Marc
 
#17
Keep it. The thing with that kind of instruments is the sentimental value they have. For example, in my case, I'll always regret selling my first bass, it was an Epiphone P/J not so much but a gift from my grandfather. I repeat, keep it.
 

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