Warmoth Owners Club!!

[Doner Designs]

Thank you! I'm sure your ziricote fretboard is going to look stunning.

I'm sure you remember my 3-pickup bass from previous threads. What you may not remember was that that bass also had a wenge fretboard. I had a couple of wenge thumb-rests made for it as well. (See pics.)

One thing I will mention as it relates to your post is that both of my wenge fretboard necks were purchased from the showroom, not custom ordered, so I was able to see the grain before buying and didn't have to specify a unique choice.

Oh, another thing. That neck I just bought with the roasted maple/wenge and the Warhead headstock is a 34" neck. Normally the Warhead headstocks are only on their short-scale necks, but for whatever reason, they made a 24-fret 34" Warhead neck with roasted maple and wenge, and it was just sitting there on the showroom website. I had them put gold frets on it, and it's eventually going to end up on a mahogany body with gold hardware. That's something different for me. That's also going to be a while before it's done, as I have to modify the body to take advantage of the 24 frets.

By the way, I have another couple of 3-pickup basses in the works. One of them will have three P pickups!

View attachment 3318100 View attachment 3318101 View attachment 3318102

I remember and that neck was fantastic. Good scores in both cases!

 

[Bob_Ross]

Sorry, gotta vent:

I'm building up a new Warmoth P Bass. Neck, body, pickguard, bridge, tuners, and all hardware was all purchased from Warmoth.

They sell their pickguard screws in a 12-pack.

A P Bass needs 13 screws.

:::angryface:::


Okay, as you were.

 

[BlueTalon]

I'm building up a new Warmoth P Bass. Neck, body, pickguard, bridge, tuners, and all hardware was all purchased from Warmoth.

They sell their pickguard screws in a 12-pack.

A P Bass needs 13 screws.

They were selling you all the parts for the bass, and they wouldn't throw in one extra screw?

 

[GIBrat51]

A couple of years ago, I finally gave up trying to find a lefty short scale, solid body bass that wasn't either a) cheap, but maybe OK; b) an over priced, not-so-well-made "vintage" bass; or c) a full blown, high $$ boutique/custom; and did what I should have done in the first place. I went to Warmoth. Also, I thought it would be kinda cool for my '78 P-Bass (1st pic) to have a baby brother. So, this is what I wound up with - the Mini-P. Maple neck (w/coral dots); swamp ash body/3TB lacquer finish; Warmoth cream/black/cream mini pickguard; Schaller tuners and bridge; SD Vintage pick up; and left handed CTS pots. It also has a lot of Fender bits and pieces - vintage wiring/cap; string tree; strap buttons, and all the screws; and yes, a Fender neck plate - so sue me... I had Chris Davis, the luthier @ Cowtown Guitars here in Vegas, put it together for me. I would have done it myself, but I'm a certified menace with a soldering iron; so... I honestly think that if Chris was a lefty, I might not have gotten it back. He let go of it very reluctantly... And, it really is a very nice bass. I wish I'd done this a lot sooner. It's strung with DR Sunbeams at the moment; I'm not a round wound fan normally, but... gotta admit; they do sound nice on the Mini. Any chance of a number, please?

 

[TonyP-]

There are some seriously awesome necks Jazz necks in the showcase right now.

I just picked up 4 string ebony board and I’m having it down with an all black gloss finish.

 

[Valsmere]

Just a quick mock up! Stacked knobs I wanted to do something a little different. I'm still looking at the necks, but I think I have narrowed down the pickups to fender vintage.

 

[jcburn]

Anyone ever paired a Warmoth neck to a Fender Aerodyne J body? What were the results? How well do they match up?

 

[landry.bass]

Hey folks,

I've never ordered anything from Warmoth, or even done a bass project/build, but I think I will for my next bass.

My question is for anyone that has a 5 string with a Warmoth neck. How is the B string? I've heard good things about their necks in general, but nothing too specific about their fivers.

Also, are the Deluxe 5 necks chunky? I know they fit right into the neck pocket of many Fenders, but does the neck feel like a Fender 5 string neck? Or is there a better comparison?

Anyways, thanks for any input.

