Bass Gear Review

Reviewer	Dan Fox
Manufacturer	Warmoth
Model	5-string Active Fretless
Price	$800-$1000

Neck Type	1pc maple bolt on
Fingerboard	ebony fretless w/maple lines
Body Type	Swamp ash J-Bass body w/quilted maple top
Finish	tung oil
Pickup(s)	EMG 40-J (active humbuckers), w/active tone circuit
Controls	master volume, pickup/blend, bass and treble (stacked knob)

This is a fretless five string made from parts from Warmoth (online @ www.warmoth.com). Warmoth's bodies and necks are immpeccable. I have this fretless and another almost identical fretted 5 string from them. Warmoth makes a wide 5 string but mine are the narrow ones (just about P-bass width) The necks on both basses are perfectly straight, have no dead spots, and play absolutely fantastic. They almost never go out of tune and the truss rods rarely have to be adjusted. The bodies as well are beautiful - well sanded, all drill holes and routs perfect. Both basses are fitted with gotoh tuners, emg 40-j pickups and tone circuit, and schaller bridges. The fretless can go from a superb Jaco-like growl to mellower woodier tones. The fretted has a great big warm fat clear sound capable of motown sounds (w/the treble down) and a hi-fi slapping edge. The only con is that both basses have a slight imbalance of weight towards the headstock (common for 5 strings). I've seen the necks and bodies from other manufacturers like WD, Stew-Mac, etc and none of them compare to the workmanship of Warmoth. The prices in Warmoth's regular catalog are pretty steep depending on what options you choose - especially if you have the parts finished (though their finishes are excellent), but if you're clever you can get a great deal for a top notch bass. First, check their "thrift shop" catalog - its clearance and custom items that were never paid for at much reduced prices. Also, if you do your own oil finish you'll save alot of cash. It's very easy to do and looks better I think. Overall, if you shop right you can get a custom bass from Warmoth that looks and sounds better than many of the elite basses for a lower price.

Construction	100%
Playability	100%
Appearance	100%
Sound	90%
Cust. Service	100%
Overall	98%