Warmoth Owners Club!!

[fauxtoe]

I haven’t, so far. But mine is a Warmoth-construction neck with truss rod access at the nut end. I wonder, how much space was there between the extension and the body? If it was just enough, perhaps when you tapped - it was actually making the extension tap the body? I can only guess it would have to be very little space, but could have been perfect for causing the noise.

Sadly not the issue, and I wish it had been that easy. There’s enough space to perfectly fit a pickguard between the extension and the body. Mine does not have a pickguard and I even tried at one point to fill the gap with a piece of foam you’d typical use under a pickup (fairly dense, but still compressible) with no improvement to the problem.

 

[Giff]

Utterly bizarre problem! Glad you were able to get it modified to perfection!

 

[fauxtoe]

Utterly bizarre problem! Glad you were able to get it modified to perfection!

It's as perfect as it gets now! I also had the black side dot inlays replaced with white since they would completely disappear in the wrong lighting on stage. If anyone is considering ordering a roasted maple neck do yourself a huge favor in advance and do not use black. It wouldn't have been my choice in the first place, but I'm still well under what this would have all have cost had I had it built.

 

[InvisibleMan]

To those of you who own necks with an extended fretboard, have you ever noticed any excessive noise from the frets that are on the extension? The 24 fret roasted flame maple neck that I picked up second hand for my deluxe jazz 5 a while back ago was noisy from the get-go. You could tap those two frets and they would sound like hollow aluminum (only way I can describe it) in comparison to the 22nd fret that was placed over the heal and sounded normal. I got this neck at a killer price (and it looks amazing) or I would have purchased a 22 fret to begin with. In addition to the clackity-clack, it also blocked access to the truss rod channel and required the neck to be removed to make an adjustment. I could tolerate that, but not the sound.

Anyways, the frets were inspected and were seated properly so far as I or my luthier/tech guy could tell. We're talking like master builder knows everything backwards and forward type of guy who does amazing work. He could build this entire bass from the ground up with ease. So my solution after conceding that this was just the nature having the extension was to have it removed. The transformation was seamless and impeccably done, so now it's just a 22 fret neck and you'd never even know. It solved the problem 100% and now I have access to the truss rod channel. Win-win!

Anyone else experience this phenomenon?

Yes I experienced this on a neck with a 24-fret extension. Not only was there an excessive kind of "clicky" sound from the strings hitting the fretboard extension, but the actual notes fretted there were also weak-sounding and inarticulate. I put it down to an unsupported piece of fretboard with nothing substantial under it to help it absorb kinetic energy and transmit it to the rest of the instrument, so in the end I cut off the top two frets and files/sanded it smooth. This improved the issue a bit but the clicking sound is still noticeable to some extent. Definitely won't be buying a 24-fret extension again.

 

[Deleted member 394181]

Glad to hear that you're enjoying your Warmoth build, @Giff ! It looks great.

The last thing I need is another bass, but I just noticed this P body in the showcase that looks super nice. The price is more than I can spend right now so I think I'm safe... Unless I sell some stuff??? It's probably best if somebody else buys it soon to save me from myself

View attachment 7308218

Im currently gassing for a J body with Black to Clear gloss burst. Somehow, ill get one.

 

[Deleted member 394181]

Im currently gassing for a J body with Black to Clear gloss burst. Somehow, ill get one.

My plan: Black Hipshot hardware, Anondized aluminum PG and control cover, Abomination Jazz electronics with aan indicator dial from Short Circuit Electronics, and a Fender Player 2 neck with Rosewood board. I think i can do it for around a grand.

 

[fauxtoe]

Yes I experienced this on a neck with a 24-fret extension. Not only was there an excessive kind of "clicky" sound from the strings hitting the fretboard extension, but the actual notes fretted there were also weak-sounding and inarticulate. I put it down to an unsupported piece of fretboard with nothing substantial under it to help it absorb kinetic energy and transmit it to the rest of the instrument, so in the end I cut off the top two frets and files/sanded it smooth. This improved the issue a bit but the clicking sound is still noticeable to some extent. Definitely won't be buying a 24-fret extension again.

And there's the answer! If you ever don't want the extension anymore it cuts off perfectly at the heel where a 22 fret neck ends. Though, my neck is 100% roasted flame maple with some tung oil on it for a little bit of finish and it blended back in perfectly. That could be a little harder to do if yours has something more on it.

 

[2saddleslab]

Yes I experienced this on a neck with a 24-fret extension. Not only was there an excessive kind of "clicky" sound from the strings hitting the fretboard extension, but the actual notes fretted there were also weak-sounding and inarticulate. I put it down to an unsupported piece of fretboard with nothing substantial under it to help it absorb kinetic energy and transmit it to the rest of the instrument, so in the end I cut off the top two frets and files/sanded it smooth. This improved the issue a bit but the clicking sound is still noticeable to some extent. Definitely won't be buying a 24-fret extension again.

