Having trouble settling on a body... a few questions.

[Unrepresented]

So, I've been GASing after a Warmoth build for months now, and every time I think I know what I want, I keep finding another body style that catches my eye.

I'm a bassist, who's actually pretty darn happy with his Warwick Corvette $$, and I want to do something that's in keeping with it, but blended with the tonal qualities I like in Wal basses, all in a shape that's more "rock n' roll" than either.

So far I've fallen in love with the Explorer and the Iceman shapes, but also have recently been really feeling the Z body and even the new carved top Dinky P. I'm concerned about neck dive, and ergonomic contours are selling points as well, but I'm also a fan of something with a vintage "Big Dumb Rock" shape.

I'm pretty much 100% certain on a W shaped wenge neck with ebony fretboard. Electronics and pickups are going to be configured as similar to Wal as I can afford/obtain. Body will probably be swamp ash, and I'm leaning towards a "Mary Kaye white paint job and black hardware all around, rear routed.

Few questions for those who know the "options" better than I do, yes I'll ultimately call customer service when ordering but would like to pare down my choices first before wasting their time.

a) custom builder says no custom routing for control knobs. I had hoped to have a four knob set up (volume/blend/highs/lows), and some of my body choices only include 3 stock holes. Also, I may want mini toggles for coil splitting options on pickups. Am I stuck with stacked knobs or "aftermarket" drilling?

b) custom pickup routing. W doesn't have the pickup placement configuration I'm looking for available on their website (MusicMan sweet spot + extreme bridge position -- double MM or soapbar size). Is this something they'd be able to offer?

c) binding isn't available on wenge necks. I'm okay with that, but if I've got a large slab body like the iceman or the explorer, I'd think I'd want some top body binding to break up the vastness of the space. What are your thoughts on the aesthetics of body binding and unbound necks and heads?

d) Have considered having a painted headstock laminate, but have heard that wenge doesn't glue well. Is this going to work? Is it going to be prohibitively expensive?

e) Custom fretboard inlays. Guitars have cool options, basses don't list any, and I've lived far too long without star fret markers. Is this a "secret" option or do I have to start writing angry letters to my congressman? :sad:

Anyway, thanks in advance for any advice you can offer that'll help me make up my mind.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

B.)  Call for routing.  They do offer some custom routings with an upcharge.
E.)  I believe blocks only at the moment.  Used to, you couldn't order those, they were showcase only.

 

[Unrepresented]

B.)  Call for routing.  They do offer some custom routings with an upcharge.
E.)  I believe blocks only at the moment.  Used to, you couldn't order those, they were showcase only.

Thanks for the quick reply.

Would love to hear more, plus any personal advice about any of the body shapes I've listed. I've done searches on all of them without any consensus on "THIS ONE IS THE BEST!!!!111!"

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

I've observed this.  Warmoth offers an Explorer bass body shape, but no Explorer bass headstock.  They offer a no V bass body shape, but a V bass headstock shape.  I don't know, and have never seen, if they offer body binding on the Explorer or Iceman.  That's a huge perimeter and big curves and points compared to the usual Strats, Teles, and LPs they do binding on.  There's probably more labor and cost incurred, and maybe not much of a demand.  They should be able to do natural masked binding and/or a clean line option on those.

 

[Unrepresented]

I've observed this.  Warmoth offers an Explorer bass body shape, but no Explorer bass headstock.  They offer a no V bass body shape, but a V bass headstock shape.  I don't know, and have never seen, if they offer body binding on the Explorer or Iceman.  That's a huge perimeter and big curves and points compared to the usual Strats, Teles, and LPs they do binding on.  There's probably more labor and cost incurred, and maybe not much of a demand.  They should be able to do natural masked binding and/or a clean line option on those.

They do offer binding for both of those body types, which from my aesthetic point of view is almost a necessity due to the large amount of uninterrupted real estate they each have. My concern is with the aesthetics of mixing and matching a bound body with an unbound neck and head. It probably could work, but my spidey sense is tingling that it might be a mismatch.

Personally, I like the Warmoth headstock shape better than the alternatives, so would prefer to use that than to stay completely "stock" even if they did have the correct pairings available.

 

[Disco Scottie]

Binding on the body, but not on the neck? I don't know...

Well, it might work.  :glasses10:

 

[Unrepresented]

Disco Scottie -- a couple of beautiful looking tele's. Definitely no problem with those. I think that the classic design of a tele mixed with a burst styled paint job definitely helps to tie everything together. Do you think that it'll carry over with a more modern styled body with a monochromatic color scheme, though?

 

[AGWAN]

when I order my iceman it will be with a tummy cut and a contoured heel. I feel no need to bind it.

I will drill CAREFULLY for my switch (at this point most likely a Gibson Toggle, but not up top, down next to the single volume knob)

settling on paint for that. is my biggest thing.

the tele will be so much easier..

 

[Unrepresented]

when I order my iceman it will be with a tummy cut and a contoured heel. I feel no need to bind it.

I will drill CAREFULLY for my switch (at this point most likely a Gibson Toggle, but not up top, down next to the single volume knob)

settling on paint for that. is my biggest thing.

the tele will be so much easier..

The online builder lists the tummy contour as unavailable for the iceman. Is it available as a secret option? If that's available as an option why isn't a toggle route?

 

[AGWAN]

Not sure what you mean by Toggle Route, but yes. the tummy cut on the Iceman is hand done, and I was quoted 65 dollars for it.

it has an upper toggle route. which I will delete. because I hate having that switch there

if you mean the blade switches. I'm told they won't route for those on bodies not listed to have them. but Warmoth didn't tell me that, other members did.

I personally would rather have the more durable Gibson style Toggle. over a blade switch... but that may not work for everyone.

when done my Iceman will Probably have one Volume knob, and a Toggle right next to it.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

I think their control options are limited because they are CNC programmed and not hand drilled.  There is an obvious LP, Tele, Strat type of layout, but some of the other ones never had an established layout, so it's best left done by the owner.  Unless set on a blade switch, most control layout and toggle locations consist of drilling holes.  A forstner bit will do a cleaner job than a standard bit.  I can understand apprehensiveness of taking a drill bit to a brand new finshed body, but if installing tuners, pickups, strap buttons, and a jack yourself, a control layout won't be the only holes being drilled.  Get the appropriate sized forstner bits for your layout and practice on a scrap piece of wood and consider laying down masking tape on the body before drilling.  Adhesive dots on the area simulating knob placement before drilling for a visual image can be helpful in trouble shootong where to place them.  Also consider the location of the pots to the jack.  There's been conflicts in the past.


http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&expIds=25657,26637,27403&sugexp=ldymls&xhr=t&q=forstner+bit&cp=6&wrapid=tljp1289091280375010&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1419&bih=699

 

[Unrepresented]

Not sure what you mean by Toggle Route, but yes. the tummy cut on the Iceman is hand done, and I was quoted 65 dollars for it.

That may be a game changer then. I've only owned basses with contours (Warwicks, Fender Jazz basses) and that creature comfort ranks fairly high on my priority list. Good to know it's available.

I think their control options are limited because they are CNC programmed and not hand drilled.  There is an obvious LP, Tele, Strat type of layout, but some of the other ones never had an established layout, so it's best left done by the owner.  Unless set on a blade switch, most control layout and toggle locations consist of drilling holes.  A forstner bit will do a cleaner job than a standard bit.  I can understand apprehensiveness of taking a drill bit to a brand new finshed body, but if installing tuners, pickups, strap buttons, and a jack yourself, a control layout won't be the only holes being drilled.  Get the appropriate sized forstner bits for your layout and practice on a scrap piece of wood and consider laying down masking tape on the body before drilling.  Adhesive dots on the area simulating knob placement before drilling for a visual image can be helpful in trouble shootong where to place them.  Also consider the location of the pots to the jack.  There's been conflicts in the past.


http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&expIds=25657,26637,27403&sugexp=ldymls&xhr=t&q=forstner+bit&cp=6&wrapid=tljp1289091280375010&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1419&bih=699

Between apartment living, and the ability to set things on fire just by looking at them, I'm probably best off not doing any serious work on a musical instrument. Anything beyond soldering is probably best left to a local luthier, which is kinda disappointing, however, since the customizable pickup routing is included in the cost of the body, it's just not available in the positions I'm currently looking for...

 

[Disco Scottie]

Disco Scottie -- a couple of beautiful looking tele's. Definitely no problem with those. I think that the classic design of a tele mixed with a burst styled paint job definitely helps to tie everything together. Do you think that it'll carry over with a more modern styled body with a monochromatic color scheme, though?

I think it would work. I tried to find an Iceman with body-only binding, but the ones I keep finding don't show what you need to see. This is the best I could come up with:

Hey, it's not a bass, but it's got four strings. Close enough, right?

I did find this guitar version:

And this is completely off the track, but I like it:

 

[AGWAN]

I'm so glad Hembry is an Iceman fan. his wood sources seem to suck, as does his eye for composition...

but everything else that guy does is Quality.

 

[hachikid]

also, the Jaguar Bass body shape is available. just throwing that out there...

 

[Disco Scottie]

I'm so glad Hembry is an Iceman fan. his wood sources seem to suck, as does his eye for composition...

but everything else that guy does is Quality.

I'm going to steal one of his concoctions for a future build:

 

[AGWAN]

I was inspired by that while thinking out my Iceman build for a while...

then I realized as much as I like it I wanted humbuckers...

and to make a Humbucker/tele/iceman

just kinda gets away from you... so...

Maybe when I want the Tele Pickups... I will do it... but... not now...

 

[Unrepresented]

The Gecko is my absolute favorite Warmoth bass body.

I really like the five string, but I'm probably going 4 string, and I'm looking for a slightly more daring design.

And this is completely off the track, but I like it:

I really like the carved top on that. That'd get rid of my need to go with a binding for sure. Unfortunately that steps into a degree of customization that W can't offer, and I can't afford or do myself.

 

[Unrepresented]

also, the Jaguar Bass body shape is available. just throwing that out there...

I dig what you've done with yours. I'm looking for something a little pointier though.

 

[Disco Scottie]

I was inspired by that while thinking out my Iceman build for a while...

then I realized as much as I like it I wanted humbuckers...

and to make a Humbucker/tele/iceman

just kinda gets away from you... so...

Maybe when I want the Tele Pickups... I will do it... but... not now...

I usually don't like reverse headstocks, but it's working for me on the Ice body.

How about keep the Tele layout and use a couple single-sized humbuckers? Maybe even add a middle pup? The more I think about this, the more I want to do it...