- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,591
- 221,980
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Yes, I just received the KA yesterday. It's on a Fiesta Red (as if you could't tell!) WD J body I've had for a couple years in a box. Time to come out and play!
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Yes, I just received the KA yesterday. It's on a Fiesta Red (as if you could't tell!) WD J body I've had for a couple years in a box. Time to come out and play!
Back when I lived in the twin cities, I had Leonard Shapiro do aspects of assembly/set up on 4 of my warmoth projects. He usually turned them around in under a week, and did killer work. He had a younger guy working there who did some of the stuff. I don't know if he is still in business. He was fairly old then, and this was 10 years back
Thanks, I got another guy who I've been going to for decades whose turnaround time is usually 1-2 weeks, and he works close by, but he balked at the complex electronics (piezo/mag/midi/3-band preamp) of the Warmoth five-string I wanted him to do. He's really more of a guitar/acoustic kind of guy. So I searched TB and found John Brown, and read that he sells a custom bass that employs almost the exact same set-up that I wanted in my Warmoth. And he charged about the same, maybe even less. But he didn't give me a straight answer when he told me he could do it in 1-2 months. Now we're on the "another three weeks" cycle when I ask him every 2-3 weeks how the project is coming along. But the work is top-notch, so I think it's worth the wait. He seems to be one of those guys who's incapable of doing anything less than 100%. But he also seems to like to take on a thousand jobs at once and then combine steps, so all oil finishes together, all routing together, etc. At least this is what I suspect. I played the Warmoth Z that he did in a jam again two days ago. It really is a special bass. I think a lot of it is the components, but the build feels excellent as well. I just wish I hadn't gone for the figured walnut. I think the unfigured walnut on the back looks better. Oh well, live and learn. Anyway, on hindsight, I should've stuck with my regular guy on that bass, I would've gotten it back a lot sooner, and it's possible that it delayed the work on the Warmoth I went to them to do in the first place.
I'm having the other luthier upgrade a Wishbass. He first trued and radiused the neck, about one week. Then we waited for new pickups to show up. Now he's finishing it. Should be done in under two weeks, and it's a fairly unique job with the extra routing and dual mag/piezo pickup system I want it to have. So I'll probably keep going to him for anything that doesn't require a finish or really complex electronics. Basically we're putting lipstick on a pig, but I was impressed by the tone of the Wishbass's neck. It's really lively, so I have high hopes for how it will sound with decent mag and piezo pickups.
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Roadworn neck on the Satin flake . I put a Stellartone 10 in and it sounds amazing with the SH pup .
Not wanting to high jack the thread, but would love to see pics of your WishBass *before and after).
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How do you like that roasted maple neck? I was interested when I saw that become an option...
i like it a lot. It feels and responds like a traditional maple neck, but is a bit lighter in weight and more stable. I built a bass last year with one (here: Warmoth Owners Club!!) and it hardly moved at all over the change of seasons. It comes pretty smooth from Warmoth, but I sanded up to 800 grit and it's like playing on silk. A light coat of Tru-Oil to protect it from sweaty hands and it's good to go. I think the pau ferro board complements it well. A very traditional tonal response with just a bit more attack.
I'm thinking about doing my 1st Warmoth build. what should I expect? I'm can setup my basses perfectly, intonation, I understand how truss rods work, etc. I'm also good a soldering and electronics. I'm not comfortable with cutting on wood, drilling or doing finishing. I installed a bridge once (had to drill holes) it turned out perfect.
I would order a finished body and neck.
I hate to build one and it turn out to be a turd.
Any advise? Things I should look out for? I'm trying to build up confidence....
Am I looking at 8-10 weeks turn on custom orders from Warmoth?
I would order a finished body and neck.
I hate to build one and it turn out to be a turd.
Any advise? Things I should look out for? I'm trying to build up confidence....
Am I looking at 8-10 weeks turn on custom orders from Warmoth?
It's not that hard to be successful if you take your time and think things through before acting. Start simply. What kind of bass are you looking to build?
I agree. I didn't know anything five months ago, but reading through here and on the Warmoth website, I got a good idea of what I want. All of Warmoth's measurements and routs are accurate as far as I can tell, and the materials and craftmanship are top-notch, so it's pretty hard to screw up.
The trickiest part IME is drilling for and installing the tuners . You can use a straight edge to line them up but you gotta drill the screw holes or you'll snap off those screws and then you'll be screwed . I measure the drill bit and wrap some tape around it as a depth guide . Then I use a wee little wax on the screw to help lube it and get them in without trouble . Other than that there is not much else you actually need to drill for . Strap buttons but that's very easy so no worries there .
...and pickup screws. Anything that has to be screwed in must have a proper diameter pilot hole. Wax or soap the screws before installing and you should be good to go.
The only other work that you may want to do is dress the fret ends. If you don't want to do that then I'm sure there's a local music shop that'll do that for you for a small charge.
I have a couple builds in mind....but probably a standard Jazz bass. Like a fender but with better quality parts.
also considering a 54 p bass...
