NBD - Klos/Warmoth Bitsa

[Wolverinebass]

Well, a while back (2 years ago in fact), Klos started offering replacement necks. I had the idea of "wouldn't it be cool to have a Wal with a graphite neck?"

 

So, I ordered one. There were massive delays as they were tooling from scratch. No big deal, I'm a patient man.

 

I ordered a G4 body from Warmoth as well as some Herrick multicoil pickups and a Lusithand NFP Special preamp. 

 

Along the way, aside from the wait, other things raised their heads. Herrick pickups were too deep to fit in a standard MM hole. Fine, get the route deepened. What I didn't know was the pickups were actually too big anyway as for some reason, the holes where the screws go to fix them to the body. So, I had to have the cases files down. Funnily, Martin said he was aware of this issue and yet they didn't put it on the product page. Hopefully, they'll have sorted that issue now as he makes really good gear.

 

As the neck holes had to be drilled I wasn't doing that. So, I got it back last week and here we go.

 

 

So, does it sound as I thought? Yes. It's not quite Wal sounding as the Lusithand filters go to about 4kHz rather than the Wal's which only go to about 2.8kHz. So there's more top end if you want it. Kind of like in the realm of Modulus sounding top end.

 

The preamp and pickups are insanely loud. I had to wind down the preamp gain about 50% to get an equivalent sound as with my Wal, with no clipping.

 

I did ask Ian Klos for some other things as well. He's a really nice guy and I spoke to him on the phone for about an hour one day. So, I had the nut width made wider to accommodate my playing style. I also had the radius altered, string spacing changed and a hipshot for good measure.

 

The body is a Warmoth G4. Walnut body with a Black Korina top. Bridge is a Babicz with Harley Benton knobs.

 

This is the 3rd thing I've bought from Nuno at Lusithand and he really knows his stuff as well as being incredibly helpful too. Herrick pickups are great and the peeps at Klos make great gear too if you like graphite. I can honestly say it's one of the most comfortable necks I've ever played.

 

With the demise of Status going wood only, if you want a replacement graphite neck, you could do a lot worse than order one of these.

 

When I get a moment, I'll upload a video of me noodling around.

[Cosmo Valdemar]

Looks magnificent. That headstock is certainly a hell of a lot more appealing than the previous Klos design, which looked like the end had fallen off. It's great to know there's another option for replacement graphite necks.

 

If only you were a bit closer I'd be straight round to have a turn on it 😄

[neepheid]

Looks good!  But I thought EBMM had the 3+1 tuner arrangement on lockdown?

 

[Wolverinebass]

1 hour ago, Cosmo Valdemar said:

If only you were a bit closer I'd be straight round to have a turn on it 😄

That 3 mile drive is killer in the current economic situation.

[Wolverinebass]

1 hour ago, neepheid said:

Looks good!  But I thought EBMM had the 3+1 tuner arrangement on lockdown?

 

Ironically, when I spoke to Ian Klos on the phone he asked me about headstock shape. He was determined to not have the 4 in a line Fender as he wanted a better balance. I suggested 2+2 with more like an Ibanez or Status (obviously without stealing them I hasten to add).

 

I've actually never had a bass that was 3+1. It's curious actually. Alien almost.

Edited March 14 by Wolverinebass