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Warrior Club Part 2
- Thread starter Bryan R. Tyler
- Start date
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- Tags
- club
The Burl Maple bass went back to JD the day after I got it. THIS is now IP for me, and should be ready pretty soon.
Swamp Ash with Walnut Burl Top
Wenge / PH / Wenge Neck
Gaboon Ebony Board
Swamp Ash with Walnut Burl Top
Wenge / PH / Wenge Neck
Gaboon Ebony Board
Two things..
1. There was an issue with the frets and/or fretboard.
2. The top didn't turn out the way I had hoped. It changed a lot from the pre-build pictures to the finished product.
JD put me in the fast lane to get it to me by Christmas; in retrospect maybe the lane was too fast. I will say this, he did everything he could to make it right. The bass has since been fixed, and will make it to his upcoming Orlando show. It sounds fantastic.
- Sep 20, 2008
- 3,369
- 38
- Disclosures
- Jim Dunlop USA, King Kong Cases, Golden Eagle Energy Drink
I am in the market for a WARRIOR Bass...hoping to join the club soon. I have read the entire thread here and was hoping for some input here. (Don't hesitate to offer up a bass for sale.)
I played a few of the Warrior Basses at a Guitar show in Charlotte at loved the low action and playability and decided then that I had to have one (and my 2011 Christmas present is a Warrior bass...to be named soon.) I like my MTD 535 with the dual soap bar p/ups and have had the same configuration on many basses I have owned...so I am a little hesitant to go to the JJ style or even the mm/J style...can you guys expand the discussion on the differences in these 3 configurations... I believe the Adam Nitti bass is the dual soaps).
Also, LSU...the bass you just sent back...was this it???
Signature 5 string bolt on
Top- 1 piece exotic burl maple
Body- aged swamp ash
Neck- 3 piece wenge with purple heart tone bar
Matching burl headstock
Fretboard- wenge
Inlay- paua sword on 12th fret
Pickups- bartolini x5 jazz
Electronics- 18 volt 2012 JDran/Bartolini
Knobs- burl maple
Hardware- black
Custom gig bag
Weight- 8 lbs
I see that LSU and VIC seem to really like this JJ p/up style
(P.S. Actually...I guess I am technically in the club...since I own and frequently gig with a Warrior Knight 5-string acoustic electric bass that I got from JD about 2 years ago. FYI...I only play this for 'acoustic" gigs)
Not sure if I was logged in on my last post...but I am in the market for a Warrior 5-string and looking at everything available from JD at Warrior (and any other Warrior's out there...hint hint).
Yes, that was the Warrior I returned. Two of the frets popped up in transit (JD said it left the shop perfect). Wenge is very oily, so what I think happened is the glue stuck to the fret but not the board. JD says it was a 15 minute fix, and it's good to go. My tech thought there was a hump on the treble side of the fretboard, but JD did not. Can't positively tell you who's right there..
I've owned all the Warrior pickup configs, and the XJ55's are my favorite. JD can also do true single coils now too. They are pretty much the same Bart J's you'd find in a Zon. I didn't bond with the J/MM configuration at all, the back pickup was too thin to use alone, so I always rolled heavily to the front pickup. I thought the soaps in the 5's were okay, really liked them in my Nitti 6, but they are a little muddy compared to the JJ's. The JJ's are focused, aggressive, and very usable for just about any type of music. The preamp makes all of his basses a little mid forward, but that can be dialed out if needed.
JD's soaps are not going to get you the tone you're used to with your MTD. They will be darker, punchier, and more mid heavy. Mike's are reverse P pickups, and the pickups themselves are active. Very wide, open pickup with tons of clarity. I think the XJ55's will get you the most clarity of all the Warrior pickup options. I'm a huge MTD fan, BTW.
Hope that helps.
