Warwick Thumb Bass: Styles & Applications

[Buxtehude]

I use my Thumb bass for many different styles of music. I use it for recordings on funk, jazz and pop. I use it for reading theatre gigs and for corporate work which is generally gigs that have funk jazz and rock at different stages of the evening.
Given that my Thumb bass is my go-to instrument for many different styles, I got curious about what styles of music other owners play with theirs.
Please!!! No Warwick haters or general TB trolls please. Just the uses that actual owners put to their Thumb.

[mmbongo]

Check out Mudvayne for some Thumb Metal goodness!

[WilemT97]

I don't own a Thumb but do have a Corvette, suppose they are kinda similar? I use my Warwick for Funk Rock, Rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal, Prog Metal...anything really...although I prefer my MusicMan for Slap ;D hope I helped a bit!

Wilem.

[IngerAlb]

Originally Posted by WilemT97

I don't own a Thumb but do have a Corvette, suppose they are kinda similar?

Quite the opposite Thumbs are completely different animals and very particular sounding & feeling basses in general.

Anyways, I've seen them used quite often in metal bands - probably because it's very growly and in cuts like a knife in the mix. I play metal & use mine for that genre as well (primarily for recordings).

[Means2nEnd]

I own 5 Warwicks and two of which are Thumb 5 string NTs the other are a Corvette Jazzman, Streamer Stage II and Corvette standard. All used for sort of different applications. My Thumbs are older 94 and 95 with wenge bubinga one fretted one fretless so obviously there obvious difference with my two Thumbs no reason to get into those difference but my fretted thumb I use for fingers only and I use in situations where I playing lower registers and need to cut through mix. I’m not saying it can’t be versatile but my feeling about the tone is notes up above the D and G string tend to sound thin and not so bass like they start to sound almost like a piccolo set up. They ring out but loose meat so anything where my band plays melodic stuff high it sits out on the sideline. Also I play with a pick and finger style and IMO the pick is not a friend of the Thumb for me.

My Streamer sounds fantastic and thick even up high and great with a pick but doesn’t compare to brutal cutting clarity on the low B. They are tools and do some things incredibly well and other things not as well…Don’t know if that helps but there you have it. I have trouble playing tame with my thumb it just wants to be driver at 75 – 80 MPH and will punch you in the gut doing it and I like that.

[Flatwound]

I have two Thumbs, a BO 6 and an NT 6. The NT is from '95 and is Bubinga/Wenge. I'm still trying to decide if I like it - the highs are gritty and brittle and hard to tame. The BO, OTOH, has the focused mids and B-string that are easy for me to like. Still very bright, but easier for me to get sound I like from.

Still, I would use either one for any kind of music. With a little fiddling with the knobs, I can get deep, bassy, almost dubby tones from either, or crystal clear clarity and bite.

I'm still trying to find the best strings for the NT to see if I can find the sound I want from it.

[SoonerMatt]

I have a Thumb BO and have used it for rock (stop the presses!), funk, jazz, and bossa nova. It's rather unorthodox to use it with the latter 2 but tone-wise it works. That being said, I've updated my Thumb with an Audere 4 band preamp so I can control the growl quite a bit when need be.

[basswave]

I don't own one but I can say they have the most interesting sounding midrange I have heard.

They are my favorite Warwicks.


I'm sure it would work great for anything but I think it would excel at some firgerstyle funk and some fast passage stuff where you need to cut some more in the mix (prog)

[Carb_Rock_Doc]

Have a '97 Thumb I bought new back in the day. I play mostly rock, and it has a Jazz - like vibe when both p'ups are open and the treble rolled way back. Mixed with classic rock guitars it sits well in the mix. If you add a touch of drive (but not crazy fuzz) and dial up the treble, you can get a serious Entwistle - like grind (go to youtube and search "Out of phase strat sound with thumb bass" for a good example). If you keep the treble up but clean it up completely, it will slap for days (go to youtube and search "Level 42 - 43 slap-a-long" for a good example). Of course, dialing in the bridge p'up and cranking the bass gives you that super punchy Warwick tone that will sit under anything!

[VitalSigns]

How 'bout some epic Irsh music!
The Prodigals Bass solo
The best part starts just after the 4 minute mark.

I saw these guys at the Great American Irish Festival last year. They were really good. Very solid.

[SwagAttack]

Originally Posted by mmbongo

Check out Mudvayne for some Thumb Metal goodness!

^This. I don't really like the thumb look, but Ryan's tone and look of ease of playing really made me want one. Actually, he made me want to play bass.

[El-Bob]

Originally Posted by VitalSigns

How 'bout some epic Irsh music!
The Prodigals Bass solo
The best part starts just after the 4 minute mark.

I saw these guys at the Great American Irish Festival last year. They were really good. Very solid.

I'm diggin' that.

[Phalex]

Doesn't Norwood Fisher play a 'wick?

[Righteous Thunderer]

Originally Posted by SwagAttack

^This. I don't really like the thumb look, but Ryan's tone and look of ease of playing really made me want one. Actually, he made me want to play bass.

You too, eh?

I actually got rid of my three thumbs, a BO 4, BO 4 Fretless, and a NT 5. I really do wish I still had that NT 5, it was one fantastically smooth instrument The only Warwick I ended up keeping was a VERY aggressive sounding Proline 4. It is the single growliest Warwick I've ever played, I just wish it had a low B.

The NT 5 was my main player for a good bit, and the best sounding stuff that came out of it was chord work. It had such a ridiculously clean, crisp tone that it really made that
sing.

[Carb_Rock_Doc]

Yeah, I kind of agree with the "it's funny looking" comments, but from a functional point of view. The small body and short horn makes my Thumb a neck - diver. I have to play it a bit higher than I do my Jazz or P-bass, and I use a suede strap so it grabs a bit more and won't slide around too much. I'm sure I'd probably be happier with a Streamer body style, but the closest I think one can get to a Thumb in that style is a Stage II, and I KNOW I can't afford that!

[CorryJobin]

Originally Posted by Phalex

Doesn't Norwood Fisher play a 'wick?

Yes... Thumbs and Infinity as well as Warwick amps

[bongostealth]

I have a 2004 Thumb NT 6 string that absolutely KILLS!! It sounds so crunchy and punchy and has the best pick sound that I've ever heard on any bass! I simply can't put this bass down! The NT Thumb is my favorite Warwick model. I like it better than the BO Thumb.

[Bassoballs]

I love my 99 NT