MIA Fender or Warmoth Build

[DavePlaysBass]

Also if going for alder, maple, and rosewood not sure Warmoth makes a lot of sense given Fender does that well. But if you start thinking in terms of mahogany, wenge, or ebony now the Warmoth offers you something that justifies the extra effort and resale risk.

 

[bwoodman]

I voted for a combo parts bass, although I am a huge fan of Warmoth and USA Custom. What I really want is the Fender USA Precision 5....but with a J pup in the bridge position - two ways to go - all Warmoth / USA or buy a Fender P5 neck online - Stratosphere comes to mind - then get a P5 body from Warmoth with PJ routes, etc etc. Or, buy a stock Fender P5 and have a shop route in the J pup. Too bad Fender doesn't offer this model. Sadowsky makes a nice PJ 5, but I don't have $4000!!

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

As a fellow Canadian, only get a Warmoth used, get the Fender. Warmoth get pretty pricey coming over the border and the warranty is basically useless up north, you will pay to ship it back and forth.

 

[A-Step-Towards]

My warmoth bass I bought used but I would guess it cost the person $1500 or so to build it, its sat locally on craigslist at $650 for months. Post a $1500 good condition Fender for $650 and its gone in a weekend.

 

[DavC]

I really like my Warmoth 5 strg neck ... I like the asymmetric backside ,... feels good for my old arthritic fingers ... I bought it used at a good price ... actually 2 of them a 4 strg and a 5 strg ... then I basically gutted them , new everything ... recently sold the 4 strg and got my money back out of it ..! the only way to buy/sell a Warmoth ..!

a few weeks back I picked up a MIA 2000 Hot Rod P-bass 4 strg ... started mods immediately ..! why not , it's not quite old enough to be Vintage ..! it does have those nice rolled fretboard edges ...

buying New ... that's cool if you want to take that first depreciation hit ... I've donated enough to that cause ..!!

 

[RedHotFuzz]

My warmoth bass I bought used but I would guess it cost the person $1500 or so to build it, its sat locally on craigslist at $650 for months. Post a $1500 good condition Fender for $650 and its gone in a weekend.

Sure, and if you want a car that's easy to flip, buy a Toyota Camry.

 

[blakelock]

i built a warmoth P and love it (wanted the slim jazz neck profile). it looks and plays wonderfully and i got to choose everything about it. i put it together myself and i am by no means a skilled luthier. you can probably do it yourself then just have a luthier set it up. regarding resale...i don't buy/build/play basses for their resale value. i enjoy them...and when i sell and buy another, i don't count on making money.

 

[JYBass]

If you're planning to keep it around in the stable, I'd go Warmoth every single time. I love 'em. However, if you might want to sell it in a little while, Fenders will have a MUCH higher resale value. But, I think a custom Warmoth kicks the crap out of MIA Fender.

 

[Hopi76]

I had a great time putting my Warmoth basses together, more so the walnut fretless. Not to mention, the amount of things I learned about setting up a very playable bass.

I'm not a collector (though I do have a collection), so resale is irrelevant to me, but after my two builds, it was very rewarding to hold them and think "this wouldn't exist if I didn't want it."

 

[Cat-A-Tonic]

I think some Warmoth builds are sexy as hell (depending on the specs of course).

I don't know why anyone shells out top dollar for a new Fender these days.
Fender hasn't been Fender for a long time.
If you want a real modern Fender, you should look into G&L.

It's a shame that the name or lack thereof means so much to second hand buyers.

 

[jp8848]

I've been struggling with this same decision. Just got my new sandblasted P bass two weeks ago but I am in Afghanistan right now and wont be able to play it until I go on leave soon. I had a very detailed and expensive Warmoth Jazz bass build 5 string and a huge list of details on it and it cost a very big chunk of change, but it was my design wit the help of my luthier and I love it! Plus I have a Fender 75 reissue MIJ jazz 4 stringer that my sister is using while i'm overseas. ( She wants to buy it! Not so sure about that!). NOW!! I am in limbo about another P bass I really want a vintage model or reissue model P bass. Yet like a few have said in here, you are limited in your selection with Fender, yet you can make it to your own liking by going with Warmoth! I have in mind of another Warmoth P bass build and sticking to the actual vintage colors and using actual vintage fender parts on it! Nothing fancy or exotic! Yes it will cost me the same or more if I bought an actual Fender. But I want the neck to be a slight flame maple grained neck, with flame maple fretboard and use MOP black dots instead of the plastic black dots! So that is one idea, the other go buy a Fender vintage reissue P Bass and spend roughly $1700 for that. So any opinions will be app
reciated!!

