Bass Build (Gecko Medium 5 HH)

[mmarino92]

Hey Guys,

New here, been lurking for some time though. Hopefully putting together a bass build this summer, so I went ahead and priced out the projected parts list. Anyone see anything missing, or know a place to get certain parts cheaper than listed? I was originally planning on adding a 5-way switch like the Music Man HH basses, but W doesn't offer that with 4-pot routing. Anyone know if the MM's are coil-tappable, so that I could accomplish basically the same thing with mini toggles? Just a thought.

Warmoth Gecko Medium 5 HH

$510 - Body (Maple Core, Quilt Maple Top, Musicman 5 HH Routing, 4 Hole Rout, 1/2" Input Route, Takeuchi TG5W String-Thru route, Clear Gloss Finish)
$400 - Neck (Maple Neck/Fingerboard, 1 7/8" Nut, 24 Stainless Steel Frets, GB7 Tuner Holes, Gecko Inlay, GraphTech White TUSQ, Clear Satin Nitro Finish)
$170 - Pickups (2x Seymour Duncan SMB-5D)
$150 - Preamp (Aguilar OBP-3SK/PP Onboard Bass Preamp)
$60 - Tuners (5x Gotoh GB7, Chrome)
$70 - Bridge (Takeuchi TG5W 5 String Bass Bridge, Chrome)
$5 - String Ferrules, Chrome
$9 - Neck Washers + Mounting Screws
$9 - Deep Panel Stereo Jack
$27.75 - 3 Knobs + 1 Concentric, Chrome
$24 - Pots (2x Push/Push Pots)
$4.20 - Blade Switch & Pickup Mounting Screw, Dozen, Black
$13.25 - Strap Locks (Schaller Strap Locks, Chrome)
$30 - Strings (DR Strings Hi Beams Medium 5-String Bass .125 Low B String)

Total: $1,484.30

- Michael

 

[Cagey]

That looks complete to me, but I think you're going to end up with a bass when you're done. Is that what you want? <grin>

 

[mmarino92]

Haha yep, that's the general idea  :toothy12:

-MM

 

[Cagey]

'K. Long as you know. I've got a jazz bass here, and I just can't get the same kind of high end out of it that I can out of my Strat, or even the Les Paul. I've been thinking it's because the strings are so awfully long and thick, but I don't know. It's probably just me <grin>

 

[tubby.twins]

Anyone see anything missing, or know a place to get certain parts cheaper than listed?. I was originally planning on adding a 5-way switch like the Music Man HH basses, but W doesn't offer that with 4-pot routing.

Most of Warmoth's parts are fairly reasonably priced.  If you really want the 5-way switch along with 4 knobs, then you should probably ask them to route ONLY for the 5-way switch.  The pots on the pre-amp you've mentioned are small enough that you can probably drill the holes by yourself.  Alternately, you can ask nicely for a different arrangement.  Here's an idea:

http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=11327.0
http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=10702.0

The pickups you mentioned have 4 conductors, so they should be tappable.

$575 - Body (Maple Core, Bubinga Top, Musicman 5  HH Routing, 4 Hole Rout, 1/2" Input Route, Takeuchi TG5W String-Thru route, Black Pinstripe Binding, Clear  Gloss Finish)

You've underestimated the body cost a bit.  Bubinga tops require an "isolator" to protect a clear gloss finish.

$2 - Non-Tremolo Bridge Screw, Set of 6, Chrome
...
$4.25 - Bar [String] Retainer, Chrome

I'm not sure why you need the "Non-Tremolo bridge screw".  The Takeuchi bridges come with all hardware, including screws.

The string bar retainer is not necessary, since the Gecko neck has an angled headstock.  You can add it for looks if you want, but it's not required.

 

[mmarino92]

TT, could you explain the isolator required for the top a little more? I was just going by what it said on the W body builder. Also, yes the string retainer is purely aesthetic  :glasses9:. Didn't realize that the bridge came with the mounting screws, although it DOES pretty clearly state it on the website haha. Thanks,

-MM

EDIT: Found some more info on the finish page about the isolator, thanks for the heads-up =]

 

[line6man]

$120 - Preamp (Seymour Duncan STC-3P 3 Band Preamp)
$8.50 - Deep Panel Mono Jack

You're going to need a stereo jack for that.

 

[baskruit]

$120 - Preamp (Seymour Duncan STC-3P 3 Band Preamp)
$8.50 - Deep Panel Mono Jack

You're going to need a stereo jack for that.

Yeah, if you want to stop the preamp draining the battery when you plug out, you'll need a stereo jack.

 

[mmarino92]

Fixed, thanks.
So I was thinking about doing away with the 5-way switch, as I was more interested with it's functionality than its looks. The same (and more) could be accomplished with each pickup having it's own volume, with push/pull for coil-splitting, and feed that into a 3-band preamp from there. Yes, I think that would do nicely.

MM

EDIT: Price/parts list updated to reflect the new wiring scheme

 

[JaySwear]

nothing important to add, but this is going to be a really cool bass!