What sounds like Warwick Thumb but isn't?

[Jason Wilson]

Just wondering, I really like the Warwick Thumb sound, but not so keen on the neck or string spacing.

Are there any (good quality) basses that will give you close to that sound?

To get the most alternatives possible, lets say cost is irrelevant.

Cheers

[Means2nEnd]

Thought about it for 5 min I can't think of anything. Maybe just think oiled finish body and neck and active pickups I guess. I have always wanted an ACG but they are different in a great way.

[darkstorm]

Another bass with same woods, same neck joint type and same preamp and pups. At one time many of the warwick basses where available with two diff neck profiles. One wider and one slimmer. When I got my corvette yrs ago I picked the slimmer neck version for better playability. You might try finding a used thumb with the slimmer neck as one route to take.

[SBsoundguy]

IMO it's mostly the MECs and their placement on the body that are key to their sound.

[punkjazzben]

A Warwick Pro Series Thumb Bass.

[KsPiNeSh]

I had a Thumb NT5 and sold it primarily because I can get 90% or more of the sound from both my Spector and Streamer. Rolling to the bridge pickup and playing with the EQ got me there.

[MarthaSamira]

Hire a luthier to make you a bass with these specs identical to a Thumb:

- Scale length
- Pickups and electronics
- Pickup placement
- Fretboard wood
- Nut material
- Fret material (very important)
- Number of frets

Fretboard wood being the less important item.

You may choose everything else according to your taste. Body wood, general shape and geometry of the instrument, it really doesn't matter.

Respect the items I listed and you'll achieve what you want without a problem.

YMMV, IMO and IME, of course.

[Jimmy Stump]

The closest sound IMO is a Fender Jazz with only the bridge pickup on. It's not exact, but it's close.

[socialleper]

The Thumb is a pretty unique instrument all the way around. The body shape and pickup locations give it a sound that is jazz-ish, but still twisted in an odd way. The heavier woods that Warwick favors also adds to the specific tone signature of the instrument, with some very odd peaks and valleys.
There is a way to get the same punch out of a jazz bass with the right pickup in the bridge position and pretty solid body, but I don't think I've ever heard any other bass with the same "glassy" highs and growly lows at the same time.

[kevteop]

I think the Thumb sound is mostly about the pickup positions. The bass that is closest to its sound (IMHO) is the Vigier Passion.

Wal Customs can get close to it too but you would have to spend a lot longer dialling it in. And of course they are very expensive.

[WarwickOfficial]

Originally Posted by darkstorm

Another bass with same woods, same neck joint type and same preamp and pups. At one time many of the warwick basses where available with two diff neck profiles. One wider and one slimmer. When I got my corvette yrs ago I picked the slimmer neck version for better playability. You might try finding a used thumb with the slimmer neck as one route to take.

On German basses we actually offer 4 neck profiles, and 2 different string spacings. You can see the details on our options page, here: http://warwick.de/modules/custom_sho...ID=14626&cl=EN

Our Standard neck is back to the C-shape (after a period of Fatneck as the standard profile). We also have the Fatneck which is U-shaped, the Extra-Slim which is a flat C-shape, and the Broadneck (for 5 & 6 string basses) which is a flat-U shape profile.

Please let me know if you have any questions or need assistance in any way. Thanks again!

[RoeyHaviv]

My 2002 Thumb BO had a fatneck

Vigier Passion bass is totally different (my main bass).

The bubinga/ovankol combination is very hard "In you're face" tone.
That's a character that only thumb basses have and it's a love it or hate it kind of thing.
If you like it go get a thumb, if you can't afford a new one - look for a used one, They age well too.

The Passion bass has it's own thing going, It's much more "thumpy" and warm and has a distinct "Mowah" thing going for it. I would compare my passion bass to a ken smith rather then a warwick thumb.

[MarthaSamira]

No bass without bell frets will sound like a Warwick, period...

A very simple concept that most people don't understand...

As with everything one may write, this is based solely on personal experience. IMO IME

[dax21]

I always wondered if different neck profiles affect the sound of the instrument? Especially on Warwicks with their characteristic growl.

I'm asking out of sheer curiosity, though my next bass will definitely be Corvette.

[SBsoundguy]

Originally Posted by WarwickOfficial

On German basses we actually offer 4 neck profiles, and 2 different string spacings. You can see the details on our options page, here: http://warwick.de/modules/custom_sho...ID=14626&cl=EN

Our Standard neck is back to the C-shape (after a period of Fatneck as the standard profile). We also have the Fatneck which is U-shaped, the Extra-Slim which is a flat C-shape, and the Broadneck (for 5 & 6 string basses) which is a flat-U shape profile.

Please let me know if you have any questions or need assistance in any way. Thanks again!

Ooh! I definitely have to try a newer thumb. I haven't played one in about 8-10 years, and back then the neck was the only con for me.

[MarthaSamira]

Originally Posted by dax21

I always wondered if different neck profiles affect the sound of the instrument? Especially on Warwicks with their characteristic growl.

I'm asking out of sheer curiosity, though my next bass will definitely be Corvette.

You won't find a definite answer for this.

I believe the overall mass and stiffness of the neck has some influence on the overall tone of the instrument, but it's nothing as dramatic as different strings or pickups.

As with everything one may write, this is based solely on personal experience. IMO IME

[bigntasty]

Originally Posted by MarthaSamira

No bass without bell frets will sound like a Warwick, period...

A very simple concept that most people don't understand...

As with everything one may write, this is based solely on personal experience. IMO IME

+1: It's hard to duplicate bell brass frets and "The Sound of Wood". I'm not an expert on Warwicks, but have owned 3 and they all sounded great - much different than the other basses I've played.

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by MarthaSamira

No bass without bell frets will sound like a Warwick, period...

Can you explain how the fret material affects tone?

[Jason Wilson]

Originally Posted by WarwickOfficial

On German basses we actually offer 4 neck profiles, and 2 different string spacings. You can see the details on our options page, here: http://warwick.de/modules/custom_sho...ID=14626&cl=EN

Our Standard neck is back to the C-shape (after a period of Fatneck as the standard profile). We also have the Fatneck which is U-shaped, the Extra-Slim which is a flat C-shape, and the Broadneck (for 5 & 6 string basses) which is a flat-U shape profile.

Please let me know if you have any questions or need assistance in any way. Thanks again!

Hi, tried to ask a question on the website regarding the custom shop, but for some reason the message never sends. The page just freezes. Could be my crappy computer. Is there an e-mail address I can send it to?

Cheers

[WarwickOfficial]

Originally Posted by Jason Wilson

Hi, tried to ask a question on the website regarding the custom shop, but for some reason the message never sends. The page just freezes. Could be my crappy computer. Is there an e-mail address I can send it to?

Cheers

Hello Jason - You can send email to info@warwick.de and they will be sure it goes to the right person. Or, you can send me an email at g.noble@warwick.de and I will forward any requests. Please let me know if you've got any other questions or if I can assist you in any way. Thanks!