And there's the answer! If you ever don't want the extension anymore it cuts off perfectly at the heel where a 22 fret neck ends. Though, my neck is 100% roasted flame maple with some tung oil on it for a little bit of finish and it blended back in perfectly. That could be a little harder to do if yours has something more on it.

View attachment 7320918

Did the same on my 1990's Warmoth builds.

 

[fauxtoe]

Did the same on my 1990's Warmoth builds.
View attachment 7321068
View attachment 7321069

Were those necks clicky as well? The 4 string Wamoth necks I've bought or purchased used have all been the 20 fret model, and if so it just reaffirms my apprehension to never buy one that has the extension.

 

[2saddleslab]

Were those necks clicky as well? The 4 string Wamoth necks I've bought or purchased used have all been the 20 fret model, and if so it just reaffirms my apprehension to never buy one that has the extension.

When I ordered these necks back in the 90's I'm pretty sure that was the only option available. Otherwise I would have gone the traditional 20 fret route. I had the extensions removed before ever playing w/ them so I have no idea if the extension was clicky. I will say these necks are solid, never needing adjustment, & not a dead spot to be found on either.

 

[fauxtoe]

When I ordered these necks back in the 90's I'm pretty sure that was the only option available. Otherwise I would have gone the traditional 20 fret route. I had the extensions removed before ever playing w/ them so I have no idea if the extension was clicky. I will say these necks are solid, never needing adjustment, & not a dead spot to be found on either.

I've had the same experience with all of the necks I've ordered. This one is a completely fantastic in every other way, but I don't totally understand why they would continue to offer them with the extension if this seems to be the nature of how it's going to behave. Glad I know now what to avoid in the future and hopefully others do as well.

 

[pbass888]

My latest.... a Warmoth body used from ebay at 250 and a Warmoth neck from tb a few years back with a newer epoxy finish.
I am still working out what pickup (favoring a Dimarzio DP123 (model j)). I am using some resistors to attenuate some of the harshness of going right to the output jack . I used Howard's wax and feed for the body and neck , alder and roasted maple respectively. Fretboard is rosewood with lines inserted . My "simple" bass.

 

[InvisibleMan]

My latest.... a Warmoth body used from ebay at 250 and a Warmoth neck from tb a few years back with a newer epoxy finish.
I am still working out what pickup (favoring a Dimarzio DP123 (model j)). I am using some resistors to attenuate some of the harshness of going right to the output jack . I used Howard's wax and feed for the body and neck , alder and roasted maple respectively. Fretboard is rosewood with lines inserted . My "simple" bass.

I love the simplicity! I bet the pickup in that position sounds real nice. I've got a one-pickup, bridge-only Warmoth fretless too and I can't put it down!

 

[pbass888]

I love the simplicity! I bet the pickup in that position sounds real nice. I've got a one-pickup, bridge-only Warmoth fretless too and I can't put it down!

I completely agree with you! I have used the bridge pickup only, on my jazz for the last 15 years, with the exception of 1 band that I played in for a tour( roots reggae---> I used a pj with flats).

I am taking this bass for some out of town shows and not having a tone knob is a bit scary, as I use the tone frequently on my other Warmoths. The pickup is in the 'traditional' 60's position and the fatness of the Model J helps playing walking bass lines etc. Definitely living and dying by the motto I tell my students of "the tone is in the hands..." . We will see how it goes.

 

[InvisibleMan]

I completely agree with you! I have used the bridge pickup only, on my jazz for the last 15 years, with the exception of 1 band that I played in for a tour( roots reggae---> I used a pj with flats).

I am taking this bass for some out of town shows and not having a tone knob is a bit scary, as I use the tone frequently on my other Warmoths. The pickup is in the 'traditional' 60's position and the fatness of the Model J helps playing walking bass lines etc. Definitely living and dying by the motto I tell my students of "the tone is in the hands..." . We will see how it goes.

That does sound like a challenge but probably nothing you can't adapt to with the fingers. I have a Warmoth fretted with no volume/tone (or resistors) and you do get used to it! Have you considered a volume pedal?

 

[InvisibleMan]

Newest Warmoth build. Orange creamsicle short-scale jazz bass with goncalo neck and arancio orange pearl paint in satin. These are just a temporary $30 set of pickups while I decide what to put in. Leaning towards Häussels.

 

[thisheregiraffe]

Very nice!

 

[pbass888]

Newest Warmoth build. Orange creamsicle short-scale jazz bass with goncalo neck and arancio orange pearl paint in satin. These are just a temporary $30 set of pickups while I decide what to put in. Leaning towards Häussels.

That neck looks amazing, lovely grain on the Goncalo neck. White knobs etc with the orange looks....real creamsicle!!
Is it a hipshot bridge?

Congratulations on the new bass!!!

 

[SharpCat]

I've had an alder Warmoth J body I traded from my good buddy @Lucca a while back, with Nordstrand nj4sv's, it sounds amazing. Recently upgraded it with one of the roast birdseye necks they're currently offering. Now it looks amazing too!

 

[pbass888]

@SharpCat That neck looks amazing and I like the alder color also. did you finish the body clear?