How many of you have built or played a warmoth bass? What do you think of the quality and tone compared to a MIA Fender? I think it would be fun to build my own bass.
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Warmoth Bass worth building?
- Thread starter solidmaui78
- Start date
Tone is in the strings, pickups, and your fingers. The wood and construction do very little.
That being said I built a warmoth and I'd put it up against any MIA or MIM fender out there today.
That being said I built a warmoth and I'd put it up against any MIA or MIM fender out there today.
- Jan 7, 2008
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IME, they're quality of wood is just as great as Fender if not better, (I'd say better because you get to choose your own body, neck, etc. from a selection) and if you set it up beautifully or have it set up beautifully it's already 1000X better than any Fender off the wall of GC....
The bodies are comparable, though Warmoth can get a lot fancier than a standard US Fender if you're willing to pay for it. I prefer the Warmoth necks by a fairly large margin.
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I'm doing a Warmoth project right now.
Keep in mind, you pretty much have to put it together yourself.
Or have it done.
I don't think Warmoths keep their value.
They are considered "kit" instruments.
Someone, correct me if I'm wrong
Keep in mind, you pretty much have to put it together yourself.
Or have it done.
I don't think Warmoths keep their value.
They are considered "kit" instruments.
Someone, correct me if I'm wrong
IMHO Warmoth far exceeds Fender's quality. I would compare their wood, fit and finish to a high end custom built instrument. Now with that said, if you don't know how to put it together, finish the frets and string nut and set up the action and intonation, you may as well purchase a Squier off the wall at GC.
Also, if you've never done any wood finishing, I highly recommend paying for their finishes. It will make a big difference in the long run.
Their techs are very knowledgeable and most are patient. They can help you select all the parts you need to make sure everything fits correctly. If you need help putting it together, there are plenty of ppl here on TB that can help you with that also.
Good luck building your dream bass. Be careful! It can be addicting.
Also, if you've never done any wood finishing, I highly recommend paying for their finishes. It will make a big difference in the long run.
Their techs are very knowledgeable and most are patient. They can help you select all the parts you need to make sure everything fits correctly. If you need help putting it together, there are plenty of ppl here on TB that can help you with that also.
Good luck building your dream bass. Be careful! It can be addicting.
1. Yes. Great fun, and you get exactly the bass you order...meaning that what's in your head may not be exactly what you get...but close. Do your homework. A great looking bass with average electronics or hardware will not blow your socks off.
2. Mine plays/looks better (to me) than most Fenders.
3. Remember that the resale value is much lower than equivalent name brands.
4. Proper set up is key.
5. Solid Walnut Jazz bodies sound awesome, but KILL your back
6. Be prepared to pay in the region of a good MIA Fender for your build once you've taken all parts into account.
2. Mine plays/looks better (to me) than most Fenders.
3. Remember that the resale value is much lower than equivalent name brands.
4. Proper set up is key.
5. Solid Walnut Jazz bodies sound awesome, but KILL your back
6. Be prepared to pay in the region of a good MIA Fender for your build once you've taken all parts into account.
I'm currently working on my 5th Warmoth bass. I think the quality is noticeably better than any MIA Fenders I've played. I always get the bodies from their showcase, as I like choosing the exact piece I'm getting. Particularly the weight.
Built two myself using Warmoth bodies, one was perfect, the other one had a dodgy line on the back where you could see the seam through the paint right at the middle of the body, called them and they told me it was normal and they werent going to exchange it!
I think they are good but wouldnt call it "high end custom built instrument" they are on par with fender! The only reason i went with them instead of buying Fender Bodies was because i wanted custom colors not available in MIA Fender!
I did get MIA Fender necks for both basses!
All that to say that IMO unless your looking for fancy woods or custom colors its not worth paying the extra money if you can find something else cheaper...
I think they are good but wouldnt call it "high end custom built instrument" they are on par with fender! The only reason i went with them instead of buying Fender Bodies was because i wanted custom colors not available in MIA Fender!
