It came w an 18 volt 3 band and push/pull slap switch. I haven't had enough time to give her a fair handshake due to online classes- but I can imagine how she'll punch through a stage mix
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Warmoth Gecko owner's club
- Thread starter tubby.twins
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It came w an 18 volt 3 band and push/pull slap switch. I haven't had enough time to give her a fair handshake due to online classes- but I can imagine how she'll punch through a stage mix
Update: I really dig the SD circuit (it's been a while since I've have an active bass) but I'm planning to swap her out for a Nordstrand Bigman and a passive circuit at some point. I'd love to keep my signal path unified and also eschew the temptation of exciting knobs on an axe. I'm pretty sure I can get the MM sound with the Bigman and the right capacitors.
Ain't life grand?
I think I may soon join this esteemed club...hopefully. I'm actually "in the process" of deciding which bass to build. I hope it will be a Gecko 6-string. However, Warmoth currently only offers Maple as the neck shaft wood. I don't want a Maple neck. I want a Wenge neck. I've contacted Warmoth and was told that Wenge may be available for Geckos in the next month or two...we shall see.
But here is the layout of my "possible" Gecko 6:
Body Core: Mahogany
Top Lam: Walnut
Neck Shaft: Wenge
Fingerboard: Purpleheart
Frets: Size 6105 stainless steel
Nut: Tusq (black)
Pickups: Nordstrand Fat Stacks (coil tapped), P4 size, 16.5mm spacing
Bridge: Hipshot A 6-string (16.5mm spacing), String-Thru (black)
Tuning Machines: Hipshot Ultralites, black (Shaller-style knobs)
I plan to have Warmoth drill their customary 3-hole controls and use them for Volume, Tone and Blend. I'll have to drill my own 1/4" hole for the coil tap switch. I'm pretty excited about the build...now if Warmoth will just cooperate and offer the Gecko neck in Wenge...
The hardest part of this decision-making process has been deciding on the pickups. I've decided to go with Nordstrand based on their reputation and the reviews I've read here on TB. I had several questions about which particular model to get, string spacing, shape, etc. So I contacted Nordstrand and had a fairly lengthy email conversation with Stew. Great guy BTW! He got me lined out and I can't say enough about their service. And from what I've heard, their pickups are pretty sweet!
Anyway, wish me luck!!
But here is the layout of my "possible" Gecko 6:
Body Core: Mahogany
Top Lam: Walnut
Neck Shaft: Wenge
Fingerboard: Purpleheart
Frets: Size 6105 stainless steel
Nut: Tusq (black)
Pickups: Nordstrand Fat Stacks (coil tapped), P4 size, 16.5mm spacing
Bridge: Hipshot A 6-string (16.5mm spacing), String-Thru (black)
Tuning Machines: Hipshot Ultralites, black (Shaller-style knobs)
I plan to have Warmoth drill their customary 3-hole controls and use them for Volume, Tone and Blend. I'll have to drill my own 1/4" hole for the coil tap switch. I'm pretty excited about the build...now if Warmoth will just cooperate and offer the Gecko neck in Wenge...
The hardest part of this decision-making process has been deciding on the pickups. I've decided to go with Nordstrand based on their reputation and the reviews I've read here on TB. I had several questions about which particular model to get, string spacing, shape, etc. So I contacted Nordstrand and had a fairly lengthy email conversation with Stew. Great guy BTW! He got me lined out and I can't say enough about their service. And from what I've heard, their pickups are pretty sweet!
Anyway, wish me luck!!
That's odd - I don't recall that they ever had to put the Wenge Gecko necks on hold due to availability. But it will be worth the wait. More than likely you'll end up seeing something new pop up in the Showcase once Wenge or any other exotic hardwoods become available.
Also, a good number of the custom and really unique necks that I've seen in the Showcase (over the years) have been things that the phone and e-mail sales people have sworn would "never, ever" become available from a special order, but then due to the right woods being available at the right time *or* a successful experiment by the powers-that-be, lo and behold, a special neck shows up.
These are the times when you want to put the Showcase RSS news feeds on auto-reload and keep a close watch on what gets posted. I've seen (and purchased) more one-off necks that way.
Keep a close watch for the other exotic hardwoods, such as Bubinga, Purpleheart and even Rosewood. These do occasionally pop up for a 6-string neck, once in a while.
Best of luck!
Well, maple is the only thing available right now. I'm hopeful that other woods become available soon.
Hey All, first post in this forum,
The wenge thing is kind of a bummer. I am currently in the planning stages for a Gecko 6 Fretless and had pretty much planned on the wenge neck. I called them last week to find out when wenge would be available. I was told that it is going on a month by month basis. The rep said they keep telling him "Another Month" and they have been telling him that for the last 4 months.
I have a Gecko 5 fretless that I got in Dec. 2014 here, on TB. It has the wide wenge neck on it which I absolutely love playing. Adds to the weight, but worth it in my book.
Anyway, I have decided to go ahead and build this 6'er with the maple neck and if I end up really not liking it I will look to have a wenge made when it becomes available.
The wenge thing is kind of a bummer. I am currently in the planning stages for a Gecko 6 Fretless and had pretty much planned on the wenge neck. I called them last week to find out when wenge would be available. I was told that it is going on a month by month basis. The rep said they keep telling him "Another Month" and they have been telling him that for the last 4 months.
I have a Gecko 5 fretless that I got in Dec. 2014 here, on TB. It has the wide wenge neck on it which I absolutely love playing. Adds to the weight, but worth it in my book.
Anyway, I have decided to go ahead and build this 6'er with the maple neck and if I end up really not liking it I will look to have a wenge made when it becomes available.
Well, like I said, the Rep told me to call back in a month. I guess I will, and keep calling until it comes in. Really don't want maple...
Hi Again,
Since I owned up to owning a Gecko 5 in the previous post, I figure I had better provide proof! LOL!
The body is walnut with no cap. The neck in the wide wenge, line-free fretless (ebony board), the elctronics are a Nordstrand Big Man in the Sweet Spot running thru' a Mike Pope 18V 3B pre.
I have posted a couple of pics from when I bought it here. It was in the white. No finish whatsoever. It didn't look bad, but the wood needed some protection, so I put 3 coats on Danish Oil on it. Shielded the compartment and put it back together.
I really enjoy the bass. It's my everyday player.
These are the 'Pre-Finishing' pics;
Here are the 'Journey to a Finished Bass' pics;
Since I owned up to owning a Gecko 5 in the previous post, I figure I had better provide proof! LOL!
The body is walnut with no cap. The neck in the wide wenge, line-free fretless (ebony board), the elctronics are a Nordstrand Big Man in the Sweet Spot running thru' a Mike Pope 18V 3B pre.
I have posted a couple of pics from when I bought it here. It was in the white. No finish whatsoever. It didn't look bad, but the wood needed some protection, so I put 3 coats on Danish Oil on it. Shielded the compartment and put it back together.
I really enjoy the bass. It's my everyday player.
These are the 'Pre-Finishing' pics;
Here are the 'Journey to a Finished Bass' pics;
Can't say I blame ya'. The wenge does have a great feel to it. I should probably wait as well, but I'm going to go ahead and try the maple.
Thanks! I really like the way it came out. It was fun working on it.
The Nordstrand Big Man is a great pick up. It is the first time I've used a Nordstrand set up and it is really working out well. I think the Pope pre may be a little bit of overkill for me. I am not really into dialing up that "Perfect" tone which is what I think this pre is ready to do. I am more of a "Plug & Play" guy. But, that being said, once I dialed everything in and got used to it, this bass is sounding as nice as any fretless I've ever played. It also sits really well and is quite comfortable to play.
Edit: I should add, I am going to go with the Nordstrand Dual Coil in the sweet spot on my 6-string FL build. I would have used a BigMan if they made one for 6-string. The Dual Coil looks as though it will do the job. I REALLY like the simplicity of the single, sweet spot config.
