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Warmoth Bass worth building?

#62
"...they belong to a segment of the population that are high suggestible/susceptible to advertisement/marketing." not wanting to go further o/t but interestingly the vast majority of consumers in the west are far more susceptible to the powers of advertising and marketing than they might think. At the end of the day, more people come up to me at the end of a gig when i play my warmoth and tell me how awesome the bass sound is, than if i play my stingray or jazz bass.
 
#63
Gecko 5 said:
I just received my Jazz neck today.
Has anyone left theirs unfinished?
I know it voids the warranty, but I really like the way it feels
Click to expand...

I have done it on a maple/rosewood Warmoth J neck. I used the same stuff that Music Man use of their Stingrays. Gun Stock oil and wax. Haven't had any issues at all. I figured if Music Man were happy to sell necks finished like that, it should be fine and I love the feel of their necks. You can find info on what they use on the MM site.
 
#64
Sadowsky at one time did use Warmoth parts. Something to do with the smaller builder vs the cost of owning a CNC machine. Here's Roger addressing this subject (an excerpt from the TB archives)

"I guess it is my turn to join this discussion:

1) Several people have posted and commented that Sadowsky uses Warmoth parts. I would like to address this for what I hope will be the last time. I did use some Warmoth parts during the 80's and have ordered an occasional neck from them for some of our repair customers during the years. However, Sadowsky has not used any Warmoth necks or bodies on their basses for at least the last 10 years."

" Many instrument companies use subcontractors. It is very difficult to balance quality and maintain costs. If we were making every body by "hand" (which no one really does), costs would be absurdly high and consistancy would be very low. The average cost of a CNC machine (a computerized carving machine), with software, is about $125,000.00. Because that is beyond the means of most of us "smaller" guys, there are companies that own these machines who make parts for the "rest of us". Sadowsky, Lakland, Lull, Turner and lots more of us use various subcontractors. I know this takes some of the "romanticism" out of the process for you, but that is the way it is."

Some will still think Warmoth built or end user assembled as "not as high quality" as some boutique builders but actually they're as good they just lack the name tag.
 
#68
I have "real" basses: Warwick, Fender, etc. I've owned "real" basses: EBMM, Sandberg, etc. Why do I still own and continue to assemble Warmoth-supplied parts basses? Because it's fun, and I believe that I am learning something. I don't have the tools to actually build a bass. Unfinished parts from Warmoth are as close as I can get to "the beginning" of the process.

Also, although I really dig my 'Wicks and Fenders, I had specific things I wanted in/on a bass. For example, I wanted a J-style bass with tobacco sunburst, maple neck, rosewood board, and pearloid block inlays. Good luck finding that in Fender's current production catalog for under CS prices. I don't need a CS bass. I don't want to pay CS prices for an aesthetic-based desire. I tricked out my J-bass with Barts, and John East products. It's got a flash looking slotted BAII. It's an awesome bass. It is exactly what I wanted sonically, and aesthetically, for half of the CS price. Plus, I don't mind playing it. If it gets a nick or tiny dent...I don't have to worry about "voiding" my Certificate of Awesomeness.

A CS Fender would be awesome. I don't knock anyone for owning one. It just wouldn't fit my need(s) of a J-bass. I need a workhorse, not a show pony. Plus, the price difference turned into the down payment for my CB single-cut bass to be built. And I'm sorry, but no CS Fender can hold a candle to the CB basses I've had the pleasure of playing.
 
#69
I have also been thinking about building a Warmoth for a long time now, but I'm not very handy and don't trust myself with the simplest things like drilling pickguard screw holes and such.

For all of you guys that have built them yourself, is this actually easier to do than I think or do you require special tools and know-how?

For the other guys that had someone else build them, would you mind giving an idea of how much it costs to completely assemble a bass? I'm looking at doing a Jazz bass with P/J pickups if that helps.

Thanks!
 
#70
BIGEJ2 said:
I have also been thinking about building a Warmoth for a long time now, but I'm not very handy and don't trust myself with the simplest things like drilling pickguard screw holes and such.

For all of you guys that have built them yourself, is this actually easier to do than I think or do you require special tools and know-how?

For the other guys that had someone else build them, would you mind giving an idea of how much it costs to completely assemble a bass? I'm looking at doing a Jazz bass with P/J pickups if that helps.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I drilled for the pickguard on mine with a standard cordless drill while I was watching TV. I just put some tape on the stopping point of the drill bit and very carefully drilled straight vertical holes. Some people will say you need to use a drill press, but I didn't end up with any crooked holes and the screws went in just fine. It's easier than you think if you jsut take your time. Also, with Warmoth bodies and necks, you're just about guaranteed that you won't have to work to make anything fit with Fender parts.
 
#71
Thanks man. I'm going to spend a good deal of money on the body and neck alone, I just don't to mess anything up by trying to save money doing it myself. I do like the idea of having a bass that I designed and assembled myself - it would give me a sense of pride in completing it from start to finish.
 
#73
smcd said:
Wow those are super nice. I never considered building a Warmouth bass, but those make me consider doing it.
Click to expand...


great product although somewhat pricey. Many of mine came from the thrift shop (they don't have it anymore) where a body and neck would cost me give or take 300 and jhave nice different woods. Pretty easy to build . all you need is good setup skills and you set to go..
 
#75
BIGEJ2 said:
I have also been thinking about building a Warmoth for a long time now, but I'm not very handy and don't trust myself with the simplest things like drilling pickguard screw holes and such.

For all of you guys that have built them yourself, is this actually easier to do than I think or do you require special tools and know-how?

For the other guys that had someone else build them, would you mind giving an idea of how much it costs to completely assemble a bass? I'm looking at doing a Jazz bass with P/J pickups if that helps.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

The cost of having someone finish (assemble and or doing the electronics) for both my builds was about $150.00 each. the G5 was assembled and setup by Jim Crawford of San Diego and the "Ray" was finished (electronics and setup) at Wild West Guitars in Riverside.

Paying a pro do what they do is a good way to make a Bass a GREAT sounding player.
 

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#76
Clark Dark said:
Sadowsky at one time did use Warmoth parts. Something to do with the smaller builder vs the cost of owning a CNC machine. Here's Roger addressing this subject (an excerpt from the TB archives)

"I guess it is my turn to join this discussion:

1) Several people have posted and commented that Sadowsky uses Warmoth parts. I would like to address this for what I hope will be the last time. I did use some Warmoth parts during the 80's and have ordered an occasional neck from them for some of our repair customers during the years. However, Sadowsky has not used any Warmoth necks or bodies on their basses for at least the last 10 years."

" Many instrument companies use subcontractors. It is very difficult to balance quality and maintain costs. If we were making every body by "hand" (which no one really does), costs would be absurdly high and consistancy would be very low. The average cost of a CNC machine (a computerized carving machine), with software, is about $125,000.00. Because that is beyond the means of most of us "smaller" guys, there are companies that own these machines who make parts for the "rest of us". Sadowsky, Lakland, Lull, Turner and lots more of us use various subcontractors. I know this takes some of the "romanticism" out of the process for you, but that is the way it is."

Some will still think Warmoth built or end user assembled as "not as high quality" as some boutique builders but actually they're as good they just lack the name tag.
Click to expand...

The guy I just bought this body from, claims it is a Warmoth made Sadowsky

photo1.jpg


How would I verify?

My thought was it was made/sold by
STEWMAC.COM : Guitar, Bass, Banjo, Mandolin, Parts, Tools, Supplies, Free Information
Some years ago I seem to recall they(Stew-Mac) made some Jazz bodies like this. They still sell quilt/flame guitar bodies.
I've heard the clear "half-guard" is a Sadowsky trait
 
#77
I love Warmoth parts and this is my most recent build for a client. The assembly takes time to do it right, but with patience and the right tools, and a steady hand you can do it. The resale/recognition isn't there, but that isn't why people go this route. This bass has an amazing organic tone, all passive and the playability is on par with any Sadowsky or Lull I have laid hands on.
 
#78
lets get some things straight

Wood does matter - not so much for the body, but definitely for thr neck.
when i look for a new bass, I play it accoustically first, I am looking for a very resonant
neck with a good feel. the body must be able to transfer the resonance of the neck.
to test this, I will plat a fretted note then grab onto the fin of the body to feel the vibration of that note, I have found time after time, the more resonance the better the tone.

Fender products are set up by professionals - all you have to do is go to a local music store to dispel this notion, I wish they were setup before shipping, Fender does themselves a great disservice by not doing this.

building a Warmoth bass is a crap shoot - Partially true - i have done about 7 Warmoth builds, the worst scenario was i had a good bass, in my opinion, equal to a Fender MIA,
but out of the 7 builds, I have 2 basses that, in my opinion, would blow away any Fender CS,
When you have quality parts you usually end up with a quality bass. and Warmoth quality is much better then Fender in my opinion
 
#79
I just received my new Warmth Jazz body and neck that I custom ordered. The quality is amazing. I can't wait to build the thing. I agree that this would be comparable to a high end Fender custom shop bass. I mainly did it because I have many Fenders and wanted to do something different, rather than off the shelf. So far I am very impressed with the Warmoth product.
 

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