 

[mojomike001]

Lately I've had a good deal of fun building a few parts basses. Warmouth, Allparts, Mighty Mite, new and recycled Fender and Squier parts. Even hunting down the parts here in classified and on ebay is kind of a fun adventure. It's a bit more work pulling it all together, but when they turn out looking the way you want and playing great, the satisfaction level is very high.

Another perk that comes with the process: you inevitably learn a whole lot along the way.

 

[MegaSwing]

Here is my Fender/Warmoth P-Type. It's a 2013 MIM Fender body paired with a Warmoth Jazz-width birsdeye/rosewood neck. It sounds as good as it looks, and since it was all used, the expense was not a big factor. It just takes time and patience. Once you find a neck that you love, you can look for a body that scratches your itch. That's what I did. You'd have to search far and wide—and also get lucky—to find a Fender this solid and great-sounding for a similar price.

 

[Nephilymbass]

Keeping an eye on this thread. Not that i would buy a Mia fender, but I've owned several mim fenders and really want a 5 string fretless Jazz. Been debating for a while if I should just convert a fender 5 which would be cheaper or build a warmoth and actually get the woods Id prefer anyways.

I personally don't think Mia fenders are worth the prices in comparison to other basses. I've played them in the local stores and for me there is no fender for less than 2k that's as good as a stingray.

 

[jp8848]

Here is my Fender/Warmoth P-Type. It's a 2013 MIM Fender body paired with a Warmoth Jazz-width birsdeye/rosewood neck. It sounds as good as it looks, and since it was all used, the expense was not a big factor. It just takes time and patience. Once you find a neck that you love, you can look for a body that scratches your itch. That's what I did. You'd have to search far and wide—and also get lucky—to find a Fender this solid and great-sounding for a similar price.
View attachment 569310 View attachment 569311

Actually have that as an option too! Just leary about the neck fitting if I go through the expense of buying a body and then buying a neck from Warmoth. They do at least have the "will it fit" info on their website and they do make the MIM replacement necks as well. But they will not fit and MIJ body at all or the 5 bolt system that Fender uses. Where did you fine the body may I ask?

 

[jp8848]

Lately I've had a good deal of fun building a few parts basses. Warmouth, Allparts, Mighty Mite, new and recycled Fender and Squier parts. Even hunting down the parts here in classified and on ebay is kind of a fun adventure. It's a bit more work pulling it all together, but when they turn out looking the way you want and playing great, the satisfaction level is very high.

Another perk that comes with the process: you inevitably learn a whole lot along the way.

I like that idea! If i can find a good Fender body and then order the neck and all the vintage Fender accessories its a grand slam!!!

 

[MegaSwing]

Actually have that as an option too! Just leary about the neck fitting if I go through the expense of buying a body and then buying a neck from Warmoth. They do at least have the "will it fit" info on their website and they do make the MIM replacement necks as well. But they will not fit and MIJ body at all or the 5 bolt system that Fender uses. Where did you fine the body may I ask?

To address that concern, I have an all-Warmoth build that the neck and body came to me years apart and the neck pocket fit is so tight you couldn't cram a thought in there. Standard is standard. Here it is.

The MIM P body originally pictured was purchased out of the TB Classifieds.

 

[Son of Wobble]

a few weeks back I picked up a MIA 2000 Hot Rod P-bass 4 strg ... started mods immediately ..! why not , it's not quite old enough to be Vintage ..! it does have those nice rolled fretboard edges ...
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I have this very neck and have been waiting for a cheapo P body to mate it with. Do you think that profile would fit on a Squier Affinity Precision body (to start at the bottom)...

My warmoth bass I bought used but I would guess it cost the person $1500 or so to build it, its sat locally on craigslist at $650 for months. Post a $1500 good condition Fender for $650 and its gone in a weekend.

This is the straight dope from a Fender specialist who probably understands the market and knows his components as well as any on this site.
For that reason, I also ask his opinion on whether my MIA 2000 Hot Rod P bass neck will likely fit on an Affinity Precision (my concern is for
radius, not width of neck pocket, by the way).

Interesting thread!

 

[BazzTard]

Fender hasn't been Fender for a long time.

what has it been then?

I think you'll find the current MIA's are their best effort for a long time.

 

[mpdd]

i would only do a warmoth if i was economically set and i knew for sure i wouldn't need to part with the bass, selling my skyline p was a disaster, because i waited too long to list it on tb and i ended up selling it at gc for very little $