Finally Getting Started on a Bass Restore from 2 Years Ago

[Johnny the Kid]

Last day of my senior year of high school, I bought a 2001 Fender J-Bass for $20 from my band teacher (he ended up buying new MIM J-bass for the school). The neck was warped and the pickups didn't work so for $20 I figured I'd put in a couple hundred and have a great playing instrument.

Well I never got around to refinishing or putting it back together. Now that I have some time off from school, I'm gonna try to get this rolling again.

I did try to unwarp the neck when I got it, but that never worked. After an entire summer of adjusting it, I got so fed up with it that I smashed it. So I'm trying to decide between a 20 fret Mighty Mite neck, or a 21 fret Warmoth neck. I think I'm gonna end up getting the Mite for now. I can always upgrade the neck later on and it would save me mucho bucks right now. I'm gonna be getting an MJ set from EMG because I have very little experience with soldering. I also prefer an active bass anyways, and the EMG's just make the most sense to me.

As for the refinish, I've been going back and forth on whether or not I should do it. I've decided that it would be fun to have a bass that is custom painted to my specs. And it won't be too expensive to do either. I have a fraternity brother who does wood working as a hobby and side job (you should see some of the things he's built) and he said he would love to help me with stripping the paint off the body. I'm gonna do white for the body and do red racing stripes down the middle. I initially thought about doing half red and half white, but I think the stripes are gonna look way better.

So wish me luck guys. My second restore (my Epi SG was my first) and my first refinish. I think it's gonna turn out awesome. Next week I'm gonna head out and buy the paint and start working on it.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Finally Getting Started on a Bass Restore from 2 Years Ago

Oh man, Warmoth just did a huge sale around the beginning of May. You could have scored a finished Warmoth maple neck for 20% off! They had finished necks going for well under $200. I think I saw some for under $150 even. I've had Mighty Mite necks though, they're usually pretty good just not always a perfect fit. Nothing that can't be fixed with some sweat though.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Finally Getting Started on a Bass Restore from 2 Years Ago

Oh man, Warmoth just did a huge sale around the beginning of May. You could have scored a finished Warmoth maple neck for 20% off! They had finished necks going for well under $200. I think I saw some for under $150 even. I've had Mighty Mite necks though, they're usually pretty good just not always a perfect fit. Nothing that can't be fixed with some sweat though.

I didn't have the money for it until just recently.

As for the custom paint, it's gonna be simple. Nothing too overly custom. I do not however, plan on selling the instrument ever. I buy a guitar for life. Even if it's cheap. And with this being my first refinish and everything, I don't plan on ever getting rid of it.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Finally Getting Started on a Bass Restore from 2 Years Ago

My personal experience is with guitar necks, not bass necks. But assuming they are the same quality, I would say go with Warmoth. But that is just my personal opinion.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Finally Getting Started on a Bass Restore from 2 Years Ago

My personal experience is with guitar necks, not bass necks. But assuming they are the same quality, I would say go with Warmoth. But that is just my personal opinion.

Warmoth would be my choice right now, and it might still be. I'm gonna be looking at my situation over the summer and determining whether I could pay the extra bucks to get a Warmoth neck. If not, then for the time being, a Mighty Mite will be fine for my purposes. But ideally, I'd like to get a 21 fret Warmoth P-Bass neck.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Finally Getting Started on a Bass Restore from 2 Years Ago

Warmoth would be my choice right now, and it might still be. I'm gonna be looking at my situation over the summer and determining whether I could pay the extra bucks to get a Warmoth neck. If not, then for the time being, a Mighty Mite will be fine for my purposes. But ideally, I'd like to get a 21 fret Warmoth P-Bass neck.

Dude, just save for a few extra weeks and get the Warmoth then. They actually have good prices in the showcase even if it might not be all the options you would have liked. You can always finish the neck yourself if it requires a finish and save a lot of money this way. Like I said, I have experience with Mighty Mite necks. They are not bad, but they are pretty far from the awesomeness Warmoth puts out.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Finally Getting Started on a Bass Restore from 2 Years Ago

It is possible to purchase genuine Fender MIM necks.

This would definitely work if you want a maple/maple or maple/rosewood neck anyway.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Finally Getting Started on a Bass Restore from 2 Years Ago

Dude, just save for a few extra weeks and get the Warmoth then. They actually have good prices in the showcase even if it might not be all the options you would have liked. You can always finish the neck yourself if it requires a finish and save a lot of money this way. Like I said, I have experience with Mighty Mite necks. They are not bad, but they are pretty far from the awesomeness Warmoth puts out.

That's what I'm thinking too. I made that post at 3:30 in the morning when I wasn't exactly in the best state of mind to be surfing the internet, so I'm in a better frame of mind now. And for the price of a Fender neck ($200) I might as well just spend a little more and get the 21 frets and everything else that I want.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[BlueTalon]

Re: Finally Getting Started on a Bass Restore from 2 Years Ago

A friend of mine once said, "Never be afraid to spend more for a better product." Warmoth is the better product, even better than Fender necks IMO. Certainly they offer a variety of woods unmatched even in Fender's Custom Shop. And as mentioned, you can get some pretty decent prices on stuff in their showcase that they've already made.

On of the things I have learned in the half-century-plus I have lived on this dirtball is that, more often than not, you save more money in the long run by spending more money up front.

 

[jtougas]

Re: Finally Getting Started on a Bass Restore from 2 Years Ago

Not only in material stuff, but wear'n'tear on yer psyche...

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Finally Getting Started on a Bass Restore from 2 Years Ago

A friend of mine once said, "Never be afraid to spend more for a better product." Warmoth is the better product, even better than Fender necks IMO. Certainly they offer a variety of woods unmatched even in Fender's Custom Shop. And as mentioned, you can get some pretty decent prices on stuff in their showcase that they've already made.

On of the things I have learned in the half-century-plus I have lived on this dirtball is that, more often than not, you save more money in the long run by spending more money up front.

It makes sense completely.

I'm gonna go with the Warmoth neck (maple neck and board) with a satin finish. I don't know if I'll go with the vintage tint or the clear yet, although I'm leaning towards the clear. It's a little bit cheaper and my 5 string has a vintage tinted neck, so I want something a little different on this bass. I thought about doing a bloodwood neck but decided to just go with the maple.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Finally Getting Started on a Bass Restore from 2 Years Ago

You'll dig the Warmoth no matter what wood you get. Bloodwood is cool and ages nicely but maple is a classic. Maple also ages nicely so really it's a win-win.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Finally Getting Started on a Bass Restore from 2 Years Ago

You'll dig the Warmoth no matter what wood you get. Bloodwood is cool and ages nicely but maple is a classic. Maple also ages nicely so really it's a win-win.

I googled a few images of a bloodwood neck, and I just didn't like how they turned out. They look cool, but I don't think it would look very good with a white bodied bass. If I decided to go with red for the main color, then I might be a little more inclined to go with the bloodwood, but the way it is now, I'm not a huge fan of it.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Finally Getting Started on a Bass Restore from 2 Years Ago

How about this? http://www.guitarfetish.com/Bass-Unfinished-Paddle-Headstock-Neck_p_2003.html

 

[Demanic]

Re: Finally Getting Started on a Bass Restore from 2 Years Ago

Or this http://www.guitarfetish.com/Bass-Satin-Sealed-Vintage-Style-Neck-_p_2004.html
Man, I should get one of these!!!

 

[Demanic]

Re: Finally Getting Started on a Bass Restore from 2 Years Ago

"Currently out of stock" Sorry, nevermind.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Finally Getting Started on a Bass Restore from 2 Years Ago

I'm actually considering a roasted maple neck. It would save money on finishing the neck ($40 more for roasted maple vs having to pay $80 to finish a raw maple neck), it would look way more expensive than it is, and I have a thing about the headstock matching the neck, if it's something like a Fender. I don't particular care for rosewood fretboards on maple necks. I wouldn't be a big fan of maple fretboards on rosewood necks. It's weird, and I've seen instances where it actually looks really good, but I don't care for it on my instruments.

So when I save up the money I'm gonna order a roasted maple neck from Warmoth. Because I need to save a bit, I'm going to hold off on repainting the body until after the neck gets ordered.

 

[hmatherne]

Re: Finally Getting Started on a Bass Restore from 2 Years Ago

I would go with USA Custom Guitars. They are cheaper than Warmoth and built by former Warmoth employees. Mightymite is not necessarily a standard Fender fit or design. Warmoth is authorized as a Fender replacement.


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[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Finally Getting Started on a Bass Restore from 2 Years Ago

I would go with USA Custom Guitars. They are cheaper than Warmoth and built by former Warmoth employees. Mightymite is not necessarily a standard Fender fit or design. Warmoth is authorized as a Fender replacement.


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I just did a run through of the USA Custom order form and it was almost $400 versus the $220 that Warmoth says. I understand spend a little extra now, and save a lot in the future, but I cannot justify spending $180 more for a neck, especially when Warmoth comes so highly recommended.

 

[BRHGM]

Re: Finally Getting Started on a Bass Restore from 2 Years Ago

I just did a run through of the USA Custom order form and it was almost $400 versus the $220 that Warmoth says. I understand spend a little extra now, and save a lot in the future, but I cannot justify spending $180 more for a neck, especially when Warmoth comes so highly recommended.

Go with the cheaper. I buy the specials. USACG was prompt, polite and delivered on time. Don't get me wrong Warmoth is good too. I'd go with the best deal too.