My plan to replace the neck on my 5 string Warmoth jazz bass has me with two choices. A Fender-ish size neck from Warmoth or a Warwick-ish size neck from Warwick.
My decision to play fretted bass has pushed me to replace the neck on my Warmoth fretless jazz. The research into what neck to use has opened up a different, but related topic - play one bass and get to know that one bass.
I am a firm believer in playing a single instrument and getting to know that instrument.
I remember when I played the Warmoth fretless exclusively for fours years - my hands grew accustomed to the neck width, between-string width, lack of frets, using precise finger placement - it felt like home. Those few nights I did pick up the Warwick, I hated the feeling of frets and the neck felt, well, man made. It was "lumpy" and uneven, and, it felt like a baseball bat (which is a great analogy I found on a forum).
Now that I play the Warwick exclusively, the Warmoth feels bulky, wide, with large string spacing - it doesn't feel comfortable.
Both experiences are a result of spending a lot of time on a single instrument.
Which now effects what to do with the Warmoth.
I need and want a back up bass. At a gig, I need to be prepared for anything - and a non-functional bass will kill the gig. So, I am going to replace the fretless neck on the Warmoth with a fretted neck. But replace it with what? Warmoth uses Fender style dimensions on their necks (fat, wide, with a thin-ish contour. Warwick uses a rounder contour with a narrower neck.
The diagrams below show the differences between a Warwick and Warmoth neck profile.
I am a firm believer in playing a single instrument and getting to know that instrument.
I remember when I played the Warmoth fretless exclusively for fours years - my hands grew accustomed to the neck width, between-string width, lack of frets, using precise finger placement - it felt like home. Those few nights I did pick up the Warwick, I hated the feeling of frets and the neck felt, well, man made. It was "lumpy" and uneven, and, it felt like a baseball bat (which is a great analogy I found on a forum).
Now that I play the Warwick exclusively, the Warmoth feels bulky, wide, with large string spacing - it doesn't feel comfortable.
Both experiences are a result of spending a lot of time on a single instrument.
Which now effects what to do with the Warmoth.
I need and want a back up bass. At a gig, I need to be prepared for anything - and a non-functional bass will kill the gig. So, I am going to replace the fretless neck on the Warmoth with a fretted neck. But replace it with what? Warmoth uses Fender style dimensions on their necks (fat, wide, with a thin-ish contour. Warwick uses a rounder contour with a narrower neck.
The diagrams below show the differences between a Warwick and Warmoth neck profile.
 Warwick Neck Profile This type of neck is C-shaped and offered as the standard neck profile of all Warwick basses. Thickness at the 1st fret: 19.5 mm Thickness at the 12th fret: 24 mm |  Warmoth Neck Profile The Standard 5 Series bass necks are patterned after Fender® MIM Standard 5 necks. The back contour is comfortable C profile. Built with our Super Bass Construction for strength and stability. Thickness at 1st fret = .860" (22mm) Thickness at 12th fret = .990" (25mm) |
Ideally, I want both basses to use necks with the same specs - that way I can play either and still feel at home.
So, that sort of means I need a Warwick Thumb neck on the Warmoth jazz.
Warwick does make necks - they use them in all their bolt-on basses. But I am not sure if they would sell a neck by itself. And with a non-Warwick spec heal.
I've sent the Warwick Custom Shop a request to build me a 5 string neck matching the specs of my 1989 Warwick Thumb bass but with the heal dimensions of a Warmoth 5 string jazz body.
So, that sort of means I need a Warwick Thumb neck on the Warmoth jazz.
Warwick does make necks - they use them in all their bolt-on basses. But I am not sure if they would sell a neck by itself. And with a non-Warwick spec heal.
I've sent the Warwick Custom Shop a request to build me a 5 string neck matching the specs of my 1989 Warwick Thumb bass but with the heal dimensions of a Warmoth 5 string jazz body.
 |  Warmoth neck heal specs But what I don't know is if this is going to be the proverbial...  |
Maybe I just put my big boy pants on and get a fretted neck from Warmoth and learn to adjust.
I do need some new pants anyway.
I do need some new pants anyway.
