MIA Fender or Warmoth Build

[russpurdy]

Hey everyone, just wondering what you would go with if you were looking for a new P Bass....

1. American Standard Fender. The newer models with custom shop pups, graphite rods in the neck, hi-mass bridge, etc.

2. Warmoth parts build. Still would have graphite rods and hi-mass bridge. Possibly fralins, DIY laquer finish (I prefer the look of a good thin DIY paint job and it ages nicely). I'd go alder body and rosewood board and the whole shebang would be given a final once over for setup and frets by one of the local luthiers (Sheldon Dingwalls shop is two hours away and if I'm lucky he might do me a solid).

Anyways, which would you go for?

 

[RedHotFuzz]

I'm a Warmoth fan. You're not constrained by Fender's off-the-shelf offerings - you get exactly the bass you want. Something no one else has. Custom at a non-custom price. What's not to like?

Downside: don't plan to sell it.

 

[hdracer]

Fender
If you like the feel of a Fender.
A Warmoth neck is not like a Fender neck.

 

[BazzTard]

there is no comparison, seriously.

One is immaculate, the other you won't be able to sell.

 

[CharlieC]

Here are my two, MIA and Warmoth!

I'll let you decide, but I'll add that having a J in the bridge is AWESOME!

Cheers!

 

[RedHotFuzz]

there is no comparison, seriously

I'd put my Warmoth against any Fender you can find for under $2k.

 

[CharlieC]

I'd put my Warmoth against any Fender you can find for under $2k.

Agreed, but FWIW I will add that the MIA's from the past few years are top-notch, better than ever.

 

[BazzTard]

I'd put my Warmoth against any Fender you can find for under $2k.

my 2013 MIA Fender P bass in sunburst with tort PG and rosewood neck is AWESOME. I can't see how a Warmouth would be better. Rolled neck, great finish,high mass bridge with string thru, cs60 pups and a WARRANTY !

and a FREE setup.

beat that

actually, I must preface it with saying my MIA Fender is better than any Warmoth that I can build. I know some of you put together some beautiful basses that I could never do.

 

[CharlieC]

my 2013 MIA Fender P bass in sunburst with tort PG and rosewood neck is AWESOME. I can't see how a Warmouth would be better. Rolled neck, great finish,high mass bridge with string thru, cs60 pups and a WARRANTY !

and a FREE setup.

beat that

The rolled neck is a great plus for Fender, but the other Warmoth choices eclipse Fender by a mile and a half.

I own both, but have to say, my only wish is that Fender would simply cater to my needs and then I would not have to wander at all, LOL!

Cheers!

 

[BazzTard]

I wish I lived in the US , importing parts is very expensive right now, our dollar is only 70 US cents ATM wahhhh

 

[CharlieC]

I wish I lived in the US , importing parts is very expensive right now, our dollar is only 70 US cents ATM wahhhh

USA bass parts for Aussie Shiraz! Cheers, brother! \m/

 

[slamsinger]

I built a warmoth Jazz 5 for 500 less than a usa 5 deluxe .. With a zebra wood top - vintage burst finish - sadowsky pickups and preamp- blocked and bound neck - Hipshot hardware - hands down warmoth ... And the new necks have a flatter profile that's like butter !

 

[BazzTard]

USA bass parts for Aussie Shiraz! Cheers, brother! \m/

hehe DEAL !

And I'm in Adelaide South Australia, home of the Barossa Valley, Clare Valley and king of kings Coonawarra region, surely the best reds in the World ! think Penfolds Grange Hermitage.

Actually, if you ever want some wines I'm sure I could ship some over to you.Wouldn't be too hard to organise

 

[Malak the Mad]

Anyways, which would you go for?

I'm glad you asked! I've explored these options before, and for a variety of reasons I voted "Parts Bass". For example;

If you like the feel of a Fender.
A Warmoth neck is not like a Fender neck.

This is a big reason I haven't used Warmoth nor AllParts necks. Personally, I'm very picky about my fretboard radius, and all of the aforementioned brands use a flatter board. By "harvesting the organs" from other basses, I get what I want and can change up the tuners if I like. (Yay Hipshot!) The same goes for other bits o' hardware, as well as the electronics…all hand-picked to get what I want, or feel like experimenting with.

There are, of course, some ups and downs regarding "the sordid topic of coin". On the upside, by spreading out the costs over time, instead of buying everything in one, lump sum, it eases the financial pinch. The downside is…

Downside: don't plan to sell it.

One is immaculate, the other you won't be able to sell.

…this. I put up my most recent parts-bass project up for sale last month. (yeah, a shameless plug…sue me!) For sure, part of it's inability to move is because of the holiday season, but this "not-a-brand-name-stigma", if you will, seems to be haunting it. In the end, unless I decide to keep it, I may have to part it out.

For the record, I'm not selling it because of any dissatisfaction with it. The undertaking was a lot of fun and I'm incredibly proud of what I, a relative novice, have achieved. I have an "itch" to build my next parts-bass project and I want the previous one to fund the next.

 

[Eidolon0274]

If you have ANY doubt that you will keep this bass for the long haul, go for the fender. Warmoth builds will not sell for even half of what you put in.

Sometimes I think it's less brand name stigma and more "with a "fender", I know what I'm getting and I have a return preiod and warranty ". A parts bass is as good as its parts and assembler, and I've played some buttery parts basses before.

 

[RedHotFuzz]

Sometimes I think it's less brand name stigma and more "with a "fender", I know what I'm getting and I have a return preiod and warranty

Your Warmoth parts and any components (if new) you use are also protected by warranty.

 

[Eidolon0274]

Your Warmoth parts and any components (if new) you use are also protected by warranty.

Thats true, but when you buy a used parts bass you dont know if master tech #1 or my little brother with a cheese grater did the fretwork and wiring.

 

[MegaSwing]

Does it have to be new? The only guarantee you have with a new build or a new brand instrument is that it'll look great. I've put together a couple of Fender/Warmoth instruments, that through trial-and-error with very clean used parts, ended up looking, playing and sounding amazing. In the process I haven't lost my shirt because I never paid new retail for any of the big components. Moving excess parts along isn't a big deal for the same reason.

 

[Shaunpski]

I have a MIA J Bass, a parts P and built a Warmoth Strat. I absolutely love my strat. Boutique parts, lacquer finished, and at a cost well under a comparable Fender. What I keyed on in the original post was "DIY lacquer finish." That was the toughest part of my strat build--extremely tough to do right the first time. If you have experience with lacquer, it seems an easy choice. If you haven't done a lacquer finish before, I'd give it careful thought. Either way, good luck. I can't imagine you'd be disappointed either way.

Shaun

 

[DavePlaysBass]

The 7.5" / 9.5" combined radius neck option from USA Custom has caught my eye and unlike Warmoth they have a 1 5/8" nut width option.