I've owned all the Warrior pickup configs, and the XJ55's are my favorite. JD can also do true single coils now too. They are pretty much the same Bart J's you'd find in a Zon. I didn't bond with the J/MM configuration at all, the back pickup was too thin to use alone, so I always rolled heavily to the front pickup. I thought the soaps in the 5's were okay, really liked them in my Nitti 6, but they are a little muddy compared to the JJ's. The JJ's are focused, aggressive, and very usable for just about any type of music. The preamp makes all of his basses a little mid forward, but that can be dialed out if needed.
JD's soaps are not going to get you the tone you're used to with your MTD. They will be darker, punchier, and more mid heavy. Mike's are reverse P pickups, and the pickups themselves are active. Very wide, open pickup with tons of clarity. I think the XJ55's will get you the most clarity of all the Warrior pickup options. I'm a huge MTD fan, BTW.
Hope that helps.
That helps...so next question...JD is advertising electronics for some instruments with a custom "mid-kit"...is that the same or something different than the "Sparkle Circuit" discussed in this thread?
LSU - did you order your new bass without the "Sparkle Circuit? or were you planning too remove it later? or are you OK with that circuit?
It's different. All it means is he revoiced the mid control a bit. Honestly, it was not a huge change from my perception, but I also didn't have two basses with the same pickups to compare, either. I'd consider the new mid circuit to be a "meh, whatever". I'd consider the "Sparkle" circuit to be something to try and order the bass withOUT if at all possible.
jscottmsc said:
JD won't build one without the "sparkle" circuit. I asked, and he said no. All of mine have had it, so I can't compare the two like Vic can.
Wow! I don't understand this at all. It would actually save him work to cut that circuit out and just wire a standard gain control in. That makes no sense to me. Seems like if you're ordering a custom from someone at this price level, you should be able to control minor options like these.
Thanks Groove Warrior...I am keeping a close eye on the TB "for sale" forum and eBay sites...as well as looking at instruments that JD has on hand...which brings me to my next question.
NEW vs USED.
I was thinking I might start with a used (oops...pre-owned) and get a feel for what I like...before having a custom instrument built-to-specifications...having owned and played the MTD 535 for several years...I think I could order a MTD bass and be comfortable with the specs...BUT I crushed my left hand some years back and still deal with some residual tendon issues and I find the 34" scale more comfortable as well as the superior low action of the Warrior instruments very appealing for my next instrument
...However, LSU has me thinking that maybe the reason these pre-owned instruments are back on the market is because they are not the best of the bunch. Also, while I see some interesting instruments available...not sure that one of these will satisfy my GAS.
Input either way will be helpful...I want a Warrior...but I want to get one that I really like.
So LSU...are you fine with the way your bass sounds with the Sparkle circuit? (obviously everyone has there own concept of tone). Given VIC's preference for the 2x XJ55 p/up config AND dislike of the Sparkle Circuit...and the description of the Bart Soaps used on the Warrior as "dark" in comparison to the MTD Soaps...I am wondering if JD is using the Sparkle circuit to improve the highs on the 2x Soap and MM/J p/up configs?
Vic said:
That was my thinking too, but I suspect that circuit is his vision and IHO, part of the Warrior tone. He only offers XJ55's in a stacked humbucker. If you want singles, you have to get the 59J1's.
jscottmsc said:
I am. I usually turn it all the way up (I like bright basses). It would be an easy uninstall for a good tech if you wanted to A/B it with/without. JD told me it was to add more top end, but I haven't tried one without it to verify. I probably will when I get my new one, just to see for myself. Not that I don't believe Vic, or think he's crazy.
It does actually add more high end, but it does so at the cost of choking frequencies below. And yeah, if you turn it down, then it's even worse as it sounds dull up high. Basically, it gives you the choice between the lesser of two evils IMHO.I am. I usually turn it all the way up (I like bright basses). It would be an easy uninstall for a good tech if you wanted to A/B it with/without. JD told me it was to add more top end, but I haven't tried one without it to verify. I probably will when I get my new one, just to see for myself. Not that I don't believe Vic, or think he's crazy.
It's like some bully in high school asking you if you wanna' get punched in the arm or the chest.
