Need motivation

[marcuspocus]

Hi All. I am new to the forum. I have been a long time lurker of the Warmoth site.  I have had a few Warmoth/Fender Parts basses which I loved.  I have been on and off about putting together a Gecko.  I sold a bass with every intention of putting together a Gecko Med 5.  I am back and forth on the finish and woods.  Now I am starting to question the whole build. I already have the pickups and electronics and about to order the body. 

I need to be loving the idea again. I have never played a Gecko.  Why is a Warmoth build, specifically the Gecko, an awesome feeling and sounding instrument? 

 

[line6man]

Why is a Warmoth build, specifically the Gecko, an awesome feeling and sounding instrument? 

I can't speak for the playability, but sound is almost entirely dependent on your choice of electronics, woods and hardware.

 

[cmalidore]

The Gecko I have has out performed each and every one of my other basses, from recording to gigging.  It's a lil heavy, but I feel the sound and general comfort makes up for that many times over.

 

[Cagey]

Warmoth is peerless when it comes to build quality. There simply aren't any commercially available necks or bodies out there that can touch them. I don't know exactly how to quantify that, but it's somehow tangible. The major OEMs wish they could build such nice stuff, and I suppose it's possible they could, but they don't have time. There's only so much you can do for $5,000. Or, at least that's what you're led to believe.

As for sound, that's always a crap shoot. You gotta pick the right woods, the right pickups, the right hardware, etc. and there are a bajillion combinations possible, none of which take your own ear or expectations into consideration. What I'd consider a perfect combination might sound like fingernails on chalkboard to you, and vice-versa.

My experience has been, and I suspect is common, is that what you can build from Warmoth parts along with high-quality hardware/electronics is usually about 1/3 what it would cost to get something similar from the run-of-the-mill OEMs like Gibson, Fender, PRS, et al. So, that's your motivation.

 

[line6man]

What I'd consider a perfect combination might sound like fingernails on chalkboard to you

So I take it you're a Tele guy? :blob7:

 

[Strat Avenger]

I agree that the "motivation" should come from the fact that you can get a gorgeous custom-built guitar or bass for less than half the cost of what the major name brand factory-built guitars would cost you, and all to your specs. That's certainly where My motivation came from. You also won't find another guitar exactly like mine hanging on a rack at a music store. You could find something similar as far as body shape and pickup configuration, but not exactly like it.

 

[Cagey]

What I'd consider a perfect combination might sound like fingernails on chalkboard to you

So I take it you're a Tele guy? :blob7:

Hehe! No, I'm not. Never had one, haven't played one in probably 30 years or better. It's only been the last 6 or 8 months that I've been starting to rethink my position on the things. There have been so many beautiful Teles on this board that it would be foolish to pass that design up just because Fender couldn't do it justice.

 

[mayfly]

What I'd consider a perfect combination might sound like fingernails on chalkboard to you

So I take it you're a Tele guy? :blob7:

Hehe! No, I'm not. Never had one, haven't played one in probably 30 years or better. It's only been the last 6 or 8 months that I've been starting to rethink my position on the things. There have been so many beautiful Teles on this board that it would be foolish to pass that design up just because Fender couldn't do it justice.

 

[Cagey]

See? Now how could you say "no" to such a thing?

 

[DesmoDog]

Ok, fine I'm a newbie. Now that we have that out of th eway, can someone explain to me what's going on with the B string on that paisley Tele?

 

[mayfly]

Ok, fine I'm a newbie. Now that we have that out of th eway, can someone explain to me what's going on with the B string on that paisley Tele?

sssshhhhhh!  it's secret....

 

[Cagey]

Ok, fine I'm a newbie. Now that we have that out of th eway, can someone explain to me what's going on with the B string on that paisley Tele?

It's called a "B Bender". The body is routed internally and on the backside to hold a spring-loaded mechanical linkage that's connected to the forward strap hanger on the upper horn. When you push down on the guitar while it's hanging from the strap, you effectively pull up on the strap hanger, which sharps the B string a whole step. It's a carryover from some pedal steel guitars that have any number of those kinds of arrangements for flatting/sharping different strings using the pedals.

 

[Cagey]

sssshhhhhh!  it's secret....

We posted at the exact same time, so I'm afraid I didn't get the warning and now the secret's out. I'll put a quarter in the cuss jar <grin>

 

[mayfly]

Ok, fine I'm a newbie. Now that we have that out of th eway, can someone explain to me what's going on with the B string on that paisley Tele?

It's called a "B Bender". The body is routed internally and on the backside to hold a spring-loaded mechanical linkage that's connected to the forward strap hanger on the upper horn. When you push down on the guitar while it's hanging from the strap, you effectively pull up on the strap hanger, which sharps the B string a whole step. It's a carryover from some pedal steel guitars that have any number of those kinds of arrangements for flatting/sharping different strings using the pedals.

Yep - that's about it.  I've got two bender Warmoth telecasters, and working on a third now.  The bender has really become part of my playing style - and no a floyd won't do.  :icon_biggrin:

 

[OzziePete]

Ok, fine I'm a newbie. Now that we have that out of th eway, can someone explain to me what's going on with the B string on that paisley Tele?

It's called a "B Bender". The body is routed internally and on the backside to hold a spring-loaded mechanical linkage that's connected to the forward strap hanger on the upper horn. When you push down on the guitar while it's hanging from the strap, you effectively pull up on the strap hanger, which sharps the B string a whole step. It's a carryover from some pedal steel guitars that have any number of those kinds of arrangements for flatting/sharping different strings using the pedals.

. It's a significant innovation that found it's way into country rock & country music. I've not seen a guitar up close fitted with one, let alone had a chance to play one! I can imagine you'd have to adapt your playing style to be a little more physical than maybe you might normally be, pushing down to activate the B-Bender.

 

[mayfly]

BTW - this is a heck of a thread hijack - from Gecko to B-Benders!

 

[OzziePete]

Re: Gecko.
(Not quite a hijack yet.. :cool01:..)
It's a design of Warmoth's, not a licenced/copied replica of another manufacturer's design.

The quality of wood that you can get would probably exceed that of regular Precision, Jazz and most other basses that are mass produced. Ditto for the build quality, one could argue too.

You have a broad range of options, you have awide choice of configurations and wood choices too. Andthen you can just about designthe paint finish too.

Start doing that with the usual mass producing manufacturers and they are screaming 'custom' and doubling the price straight away.

 

[marcuspocus]

Thanks guys.  It was a little hijack but that was a nice tele.  I am back in.  Going with a swamp ash body with flame maple top and a black accent line.  Wenge/Ebony (no Gecko inlay) , Black Hipshot hardware Nordy big singles.  The flame maple top will have a translucent black stain and the ash back will be natural.  Finished in Tung oil.

Thanks Guys

 

[AutoBat]

No Gecko inlay?  :sad: