NRNBD (Not Really "New" Bass Day) - Warmoth fretless 5-string

[Bob_Ross]

I've posted a few works-in-progress, not-quite-complete photos of this instrument in TB for an embarassingly long time now: I just checked my archives, and this project has been in the works for over 10 years!!!

Yeah, I'm a procrastinator....

The bass has actually been playable for the past 4 or 5 years. But the very last steps -- finishing the body, and getting a replacement knob for one that went missing shortly after I installed the electronics -- only just fell into place this week. BUT IT'S FINALLY DONE! So it feels like "NBD" all over again.

Specs:
- Warmoth Precision Bass body circa 2014, alder with a quilted maple top, finished in hand-rubbed Howard's Feed-N-Wax (a beeswax/orange oil blend)
- Warmoth "Wide 5" fretless neck circa <1996, maple with ebony fingerboard, maple fretlines, steel reinforcing bars. The "Wide 5" oversized neck heel was modded by Paul Nieto of GuitarTech in NYC to fit the standard dims of that body's Fender-sized neck pocket.
- Schaller tuning machines
- Hipshot Type A bridge
- Bartolini NTMB (HR-3.4/918) 3-band EQ/preamp
- Bartolini MV52CBJD quad-coil humbucker, wired up so that the front & rear coil pairs are treated as separate neck and bridge pickups. (Rear coil is in the 1960s Jazz Bass position...not that this beast sounds anything like a 60s Jazz Bass).
- Ken Smith "Slick Round" Nickel Iron Medium groundwound (# AA-SRM) strings, tuned EADGC

It's a bit heavy, comes in at 10.39 lbs on the digital luggage scale, but not something that Comfort Strapp can't alleviate.
Sound and feel are amazing. Quite possibly the nicest feeling neck I own. It's got incredible punch and a thick, "chewy" tone that really lends itself to Percy Jones/Mick Karn-esque lines.

I'm thrilled...finally!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

That is quite a good looking bass. I would love to hear it.

 

[Killing Floor]

Happy not really new bass day.

 

[Saetia]

Beautiful bass, I love how classy and the somewhat understated elegance this top and finish has. Will have to check out Howard's Feed-N-Wax. Don't feel bad on how long it took to get here, live in the moment and relish that you finished this beast. I too have a project that although not a decade in the making, is over 5 years coming and I'd venture to say it's been more like 7 or 8. Gives me inspiration to finish mine up.

 

[monsterthompson]

Nice!

 

[Element Zero]

Looks awesome

 

[EliasA]

- Ken Smith "Slick Round" Nickel Iron Medium groundwound (# AA-SRM) strings, tuned EADGC

Wow! I've been wanting to build a 5-string EADGC Warmoth to play Thundercat type chords on, and look what I find! Very cool, hope it sounds and feels great!

 

[Bob_Ross]

minor update:

...okay, it's not really an update per se, the bass is still as portrayed in the OP...but I'm not playing it a lot as a fretless tuned EADGC, and conversely I have a compelling need for a backup fretted bass tuned BEADG. So I'm thinking about replacing the Warmoth fretless neck with a carbon fiber fretted 5-string neck from either Klos, or Aurok Composites and then restringing it with a low B. Hoping that thick, chewy tone it gets now will survive that transition.

If I make the move for real I'll update this thread.