Robin Ruscio
Newbie
- Messages
- 4
Hey all! Cool site. I'm a full time freelance electric/URB bassists and instructor in Denver. You can see my website at www.robinruscio.com
I had a Warmoth body back in my college days with a 70's Fender neck, and was pleased to see what's been going on with them here and on their site.
I've gotten obsessed with finding a perfect P/J five string bass for some rock/country/pop/motown gigs I'm doing more of and have been looking high and low at my options. I've got the "P" sound in my head and can't quite get it with other basses I own. I'm pretty sure about what I want but it's hard to find all the components in the same pre made package. I have some very nice basses (A Fodera, Sadowsky NYC jazz 5, Roscoe fretless) and am used to high quality, so it's hard to think about compromising much on any area.
Here's what I want:
5 strings- There's too many situations I find the 5 indefensible in these days.
P/J pups: Not sure which make yet, gonna A/B some in some current basses I can check out more in person, but probably something pretty high end that do a great job at getting a classic tone only better. Nordstrand, Lindy Frailins, etc.
I need the bass to be lightweight- less than 8.5 lbs, 8 or less being better. I've seen Mike Lull's and Sadowsky fives that sound good around this weight. This bass is going to be my long gig/standing bass. My Fodera is amazing but at over 10.3 lbs, I won't consider playing it more than a short set standing. (I have a serious chronic shoulder pain issue and play an average of 3.5 gigs a week, sometimes as many as 8.) 34" to keep it traditional sounding as possible.
I really have found my fingerboard wood preference to be rosewood, preferably Brazilian. It's just the sound and feel I'm always looking for, and my basses that I've tried with maple, wenge, ebony, etc I always find thinking they're not quite right.
I prefer a Jazz bass neck and body, and preferably undersized with a slightly extended range- 22 frets would be fine. This won't be my solo axe but I do get asked to solo and like the upper register to be very accessible.
Some sort of active pre that can also go passive to keep a true traditional tone, or be kicked on for some more kick and shaping options.
I'm thinking alder body but might consider ash for punch as long as it's not as bright as the ash/maple fingerboard sound, which is clacky for my taste. I don't want that much attack and would like to get close to Jamerson sound with the tone knob rolled back.
I'm a sucker for some nice figured, wood as well. The bass has to really catch my eye for me to love it.
Most of the basses I looked at that get close around $3k, with ones doing what I really want closer to $5k. Ouch. . .
SO > >>
I spec'd out building a Warmoth bass and having them do most of the work today given what I was looking for. I would like some thoughts on these options, especially ones I'm not decided on.
I came up with a Deluxe 5 body (alder or ash- haven't decided) with a laminate top, probably flame or quilt maple. I wish they offered chambering on it to get the weight down, and wonder if it could be made "dingy" like some of their 4 J and P's to make it a little more playable. I'm going to call and find out if this is possible and if so, how much. The finish options look good as well, and thought I might do a burst or something.
The deluxe 5 4+1 neck would be maple neck (maybe flame or birdseye) and rosewood board, satin finish, 22 frets. Got to find out how much brazilian fingerboards are tomorrow as well, but very excited to have this as an option! I'd probably of quarter sawn on the neck back. I was also excited to find out about either the steel or graphite rods. I have graphite in my neck now and am curious how the steel compares. Also love asymmetrical necks- something no other company I look at was offering. I had an MTD 535 and loved it's neck profile.
For hardware, I've always liked some kind of light weight tuners, not sure what works with these holed but Hipshot ultralights come to mind. They have a new 5 string tree as well. Definitely like black hardware. Not sure on a bridge and would love suggestions here.
The PUPS/pre thing can be figured out later, but Nord or Sadowsky pre seems like a possibility.
I have great local luth who I work with constantly and thought I would hit him up to put all this together. I do my own setups but would have him do the nut and install everything.
Of course, my price for major parts with finishing was still around $1700 unassembled, but this is pretty close to the cost of modding a Fender P V (about $1200 new plus new PUPS, routing J pup slot, fret dress, new nut) and a Warmoth might be lighter and have better, prettier woods and smaller J body style for my tastes. A comparable sadowsky would be $5k and a Mike Lull about $3.5k I think, so this seems like a good deal if you consider what I'm getting.
