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Warmoth custom vs Fender jazz?
- Thread starter baba68
- Start date
I just assembled a warmoth with purpleheart and ebony neck, swamp ash body, nordstrand single coils, and an audere classic 4 band. It's by far the best jazz bass style instrument I've ever played. A gamble yes, but educated one. As far as resale, I made a decision to make something would I love playing and inspire me, rather something I could recoup my money from. I invested in the satisfaction(priceless!) of having a great jazz bass that combines all my favorite things in current bass making.
A gamble yes, but educated one. As far as resale, I made a decision to make something would I love playing and inspire me, rather something I could recoup my money from. I invested in the satisfaction(priceless!) of having a great jazz bass that combines all my favorite things in current bass making.
I couldn't have said it better myself.
Lonnybass
- Jun 29, 2006
- 5,148
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i don't think it's a gamble at all if you stick to time tested wood combinations such as alder or swamp ash bodies and maple/maple or maple/rosewood necks. it's not rocket science. 
when i look at the customer galleries on the warmoth website, i can see why people end up with less than optimum results due to really strange combinations of woods and pickups.
if you are worried about resale, buy a fender. but IMO and IME, warmoth parts are far superior in terms of construction and the quality of the woods. fender cranks out a huge volume of instruments and doesn't go to the effort or expense of hand selecting/extensive QC of all the woods, other than their very high end or custom shop models.
i finished my warmoth build recently and am 100% satisfied with it. i played some very high end, well known basses shortly afterwards and much prefered my warmoth. it will hold its own against anything IMO.
here's a pic:
when i look at the customer galleries on the warmoth website, i can see why people end up with less than optimum results due to really strange combinations of woods and pickups. if you are worried about resale, buy a fender. but IMO and IME, warmoth parts are far superior in terms of construction and the quality of the woods. fender cranks out a huge volume of instruments and doesn't go to the effort or expense of hand selecting/extensive QC of all the woods, other than their very high end or custom shop models.
i finished my warmoth build recently and am 100% satisfied with it. i played some very high end, well known basses shortly afterwards and much prefered my warmoth. it will hold its own against anything IMO.
here's a pic:
Well I have to agree with just about everything said here, but I'll highlight the key points and put them into sort of a pro-con thing.
Pros with Warmoth:
Great Quality Woods
Awesome Finishing available
Quality blows fender away if you build it right
you get what you want.
Cons Warmoth:
Too many choices make for some wierd results
you can't hear/play it until you've paid for it already
Time consuming process when ordering (4 months for me)
MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE ($1800 in my case)
Loose value rather than gain value
Pros for Fender:
You know what its going to sound like
You can find a good one and forget the bad ones
Cheaper
Hold Value better
Cons for Fender:
Finding a good one
Most need upgrades to be perfect
Really, you'll find the cons list shorter for Fenders or other Basses that copy them that are store bought.
And, here is the beauty that I built.
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Mind you I put this together with minimal tools or knowledge. It needs a professional fret dress / level. If you don't have those tools, check out the prices for them before you buy a Warmoth. Your looking at sinking $150 for those alone.
I would also recommend looking through my thread that i put together as a buildlog. Its long, and has a lot of replies, however its got some good info in it. It may answer some questions you already have when people talk about putting them together.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=310237
Pros with Warmoth:
Great Quality Woods
Awesome Finishing available
Quality blows fender away if you build it right
you get what you want.
Cons Warmoth:
Too many choices make for some wierd results
you can't hear/play it until you've paid for it already
Time consuming process when ordering (4 months for me)
MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE ($1800 in my case)
Loose value rather than gain value
Pros for Fender:
You know what its going to sound like
You can find a good one and forget the bad ones
Cheaper
Hold Value better
Cons for Fender:
Finding a good one
Most need upgrades to be perfect
Really, you'll find the cons list shorter for Fenders or other Basses that copy them that are store bought.
And, here is the beauty that I built.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Mind you I put this together with minimal tools or knowledge. It needs a professional fret dress / level. If you don't have those tools, check out the prices for them before you buy a Warmoth. Your looking at sinking $150 for those alone.
I would also recommend looking through my thread that i put together as a buildlog. Its long, and has a lot of replies, however its got some good info in it. It may answer some questions you already have when people talk about putting them together.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=310237
I'm a Warmoth advocate. I've built 3 of them and, even though one is my favourite, they all sound good. The quality of their parts is very high. It's a fun project and mine didn't cost more than a MIA Jazz.
If you're wondering about which woods to go with, Warmoth can help you out. For bass, korina, koa and walnut are good choices for the bodies. Maple neck with an ebony fretboard is very good and my favourite is wenge with an ebony board.
If you're wondering about which woods to go with, Warmoth can help you out. For bass, korina, koa and walnut are good choices for the bodies. Maple neck with an ebony fretboard is very good and my favourite is wenge with an ebony board.
I never had my frets dressed and the necks play quite well. You may be able to get away without it.
You can also save money by doing the finish work yourself. I chose koa, black korina, and walnut bodies because they're good candiates for an oil finish which is not a difficult do-it-yourself project.
Gorgeous bass by the way Joelb79!
I put together a Warmoth Jazz Bass
swamp ash body w quilt maple top, 3 tone burst,no pickguard, pots mounted from the rear so there is no plate on the front, gold hardware, birds eye maple neck, rosewood finger board, big blocks with white binding, Duncan Antiquitie IIs and Aguilar OP2 18 Volt - sounds like Marcus Miller's Jazz. It's quite beautiful sounding.
Quality is near to Fender custom shop Cost in parts +/- $1500
time to construct: 8 hours (took my time)
I would have spent twice that on a Custom shop or Sadowsky Jazz.
One piece of advice: stay away from the stainless steel fret wire, they really are clangy sounding.
As has been stated several times, classic wood choices will give you predictable results. Ash or Alder body, maple neck with maple, rosewood or ebony fingerboards are very safe choices.
I found it to be very gratifying to build such a nice bass.
Hey joelb79, nice job on your bass!
swamp ash body w quilt maple top, 3 tone burst,no pickguard, pots mounted from the rear so there is no plate on the front, gold hardware, birds eye maple neck, rosewood finger board, big blocks with white binding, Duncan Antiquitie IIs and Aguilar OP2 18 Volt - sounds like Marcus Miller's Jazz. It's quite beautiful sounding.
Quality is near to Fender custom shop Cost in parts +/- $1500
time to construct: 8 hours (took my time)
I would have spent twice that on a Custom shop or Sadowsky Jazz.
One piece of advice: stay away from the stainless steel fret wire, they really are clangy sounding.
As has been stated several times, classic wood choices will give you predictable results. Ash or Alder body, maple neck with maple, rosewood or ebony fingerboards are very safe choices.
I found it to be very gratifying to build such a nice bass.
Hey joelb79, nice job on your bass!
Definitely go for Warmoth! I have put together 6-7 Warmoths and I have ordered two new Warmoths. I have got so much better sound compared to recent MIA Fenders. One of my creations (Warmoth neck and hollow Ash body, Antiquity II pickups, all passive) played against 66 Jazz and sounded even better. Of course, you never know what particular pieces of wood you'll get, but the overall quality of Warmoth parts is just great! 
Besides, options, options, options!!! I like it so much. 
Besides, options, options, options!!! I like it so much.
Wow, what a beauty!!!
I have a similar Nordy, only 5-string.
PS! Thanks for the cups, they're on my 69 Jazz.
Margus
Here's my favorite "Fender" 
I'd go with a Warmoth build project any day, hands down, end of story
The bass above has a Warmoth neck and Kubicki body. It will make a Fender sound puny.
I'd go with a Warmoth build project any day, hands down, end of story
The bass above has a Warmoth neck and Kubicki body. It will make a Fender sound puny.
http://s116.photobucket.com/albums/o12/lambro3/F Bird/?action=view¤t=1177034697.pbw
Warmoth J neck and mahogany body, real nitro finish, color matched to my 74 strat neck and a vintage 67 V for the body
Dark Star pickups, Hipshot A bridge (with Wal spacing MG & DG), shaller tuners, stack knob tone, master volume and 3 way switch
Warmoth J neck and mahogany body, real nitro finish, color matched to my 74 strat neck and a vintage 67 V for the body
Dark Star pickups, Hipshot A bridge (with Wal spacing MG & DG), shaller tuners, stack knob tone, master volume and 3 way switch
I just assembled a warmoth with purpleheart and ebony neck, swamp ash body, nordstrand single coils, and an audere classic 4 band. It's by far the best jazz bass style instrument I've ever played. A gamble yes, but educated one. As far as resale, I made a decision to make something would I love playing and inspire me, rather something I could recoup my money from. I invested in the satisfaction(priceless!) of having a great jazz bass that combines all my favorite things in current bass making.
How about some pics please?
I wanted a 51' P and good luck finding anything in a lefty that even resembles it. Warmoth came to my rescue and they don't even upcharge for the lefty option which is very rare. They do great work and if your looking for something different, I like the Warmoth.
I wouldn't do that to all my basses, but it was fun to do it this one because I didn't have a lot of money in it, but it plays great, sounds great, and it's different!
Peace...
I wouldn't do that to all my basses, but it was fun to do it this one because I didn't have a lot of money in it, but it plays great, sounds great, and it's different!
Peace...
None of my "Fender" stuff is fender, it is all Warmoth (Jazz, Strat, tele). Why? In years of looking, I have never found a fender I could afford that really did it for me (although a few were for nitpicky reasons).