I did get MIA Fender necks for both basses!
All that to say that IMO unless your looking for fancy woods or custom colors its not worth paying the extra money if you can find something else cheaper...
I wouldnt compare warmoths to MIA Fenders, the quality is far superior, and raw necks that you can get for a good price from warmoth are much slicker to play than finished necks ive played, and own on my MIA P Bass.
I would compare them to fender custom shop items, as you can get what you want, but however you dont pay extortionate prices for warmoths which you would for custom shop basses, and long as set up and built well, they play far better than fenders.
My 5 string i wont ever be selling, Due to it being an amazing bass, and because of who it is in memory of. resale never came into mind when i built it, and id suggest not going for them if it would cross your mind in the future.
I would compare them to fender custom shop items, as you can get what you want, but however you dont pay extortionate prices for warmoths which you would for custom shop basses, and long as set up and built well, they play far better than fenders.
My 5 string i wont ever be selling, Due to it being an amazing bass, and because of who it is in memory of. resale never came into mind when i built it, and id suggest not going for them if it would cross your mind in the future.
I've found Warmoths to have better necks, more options, and all 'round quality fit and finish than a Fender. They're a parts maker...so I feel somewhat justified in saying this. A Fender (99% of the time) is a finished instrument. A Fender will always have better resale, but that's not why many of us are such ardent Warmoth fans. IF you're into the tagging - get a Fender. IF you wish to build a more personal/uniquely optioned bass - get a Warmoth. You're only limited by your imagination... 
Fender doesnt have anything on warmoth as far as quality goes. If you want quality, go with warmoth (or any number of other great companies out there) and if you want resale go with fender.
All of my Warmoth builds have far exceeded my expectations with the added feeling of having a connection to the instrument . I've only ever kept it simple , a EBO/SG or pbass , light weight , and excellent proven electronics etc etc . I highly recommend a Warmoth build for many reasons but not to save $ that probably won't happen . I just tracked my New P with Lollars the other day.
clippy
SoundClick artist: Fretless Jamz - page with MP3 music downloads
clippy
SoundClick artist: Fretless Jamz - page with MP3 music downloads
Warmoth is absolutely worth building. Fender quality is just not there. As many have said, the key is in assembly and setup. I am very fortunate to have one of the best luthiers on the east coast close by. Assembly of a parts bass is easy for him. And he has a Plekk machine. So what you have is an 8.2 lbs bass that is vastly superior to any off the shelf Fender and would ,IMO, rival their custom shop work. Specs on this were. Light weight swamp ash body(4.1 lbs) bought from the Warmoth showcase,Price $ 165.00. Micro thin Nitro finish, Bound and blocked Allparts neck, Gotoh Res-o-Lites tuners. Fender String through bridge. Fender single coils with series/parallel mod. Of course resale value would suck cause its not a Fender.
Thought I'd add to the pro-warmoth pile of comments.
I have a Gecko 6 string. It's not really comparable to a fender style bass, but I can tell you that it's the best bass I've owned or played. And as far as quality goes, I see boutique builders charging 2-3 times as much as what I payed for my warmoth, and I think my bass is just as good as any of the expensive basses I've seen out there.
. . . and assembling it was a lot of fun
I have a Gecko 6 string. It's not really comparable to a fender style bass, but I can tell you that it's the best bass I've owned or played. And as far as quality goes, I see boutique builders charging 2-3 times as much as what I payed for my warmoth, and I think my bass is just as good as any of the expensive basses I've seen out there.
. . . and assembling it was a lot of fun
definately yes. I have about 20 but i have stayed away from making exact fender basses. those you can get. I use warmoth to deliver the extras. eotic woods, P basses with 2 pups, jbasses with pj etc.... Warmoth necks are great. better than any fender i have owned but they are on the heavy side
some of the warmoth stuff
some of the warmoth stuff
Best jazz bass I ever played is my warmoth, looks ten times better than most fenders and sounds it as well.
Wow those are super nice. I never considered building a Warmouth bass, but those make me consider doing it.