 

[Doner Designs]

Hey folks,

I've never ordered anything from Warmoth, or even done a bass project/build, but I think I will for my next bass.

My question is for anyone that has a 5 string with a Warmoth neck. How is the B string? I've heard good things about their necks in general, but nothing too specific about their fivers.

Also, are the Deluxe 5 necks chunky? I know they fit right into the neck pocket of many Fenders, but does the neck feel like a Fender 5 string neck? Or is there a better comparison?

Anyways, thanks for any input.

Doesn’t the B string tone depend primarily on the pickup and pickup location?

 

[landry.bass]

Doesn’t the B string tone depend primarily on the pickup and pickup location?

I definitely think that's an important factor. The general consensus seems to be that scale length and rigidity of the neck and neck/body connection also play an important role in the "tightness" of the B.

 

[Doner Designs]

I definitely think that's an important factor. The general consensus seems to be that scale length and rigidity of the neck and neck/body connection also play an important role in the "tightness" of the B.

I see. I don’t think Warmoth offers 35 inch scale. Neck body fit has been perfect for the 10 or so I have built and all 34 inch necks have either steel or graphite stiffening rods as standard equipment. Of course you can also order various exotic woods. Wenge is a fantastic wood for bass necks.

To maximize stiffness you can also go with the standard neck profile rather than the slim taper.

You might be able to special order a right hand reverse which would make the B string longest of the four. It’s not available in the builder but maybe they will do it on request. Not sure about that. Skeptics including me would say that it makes no difference because it’s the nut to saddle distance that dictates tension.

 

[Robert Darby]

I have done a number of builds using Warmoth gear. I have never been disappointed. I did pick up a used 5 string warmoth a little while back. I have nothing to compare it to I never had a 5 string before. I am blown away by it. Its not as heavy as I imagined it would be. The b sting sounds fine to me. Hay I paid 600 for it. Just a heads up on resale you might take a hit. I am going to start my fourth build next week. Some of my warmoth dive a little I guess its the beefier necks. I just install lightweight tuners and go with the graphite rods if I have that option. When i get a chance I will do a group photo. Welcome to the Warmoth club!

Hey folks,

I've never ordered anything from Warmoth, or even done a bass project/build, but I think I will for my next bass.

My question is for anyone that has a 5 string with a Warmoth neck. How is the B string? I've heard good things about their necks in general, but nothing too specific about their fivers.

Also, are the Deluxe 5 necks chunky? I know they fit right into the neck pocket of many Fenders, but does the neck feel like a Fender 5 string neck? Or is there a better comparison?

Anyways, thanks for any input.

I definitely think that's an important factor. The general consensus seems to be that scale length and rigidity of the neck and neck/body connection also play an important role in the "tightness" of the B.

 

[landry.bass]

Thanks for the input folks.

I'm pretty pumped to do this, but it's gonna probably be a year before I can afford all the parts I want for the complete bass.

The plan atm is roasted swamp ash G5 body with a roasted maple Warmoth Deluxe 5 neck. I'll be routing for pickups myself and putting Nordstrand Big Splits in Ric 4003 positions. It's possible I might only do I need pup at the 36th fret position, but I'll probably do two.

These plans might change, but that's the thought process right now anyway.

 

[Charlzm]

Thanks for the input folks.

I'm pretty pumped to do this, but it's gonna probably be a year before I can afford all the parts I want for the complete bass.

The plan atm is roasted swamp ash G5 body with a roasted maple Warmoth Deluxe 5 neck. I'll be routing for pickups myself and putting Nordstrand Big Splits in Ric 4003 positions. It's possible I might only do I need pup at the 36th fret position, but I'll probably do two.

These plans might change, but that's the thought process right now anyway.

Big Splits are beastly, no doubt: P Bass to the nth degree. Kinda like Arnold Schwarzenegger during his Mr. Universe era as compared to a normal, run-of-the-mill human male.
Curious about the "Rick position" concept since these pickups don't sound like a Rick at all, though.

 

[landry.bass]

I'm not trying to make something that sounds just like a Ric, I'm just trying to make something sort of in the neighborhood of Ric-ish, but is it's own thing. It seems like a pretty safe gamble to me.

 

[BlueTalon]

I see. I don’t think Warmoth offers 35 inch scale. Neck body fit has been perfect for the 10 or so I have built and all 34 inch necks have either steel or graphite stiffening rods as standard equipment. Of course you can also order various exotic woods. Wenge is a fantastic wood for bass necks.

To maximize stiffness you can also go with the standard neck profile rather than the slim taper.

You might be able to special order a right hand reverse which would make the B string longest of the four. It’s not available in the builder but maybe they will do it on request. Not sure about that. Skeptics including me would say that it makes no difference because it’s the nut to saddle distance that dictates tension.

Warmoth does make a 35" neck, but it's their Gecko series, not their Fender licensed stuff.

For me, the main advantage of ordering from Warmoth is the wide variety of woods available. Everybody and their brother makes maple necks with rosewood/pau ferro/ebony fretboards. Warmoth offers those too because they're in the business of making and selling parts and apparently a lot of people buy them, but it's mind-boggling to me that people would buy those when there are so many other options available.

 

[Doner Designs]

Warmoth does make a 35" neck, but it's their Gecko series, not their Fender licensed stuff.

For me, the main advantage of ordering from Warmoth is the wide variety of woods available. Everybody and their brother makes maple necks with rosewood/pau ferro/ebony fretboards. Warmoth offers those too because they're in the business of making and selling parts and apparently a lot of people buy them, but it's mind-boggling to me that people would buy those when there are so many other options available.

I agree but maple is popular for good reason. It’s the lightest wood that can make a viable bass neck. I like wenge, rosewood and ebony but all are noticeably heavier. The roasted and figured maple options do make for a great compromise and you can always use an exotic for the fretboard.

 

[BlueTalon]

I agree but maple is popular for good reason. It’s the lightest wood that can make a viable bass neck. I like wenge, rosewood and ebony but all are noticeably heavier. The roasted and figured maple options do make for a great compromise and you can always use an exotic for the fretboard.

No doubt. But even just talking about maple, Warmoth offers six different grades of maple and a couple grades of roasted maple, along with eight different heavier exotic woods, and that's just for the shaft of the neck. Someone could order a maple neck with a bubinga or wenge fretboard, and that's something they can get almost nowhere else.

I remember when the Fender put the configuration tool on their website. The only options were maple necks with maple or rosewood fretboards, and I thought that was, well, pathetic. Then I thought that if they're licensing Warmoth to make their products anyway, they should have an arrangement with Warmoth to supply necks made with exotic woods. Fender would build the bass, the customer would get a customized neck with both exotic woods and the name Fender on it, and Warmoth would sell more necks.

 

[Doner Designs]

No doubt. But even just talking about maple, Warmoth offers six different grades of maple and a couple grades of roasted maple, along with eight different heavier exotic woods, and that's just for the shaft of the neck. Someone could order a maple neck with a bubinga or wenge fretboard, and that's something they can get almost nowhere else.

I remember when the Fender put the configuration tool on their website. The only options were maple necks with maple or rosewood fretboards, and I thought that was, well, pathetic. Then I thought that if they're licensing Warmoth to make their products anyway, they should have an arrangement with Warmoth to supply necks made with exotic woods. Fender would build the bass, the customer would get a customized neck with both exotic woods and the name Fender on it, and Warmoth would sell more necks.

Makes too much sense

 

[Charlzm]

Warmoth does make a 35" neck, but it's their Gecko series, not their Fender licensed stuff.

For me, the main advantage of ordering from Warmoth is the wide variety of woods available. Everybody and their brother makes maple necks with rosewood/pau ferro/ebony fretboards. Warmoth offers those too because they're in the business of making and selling parts and apparently a lot of people buy them, but it's mind-boggling to me that people would buy those when there are so many other options available.

I ordered a maple neck recently. Quartersawn. It also has a wenge fretboard, carbon fiber stiffening rods, a good-looking 2X2 headstock that has an appropriate shape for my bass, 6230 frets and a Graph Tek TUSQ nut. Clear satin finish. No other parts vendor had anything like that.