What do you all think?? :blob7:
I had a Warmoth body back in my college days with a 70's Fender neck, and was pleased to see what's been going on with them here and on their site.
I've gotten obsessed with finding a perfect P/J five string bass for some rock/country/pop/motown gigs I'm doing more of and have been looking high and low at my options. I've got the "P" sound in my head and can't quite get it with other basses I own. I'm pretty sure about what I want but it's hard to find all the components in the same pre made package. I have some very nice basses (A Fodera, Sadowsky NYC jazz 5, Roscoe fretless) and am used to high quality, so it's hard to think about compromising much on any area.
Here's what I want:
5 strings- There's too many situations I find the 5 indefensible in these days.
P/J pups: Not sure which make yet, gonna A/B some in some current basses I can check out more in person, but probably something pretty high end that do a great job at getting a classic tone only better. Nordstrand, Lindy Frailins, etc.
I need the bass to be lightweight- less than 8.5 lbs, 8 or less being better. I've seen Mike Lull's and Sadowsky fives that sound good around this weight. This bass is going to be my long gig/standing bass. My Fodera is amazing but at over 10.3 lbs, I won't consider playing it more than a short set standing. (I have a serious chronic shoulder pain issue and play an average of 3.5 gigs a week, sometimes as many as 8.) 34" to keep it traditional sounding as possible.
I really have found my fingerboard wood preference to be rosewood, preferably Brazilian. It's just the sound and feel I'm always looking for, and my basses that I've tried with maple, wenge, ebony, etc I always find thinking they're not quite right.
I prefer a Jazz bass neck and body, and preferably undersized with a slightly extended range- 22 frets would be fine. This won't be my solo axe but I do get asked to solo and like the upper register to be very accessible.
Some sort of active pre that can also go passive to keep a true traditional tone, or be kicked on for some more kick and shaping options.
I'm thinking alder body but might consider ash for punch as long as it's not as bright as the ash/maple fingerboard sound, which is clacky for my taste. I don't want that much attack and would like to get close to Jamerson sound with the tone knob rolled back.
I'm a sucker for some nice figured, wood as well. The bass has to really catch my eye for me to love it.
Most of the basses I looked at that get close around $3k, with ones doing what I really want closer to $5k. Ouch. . .
SO > >>
I spec'd out building a Warmoth bass and having them do most of the work today given what I was looking for. I would like some thoughts on these options, especially ones I'm not decided on.
I came up with a Deluxe 5 body (alder or ash- haven't decided) with a laminate top, probably flame or quilt maple. I wish they offered chambering on it to get the weight down, and wonder if it could be made "dingy" like some of their 4 J and P's to make it a little more playable. I'm going to call and find out if this is possible and if so, how much. The finish options look good as well, and thought I might do a burst or something.
The deluxe 5 4+1 neck would be maple neck (maybe flame or birdseye) and rosewood board, satin finish, 22 frets. Got to find out how much brazilian fingerboards are tomorrow as well, but very excited to have this as an option! I'd probably of quarter sawn on the neck back. I was also excited to find out about either the steel or graphite rods. I have graphite in my neck now and am curious how the steel compares. Also love asymmetrical necks- something no other company I look at was offering. I had an MTD 535 and loved it's neck profile.
For hardware, I've always liked some kind of light weight tuners, not sure what works with these holed but Hipshot ultralights come to mind. They have a new 5 string tree as well. Definitely like black hardware. Not sure on a bridge and would love suggestions here.
The PUPS/pre thing can be figured out later, but Nord or Sadowsky pre seems like a possibility.
I have great local luth who I work with constantly and thought I would hit him up to put all this together. I do my own setups but would have him do the nut and install everything.
Of course, my price for major parts with finishing was still around $1700 unassembled, but this is pretty close to the cost of modding a Fender P V (about $1200 new plus new PUPS, routing J pup slot, fret dress, new nut) and a Warmoth might be lighter and have better, prettier woods and smaller J body style for my tastes. A comparable sadowsky would be $5k and a Mike Lull about $3.5k I think, so this seems like a good deal if you consider what I'm getting.
What do you all think?? :blob7:
