Newbie needs help...(Gecko 5 Bass)

[Philbass_04]

I'm sure all of you have felt this way before.  Completely overwhelmed, excited, but cautious to blow a couple hundred or thousand bucks into a dream instrument.

So....I humbly come before you asking and pleading for help.   From my current understanding a custom warmoth bass will play equal to or better than a nice warwick (lets say double-buck).  And I'm sure the money and time invested will pay huge dividends.

Here's what I have in mind. I'm sure i'm missing things.  (keep in mind, i've talked to warmoth 2 times already, i left the conversation frusterated due to a very very short salesperson, both times.  basically made me feel retarded)

I want a dream instrument...dependable...I play primarily worship in my church...usually a nice warm tone is best, but versatility is good.  Play thru a sansamp bass driver di, and an ampeg pro 4X10 w/B5R head

Warmoth Gecko 5 Bass:

Mahogany Body  (was seriously considering  figured redwood , camphor burl, or flame koa laminate top.  (in order of preference)
         -Question:  Would the 2 dark woods look funny together,  I can never find any pics from the side, using a lam. top.

 I would like a clear finish.  whatever would show off the grain but also protect the instrument.  also i don't want it to get to "showy"

         -Question:  What pickups would be best?  I have no knowledge in this area.   So for the time being i picked the bartolini P2 X 2 (Phase 2 active soapbar for 5 string)

  4 Hole control  (not sure if that is the best option)  

         -Question: Is the agular pre-amp worth it?

                         I have no idea about what kind of nobs i'm going to need.

 Not sure about bridge routing, any suggestions?


   Medium Gecko 5 neck (35" scale fretted)
              Wenge neck with ebony fretboard.

  Oh...and a case!

I'm sure i'm missing things, and this is where i turn to you.  Please help!  

Thank you so much.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Excellent choice on the Wenge/Ebony.

I'm not for sure, but if interested in the Aguilar Pre-amp, probably best to use passive pickups.

I'm not sure of the Gecko's neck radius, but Warwicks are very flat (ask what Warmoth's Gecko uses).

Lastly, bodywise and neck joint wise, the Warwick should feel different with the contour on the back of the body and the neckthru construction.

 

[Philbass_04]

The Gecko 5 neck is asymetrical ( no flat area) with the treble side being thinner than the bass side.  Alittle bit tear dropped i guess, sounds nice.

I'll have to read up on the pre-amp.

 

[Nando Vallart]

Hello Philbass!
First, with whom have you speak there? the most part of us had a great service from them, but once in a while appears a guy that had problem...

Also most of costumers think their warmoth guitar and basses are at least as good as the custom shops from factories...
About the woods: They will look cool, but you could ask for a Maple accent line, looks very nice....

Pickups: This is extremely personal, some people like Jazz Bass others P Bass, other Soap bars, others MM... Think you should take a day or too and go to a big guitar store and play with some bass to find the ones you like better :icon_thumright:
And I like better the look of the 3 holes WITHOUT the switch route :laughing7: But I'm a guitar player

For the bridge *I* would choose the Tachiuci TK5, but more for the look and the string-thru-body than anything...

Good idea on the case!

Welcome to the forum! ccasion14:

 

[Wyliee]

Well Philbass, there's certainly a lot to consider.  How long have you been playing and have you owned any basses you really liked or disliked?  I would strongly second the recommendation to try as many basses as possible.  You need to make an informed decision as to what will make *you* happy.  None of us will be playing your bass.

A couple suggestions:

- Consider a maple laminate between a dark core wood and dark laminate top.  It's a nice little addition.
- Look at the Seymour Duncan pickups and preamps.  They don't cost a ton of money in case you decide to swap them out later.
- The Takeuchi bridges are very nice.

Most of all, I would suggest more homework.  It is important you be happy with the end result.

 

[Patrick from Davis]

As has been said, neck shape and width are something you have to figure out for your self.  But, for pickup suggestions, list favorite players or songs for a reference point.  This will help with narrowing down your selection.  As was said earlier, the preamps in basses are active, but the pickups do not have to be.  This also allows you to expand on the sonic variety available to you.  Once we have some songs to relate it to the suggestions will focus quite a bit.  Good luck.
Patrick

 

[neuftone]

Nordstrand pickups are very nice I hear, but I opted to go for slightly cheaper in my new bass build.  I like the alnico based Musicman pickups Seymour Duncan puts out, but for a really pristine modern sound (ala, active soapbar style) they might not be right.  This really is going to be your decision...if you can first pare it down to what style pickups you like...Jazz bass style, P-Bass style, Musicman, or modern/soapbar (or a combination thereof), then you can start looking at all the different permutations of each of those styles.  Personally I'm a passive bass person, I love keeping the instrument as reliable as possible and I rely on my amplifiers preamp...so if you are leaning active pickups I can't help very much.  I do like the single Bart pickup (with preamp) in the Ibanez fretless 5 Gary Willis signature I play from time to time.  But I'm a Ric player mainly so it goes without saying, I generally lean passive.

Figured redwood on mahogany is, IMO, very beautiful.  I did a tung oil finish on a thinline with that wood combination.  If you are patient and careful a slowly applied oil finish (or oil/varnish finish) is a much cheaper option than having Warmoth do it for you.

I agree that a maple laminate sheet in between might make a nice contrast, similar to the creme binding in the above.  Not going to affect the tone but could be a nice aesthetic touch, if not too expensive (I don't know what they would charge).

I'm doing wenge for my bass neck too, which is to arrive tomorrow!  Like you, I'll be using mine primarily in a church environment.

 

[erogenousjones17]

I don't know thing one about basses, but I had to comment on that Tele; it's gorgeous! Frankly, I don't often care for "plian" wood finishes (I'm a solid-colour man  :laughing11, but that one looks phenomenal!

So, in an effort to make this somehow relevant to this thread, redwood and mahogany do in fact look great together!

 

[Edin]

Hi Phillbass,

1. Pinstripe Accent Line - additional $20

2.

-Question:  What pickups would be best?  I have no knowledge in this area.  So for the time being i picked the bartolini P2 X 2 (Phase 2 active soapbar for 5 string)

It is very individual. I am using Bartolini P/J set with OBP-2 at Fender Lyte Precision and I am very satisfied. But it is my experience.

3. Aguilar is very useful piece of hardware with big tonal versatility. Put and forget batteries (don't leave pluged in)

4. Tone controls consider Your affinity...

5. Takeuchi ... no dubt!

6. Wenge/ebony... "B I N G O !!!"

7. In all cases - hard case...

Regards!!!

 

[WezV]

didnt realise warmoth offered accent lines  ???

 

[Philbass_04]

Thanks you guys have really been a big help.  Looks like i have my homework cut out for me this weekend.

Please anyone else who wants to add their 2 cents, feel free. 

Again, thanks for all the great responses.