I get hell for this, but I'll say it again. About a year ago, on the J hunt, I played close to 40 MIAs, a few MIMs, and some MIJs. Tonally, none of the current MIAs did it for me. Just blah. The active one was OK, but nothing special. The stock passive ones, to a bass, were very bland to my ears. My favoriite sounding bass of the current fenders was the Marcus, but I can't stand the guard (this is petty, I know) and I didn't htink it was very versatile sounding. That said, as part of the J search, I played the two best basses I've ever laid hands on, a 64, and an early 80s Fullerton RI. I also played a few used ones from a few years back which were much better than the new ones, but (again, petty) 2 of the 3 were in ugly colors, and the 3rd sold while I was pondering.
Final Results- Warmoth J- Alder, Maple, Pau Ferro, Nordstrands, Audere Pre. Ended up spectacular. Immediately became my #1.
The tele hunt- Actually more fruitful than the J or Strat Hunt. 52 RI is about perfect, but for the neck radius.
Final result- built pretty much a 52 RI, but with a callaham compensated bridge and compound radius board (and riogrande pickups). Killer axe.
The strat hunt- Only managed to find one or two strats that really spoke to me, and never when I had the cash.
Final Result-Built (kind of on a whim) a strat, mostly out of thrift shop parts, hardtail, riogrande pickups again. Makes me real happy.
Bottom line, it is all pretty subjective, but my warmoths put a big grin on my face that I haven't gotten from any fender I've played that wasn't really expensive.
A few warmoth caveats:
1. There is no resale value, so you best play for keeps.
2. The bass neck options are weak. Fortunately, I like the J neck, but they do much better for options on guitar necks. Basically, there is one profile and 2 widths for the bass.
3. They are expensive, and getting moreso. My strat was actually less than a new MIA at the time (I think the tele may have been too). They were selling "pre painted" bodies for about what they charge for a paint job now. Thing was, they always had all of their solid colors, most in both alder and swamp ash, and for guitar, most in hardtail and trem (so 4 choices per color). The J that I just did, in contrast, ended up being more than most of the non custom shop 4 strings.
I get hell for this, but I'll say it again. About a year ago, on the J hunt, I played close to 40 MIAs, a few MIMs, and some MIJs. Tonally, none of the current MIAs did it for me. Just blah. The active one was OK, but nothing special. The stock passive ones, to a bass, were very bland to my ears. My favoriite sounding bass of the current fenders was the Marcus, but I can't stand the guard (this is petty, I know) and I didn't htink it was very versatile sounding. That said, as part of the J search, I played the two best basses I've ever laid hands on, a 64, and an early 80s Fullerton RI. I also played a few used ones from a few years back which were much better than the new ones, but (again, petty) 2 of the 3 were in ugly colors, and the 3rd sold while I was pondering.
Final Results- Warmoth J- Alder, Maple, Pau Ferro, Nordstrands, Audere Pre. Ended up spectacular. Immediately became my #1.
The tele hunt- Actually more fruitful than the J or Strat Hunt. 52 RI is about perfect, but for the neck radius.
Final result- built pretty much a 52 RI, but with a callaham compensated bridge and compound radius board (and riogrande pickups). Killer axe.
The strat hunt- Only managed to find one or two strats that really spoke to me, and never when I had the cash.
Final Result-Built (kind of on a whim) a strat, mostly out of thrift shop parts, hardtail, riogrande pickups again. Makes me real happy.
Bottom line, it is all pretty subjective, but my warmoths put a big grin on my face that I haven't gotten from any fender I've played that wasn't really expensive.
A few warmoth caveats:
1. There is no resale value, so you best play for keeps.
2. The bass neck options are weak. Fortunately, I like the J neck, but they do much better for options on guitar necks. Basically, there is one profile and 2 widths for the bass.
3. They are expensive, and getting moreso. My strat was actually less than a new MIA at the time (I think the tele may have been too). They were selling "pre painted" bodies for about what they charge for a paint job now. Thing was, they always had all of their solid colors, most in both alder and swamp ash, and for guitar, most in hardtail and trem (so 4 choices per color). The J that I just did, in contrast, ended up being more than most of the non custom shop 4 strings.
The time and process required to really know what you will get in a set of self-chosen Warmoth options is significant. The average player doesn't have enough background to predict this accurately (It took me a couple of bass builds and surprise results to understand what I was doing.). I'd never discourage someone from putting together one of their own - nothing compares with playing something nobody else has and you imagined yourself. But it is often an adventure. I cringe every time I hear someone announce that they are going to combine a body in one exotic wood with a neck made from another with guts by particular makers - you know the story. The bass may look incredibly cool, but the sound could be good, bad, as expected, a total surprise, you name it.
Says it all.
