AngeR Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 (edited) Hello guys! I've been watching your projects for a long time and now it's my turn to do some DIY stuff. I have a Warwick FNA 5 that I bought 10 years ago but I'm not happy with it so I hardly play it. I watched some videos, read some tutorials and now I'm starting to do something with my bass. Mods List: 1 - Neck: The shape of the neck seems like a baseball bat and it's really unconfortable. I will round the edges of the neck to make it confortable to play. 2 - Refinish: I will strip off the laquer and the paint and I will paint it with blue Dye (just like these one [url="http://www.sadowsky.com/stock/stock_images/nyc/full/4639_full.jpg"]http://www.sadowsky....l/4639_full.jpg[/url] ) 3 - Routing for a J Bass Pickup on the neck: I will use a Seymour Duncan SJB 5 4 - Change the whole electronics: I will buy a Aguilar OBP3, change the wiring to have the possibility to split the MM pickup. The knobs will work in this way: 1st Vol, 2nd Pan, 3rd Mid, 4th Bass/Treble, 1st Mini Switch dpdt On/On/On for the Split Coil, 2nd Mini Switch dpdt On/On for the Mid Select,3rd Mini Switch dpdt On/On for Active/Passive. 5 - Find the right spot to install the straplock: the bass have too much neck dive!!! Before: Without Hardware: Routing Planning and Switches: Edited April 10, 2012 by AngeR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngeR Posted April 10, 2012 Author Share Posted April 10, 2012 Neck: Liposuction concluded!!! Neck profile (before) Neck profile (after) The neck it's really much better now! It feels so confortable. I was surprised with the results! Any comment, idea, opinion or suggestion would be great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBus Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 Have you considered a John East preamp at all? The neck job looks great so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chilievans Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 Looking good so far. I'll keep an eye on this one I ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chilievans Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 +1 for the John East Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngeR Posted April 10, 2012 Author Share Posted April 10, 2012 I've been reading some info about Aguilar, John East and other preamps. The thing is that the Aguilar OBP3 has always maximum rating on reviews and the price is lower than the U-Retro 01 Deluxe. I have also found some good reviews about Glockenklang and ACG preamps. At this point, I don't really know wich I'm going to choose... LOL I prefer a preamp that is simple to dial a nice sound, almost plug-and-play. Any thoughts for the straplock position? In the first pic it's visible were I've tried it but no good results. Thanks for the inputs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 [quote name='AngeR' timestamp='1334053973' post='1610075'] Any thoughts for the straplock position? In the first pic it's visible were I've tried it but no good results. [/quote] If I were you, I'd put the strap buttons back to their original position and replace the tuners with Hipshot Ultralites, that might go a long way to prevent the neck dive issue. Eude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shizznit Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 Great job on the neck! I would never dare to do that by my own hands. Always wondered what a slim neck on a Warwick would feel like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngeR Posted April 10, 2012 Author Share Posted April 10, 2012 [quote name='shizznit' timestamp='1334054560' post='1610097'] Great job on the neck! I would never dare to do that by my own hands. Always wondered what a slim neck on a Warwick would feel like. [/quote] Just great!!! eheh The nicest thing is that you have the neck the way you like it! I dare you to do the same. Trust me, it's not that hard! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shizznit Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 [quote name='AngeR' timestamp='1334056833' post='1610159'] Just great!!! eheh The nicest thing is that you have the neck the way you like it! I dare you to do the same. Trust me, it's not that hard! [/quote] Trust me, I would destroy the neck if I had a crack at it! At least with a bolt-on neck you can buy another one if it went pear shaped, but I wouldn't attempt to do a thru neck. I would never forgive myself if I did a crap job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngeR Posted April 10, 2012 Author Share Posted April 10, 2012 You have a point! You can send your bass to a luthier to get the job done. I bet that it's not that expensive. I have been playing with this bass for 10 years and now I ask me why I didn't reshaped the neck before... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 [quote name='AngeR' timestamp='1334053973' post='1610075'] I've been reading some info about Aguilar, John East and other preamps. The thing is that the Aguilar OBP3 has always maximum rating on reviews and the price is lower than the U-Retro 01 Deluxe. I have also found some good reviews about Glockenklang and ACG preamps. At this point, I don't really know wich I'm going to choose... LOL I prefer a preamp that is simple to dial a nice sound, almost plug-and-play. Any thoughts for the straplock position? In the first pic it's visible were I've tried it but no good results. Thanks for the inputs! [/quote] the glock is quite nice if your bass is nice and deep sounding- kinda fender resonance type sound. not so good on my all maple streamer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprocket123 Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 Like some posts before , John East , ACG , Glock , & Audere preamps would be the choices Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 [quote name='sprocket123' timestamp='1334094574' post='1610964'] ACG [/quote] ACG pre-amps are awesome but... are definitely NOT simple. Kinda inherent when you have something that versatile! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprocket123 Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Yep , some good choices , it depends on what one wants , & personal tastes right . Yes charic , ACG s seem kind of complicated , but once one s used to it , it must be a blast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngeR Posted April 12, 2012 Author Share Posted April 12, 2012 Last night I played a Lakland with a Aguilar OBP3 and I decided to buy it! Thanks for all the answers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prime_BASS Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 Really want to get my hands on one these early FNA's but 4 string of course......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 [quote name='sprocket123' timestamp='1334186041' post='1612441'] Yep , some good choices , it depends on what one wants , & personal tastes right . Yes charic , ACG s seem kind of complicated , but once one s used to it , it must be a blast [/quote] Definitely, although it's much easier to work out what sound with a recording than through a cab I've found Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprocket123 Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 [quote name='charic' timestamp='1334562440' post='1617479'] Definitely, although it's much easier to work out what sound with a recording than through a cab I've found [/quote] Yes sir , or in a recorded gig , which i haven t done in years , got other things to do now , but will get back on track in a couple of months Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SidVicious1978 Posted April 28, 2012 Share Posted April 28, 2012 first i was like Nooooo i buy it lol but it shaping up nicely can't wait to see it finished Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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