The Nordstrand Big Man is a great pick up. It is the first time I've used a Nordstrand set up and it is really working out well. I think the Pope pre may be a little bit of overkill for me. I am not really into dialing up that "Perfect" tone which is what I think this pre is ready to do. I am more of a "Plug & Play" guy. But, that being said, once I dialed everything in and got used to it, this bass is sounding as nice as any fretless I've ever played. It also sits really well and is quite comfortable to play.
Edit: I should add, I am going to go with the Nordstrand Dual Coil in the sweet spot on my 6-string FL build. I would have used a BigMan if they made one for 6-string. The Dual Coil looks as though it will do the job. I REALLY like the simplicity of the single, sweet spot config.
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Very nice indeed. Wenge and Walnut look great together. I wholeheartedly concur, the sweet spot is a great place for a single pickup bass. And the best part is you have many other options for pickups, should you ever want to explore other tonal options. But the Nordstrand Dual Coil pickups are excellent.
Welcome to the club! You are #32.
little help please?
can someone post the distance/dimension of the gecko 5 neck from the 24th fret to the butt-end that marries up to the body (see pic)? thanks!
can someone post the distance/dimension of the gecko 5 neck from the 24th fret to the butt-end that marries up to the body (see pic)? thanks!
...and the 6 String Fretless Build Begins!
Roasted Swamp Ash body this time around:
Roasted Swamp Ash body this time around:
The measurement you requested is 62mm (just shy of 2.5").
I don't have that *particular* neck any more (i.e. the picture you attached), but I measured the distance on another Gecko 5 Medium neck (also fretless). If you're looking for the equivalent measurement on a Gecko 5 Narrow or Wide, it may be different.
The neck has made it. I love the flat profile.
The body now has 3 coats of clear Danish Oil on it and the roasted ash seems to like it. I am happy with the outcome. The coloring looks similar to eastern black walnut, but there is a lot more figuring going on in the grain than what would normally be going on in the walnut.
The neck is unfinished maple. I have some vintage gold/yellow Danish oil I may try, or maybe just put some clear on it. I'd be interested in hearing what some of you may have to say about that.
I have a couple slats of maple that I am going to try different finishes on. I really like how Danish Oil does it's thing. It leaves a very natural look to the wood which is something I really prefer. It's really all about the color. Stay natural or the vintage tint... Hmmmm... Anyone? Thoughts?
I would prefer a darker-colored neck myself. Just me though. I'm also a fan of the feel of an unfinished, but oiled neck.
Hey guys, I know some of you (myself included) have been waiting for wenge and other 'exotic' neck woods to return to the Warmoth neck-building page ... Well, it hasn't happened yet 
.
But someone did buy the only showcase neck (come on, you know which one I'm talking about . . . ); and in my experience, that usually means they'll be putting a few new ones up in the showcase soon . . . . . .
Just please, no one buy one. Remember, I have first choice.
((.... maybe wenge will be available again after the new year (speculation / wishful thinking only)))
. But someone did buy the only showcase neck (come on, you know which one I'm talking about . . . ); and in my experience, that usually means they'll be putting a few new ones up in the showcase soon . . . . . .
Just please, no one buy one. Remember, I have first choice.
((.... maybe wenge will be available again after the new year (speculation / wishful thinking only)))
I have the extra-wide Wenge neck on my fretless 5, up above. I like it. Wenge definitely looks good, but carries some weight. The fact the 6-string fretless build I am doing, with the lighter weight maple neck, is going to come in under 9 lbs. is huge for me.
Comparing the Maple and Wenge necks; the maple is smoother, a bit quicker, and quite a bit lighter than the Wenge.
The Wenge has the edge on looks, but the playability is more important for me.
Comparing the Maple and Wenge necks; the maple is smoother, a bit quicker, and quite a bit lighter than the Wenge.
The Wenge has the edge on looks, but the playability is more important for me.
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