Yes I had to enlarge the control cavity and route a cavity for the battery. I like the nickel screw better than black.
I'll post a pic of under the pickguard if I can find it.
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Yes I had to enlarge the control cavity and route a cavity for the battery. I like the nickel screw better than black.
I'll post a pic of under the pickguard if I can find it.
Hi Warmothers!
Im wanting to build my first project. A 5 string fretless.
Classic maple/ebony neck.
My problem is that I cant decide if to go for a Gecko 5 (small) or a Fender Deluxe 5 (asymettrical neck).
Other than the 35" scale of Gecko what do you guys think? How is a Fender 5 String Neck by Warmoth, does the B string sound good on it, compared to a Gecko 5 neck? Is the Gecko Neck much more comfortable to play?
Im looking for a "modern" Pedulla like singing tone, not a "woody / upright" retro fretless tone. Gotta have loads of mids and mwahhh....what are your suggestions for this?
Thanks much appreciated!
Im wanting to build my first project. A 5 string fretless.
Classic maple/ebony neck.
My problem is that I cant decide if to go for a Gecko 5 (small) or a Fender Deluxe 5 (asymettrical neck).
Other than the 35" scale of Gecko what do you guys think? How is a Fender 5 String Neck by Warmoth, does the B string sound good on it, compared to a Gecko 5 neck? Is the Gecko Neck much more comfortable to play?
Im looking for a "modern" Pedulla like singing tone, not a "woody / upright" retro fretless tone. Gotta have loads of mids and mwahhh....what are your suggestions for this?
Thanks much appreciated!
Hi,
Got this together a over a year ago but keep forgetting to post and get a number.
Warmoth Deluxe 5+1 neck
Maple shaft (decent amount of birdseye in it even though wasn't sold as such)
Ebony fretboard
Steel Stiffening Rods
1 7/8" Nut Width (gives you a more consistent string spacing with the bridge spacing)
Custom Brass nut from Axemasters in Michigan (found them on ebay, great folks)
Satin Poly finish
Warmoth Deluxe Jazz V body
Swamp Ash
American Jazz V Pickup Routing
Jazz bass standard control layout
Rear control plate
Satin Poly finish
Bartolini 57J Pickups
Basslines Blackouts 2-band preamp (setup 18V but can be 9V) with Vol-Vol controls, bridge vol is push/pull for active/passive bypass
Hipshot Ultralight Tuners with 1/2" posts
Hipshot A style brass bridge
Hipshot string retainers
Dunlop strap buttons
Bass setup and finished by local luthier Max Pearson
Got this together a over a year ago but keep forgetting to post and get a number.
Warmoth Deluxe 5+1 neck
Maple shaft (decent amount of birdseye in it even though wasn't sold as such)
Ebony fretboard
Steel Stiffening Rods
1 7/8" Nut Width (gives you a more consistent string spacing with the bridge spacing)
Custom Brass nut from Axemasters in Michigan (found them on ebay, great folks)
Satin Poly finish
Warmoth Deluxe Jazz V body
Swamp Ash
American Jazz V Pickup Routing
Jazz bass standard control layout
Rear control plate
Satin Poly finish
Bartolini 57J Pickups
Basslines Blackouts 2-band preamp (setup 18V but can be 9V) with Vol-Vol controls, bridge vol is push/pull for active/passive bypass
Hipshot Ultralight Tuners with 1/2" posts
Hipshot A style brass bridge
Hipshot string retainers
Dunlop strap buttons
Bass setup and finished by local luthier Max Pearson
Attachments
Thanks! I was going for something timeless. I also tried to get something that was 100% made in USA. To the best of my knowledge everything is down to the strap buttons - that was a lot of work to have as a spec goal. The only thing that is suspect would be the pc boards on the Basslines pre (or any other PC board on anything - do we even make those things here anymore????).
I would have to check the spacing, never bothered to measure it. It feels maybe like something between the really wide American Fender 5's and the Music Man. I'll put a ruler up to the strings at the bridge and post pics tonight. The bridge is the Fender style Hipshot A with the three mounting screws in brass.
I bought the hardware through my local guitar shop Broadway Music (bass-friendly store and Lakland dealer). They usually source through AllParts but the tuners I wanted were on backorder. So I ended up calling Hipshot directly. Really nice folks over there. They confirmed that AllParts was on backorder for my tuners... then they asked how many I needed. I said 5. They said, "Oh, we always have some. AllParts is ordering like several hundred and we haven't finished them yet. Have your store call us directly and well sell direct to them and get them out to you." A week later I had my tuners after waiting months.
I have also talked directly (via email) with folks at Seymour Duncan - great folks to work with as well.
Here are some more shots.
I would have to check the spacing, never bothered to measure it. It feels maybe like something between the really wide American Fender 5's and the Music Man. I'll put a ruler up to the strings at the bridge and post pics tonight. The bridge is the Fender style Hipshot A with the three mounting screws in brass.
I bought the hardware through my local guitar shop Broadway Music (bass-friendly store and Lakland dealer). They usually source through AllParts but the tuners I wanted were on backorder. So I ended up calling Hipshot directly. Really nice folks over there. They confirmed that AllParts was on backorder for my tuners... then they asked how many I needed. I said 5. They said, "Oh, we always have some. AllParts is ordering like several hundred and we haven't finished them yet. Have your store call us directly and well sell direct to them and get them out to you." A week later I had my tuners after waiting months.
I have also talked directly (via email) with folks at Seymour Duncan - great folks to work with as well.
Here are some more shots.
Attachments
How are those 14mm Hipshot tuners, if Warmoth only offers those 4+1 necks with the 17mm Schallers? I'm wanting the same option, so that's why I ask. Nice bass!
Thanks! These are the Hipshot Ultralights with 1/2" posts and and clover knobs. My luthier said they fit like a glove.
Maybe the 14mm are the 3/8" posts.
http://store.hipshotproducts.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=108
The hipshots are different than the regular fender type tuners that have the press in bushings. They are designed more like the regular 3/8" post tuners that have a threaded outer sleeve that you tighten down from the post side. The sleeve on the hipshot 1/2" posts are the diameter of the hole in the headstock.
Looks like the spacing is about 18mm. The string spacing is adjustable a little in each direction on A style.
I noticed after getting it back from the luthier that the bridge could have been installed about 1/16" more to one side to be perfectly centered so the bridge adjustments are all to one side to compensate. I have thought about re-mounting the bridge where it should be but it hasn't been a problem.
I really like the bridge and the heft of the brass helps to balance the bass.
A note on the Warmoth necks with the steel reinforcing rods - they are a tad heavy which translates into needing to use lightweight tuners (on the 5 string) and a heavier bridge to balance it seems. However, it looks like the upper horn on the G bass and Z bass are longer and would shift the balance point closer to headstock which might reduce the need for lightweight tuners etc. I got the neck from the "showcase" for a great price otherwise I would have done the carbon rods.
The build quality and finishing are top notch. My luthier said he didn't have to do anything to the frets and the neck pocket was one of the best fits he's ever seen.
Attachments
Yeah, I would have except he is a friend, and I kind of rushed him to get it to me in time for a gig (we waited forever for those Hipshot tuners). In could have done all the work myself but I didn't trust my hands with $500 worth of wood
Since the adjustable bridge is a set-it-and-forget-it kind of thing with the spacing/alignment it really has had no impact on the playability of the bass etc.
I have been half tempted to remount it and put it on center and even back about 1/8" to help some more with the balance. Not sure when the other half of the temptation will arrive...
Can I join? Here is my submission, a Warmoth Thunderbird body that I bought from Tb'er David_70. Here are a few details:
Warmoth Transparent Red Mahogany with Raised Center Block
Hipshot A Bridge
EMG PJX & EMG Pre-Amp
Warmoth Pearlized White Pickguard
Miscellaneous Parts (black strap pins and Schaeller strap locks, black electrosocket input jack, double 9v battery boxes, Fender ferrules)
Carvin "Jazz" type neck with my headstock design/logo
Gotoh tuners
Custom neck plate
The headstock didnt turn out exactly as I hoped but I do like it overall. The original idea I had was to merge a Non-reverse TBird headstock with the Epi Batwing shape. Due to size issues of the blank paddle headstock I had to scale it back and ended up taking a cue from Reverends headstock design and altered it. The headstock is narrower than I would have liked but on the plus side it doesnt neck dive at all.
Im still getting used to the EMG setup (havent had an active bass in many years) but so far it does sound good to my ears. The good thing with the p-j setup is I have tons of options if I ever want to change the pickups. So far Im happy with this bass. Its comfortable, hangs nicely, plays nice, looks good, and has some personal touches to it.
Warmoth Transparent Red Mahogany with Raised Center Block
Hipshot A Bridge
EMG PJX & EMG Pre-Amp
Warmoth Pearlized White Pickguard
Miscellaneous Parts (black strap pins and Schaeller strap locks, black electrosocket input jack, double 9v battery boxes, Fender ferrules)
Carvin "Jazz" type neck with my headstock design/logo
Gotoh tuners
Custom neck plate
The headstock didnt turn out exactly as I hoped but I do like it overall. The original idea I had was to merge a Non-reverse TBird headstock with the Epi Batwing shape. Due to size issues of the blank paddle headstock I had to scale it back and ended up taking a cue from Reverends headstock design and altered it. The headstock is narrower than I would have liked but on the plus side it doesnt neck dive at all.
Im still getting used to the EMG setup (havent had an active bass in many years) but so far it does sound good to my ears. The good thing with the p-j setup is I have tons of options if I ever want to change the pickups. So far Im happy with this bass. Its comfortable, hangs nicely, plays nice, looks good, and has some personal touches to it.
Great looking bass! I think the headstock came out great. What technique did you use for paint and logo?
Thanks! I had my luthier handle cutting, paint, and clear the neck. I ordered a batch of water slide logos from someone on ebay. The luthier applied it during the finishing process. He put a video of the entire neck process on YouTube. I will try to find it later and post it here for anyone that's interested.
