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For sale 1988 Warwick Thumb NT 4

Sold
$2,000.00
Strings
4
Status
This item has been sold and is no longer available!

Details

A beautiful '88 handcrafted Warwick Thumb Bass NT in near mint condition. It feels so good in your hands. When I bought this bass I thought I'd never play another. Alas, times change and this bass has been largely unused for the last 10 years. I'm not getting any younger - it's time for it to come out of hiding and sing for somebody.

The guy I bought it from in 2000 had this story about the bass. I just pass it along and don't have any actual knowledge of its veracity:
I deal with a music store in Cincinnati Ohio who has sold Warwick Basses since 1987. I am very good friends with the owner. In 1987-88 they sold more Warwick Basses than anyone in the US. Hans-Peter Wilfer presented this bass in person for the owner's accomplishment of selling the most Warwick Basses in 87-88.
The guy also emailed Hans-Peter about the bass because I wondered what the light patches of wood on the back of the body were about.
This was Hans-Peter's reply in all its German translating to English glory:

We made until today around 5 to 6,000 Basses of the Thumb bass Neckthrough in all. So your once is really from the early days. We started to show the Thumb Bass it were called in the early days the "JD" Bass in 1985 in Frankfurt.

This are very special measurements from the wood. It is the grain from the outside edges of the tree there it is getting from brown/red to white/grey. This a really special pcs. because you can be sure, it is the only Bass in this world this such typical marks on it. Besides this, your bass has "POMMERLE BUBINGA" wood what is those days very expensive and rare. So take care of your baby.

best regards
Warwick
Hans-Peter Wilfer​

Specs from Warwick:
Bass: Thumb Bass NT 4 string
Serial Number: K 1477 88
Year: 1988
Month: October
Number: 1477
Neck Wood: Wenge Wood with Bubinga Strips
Fingerboard: Wenge Wood with mother of pearl Dot inlays
Frets: Bronze Warwick Frets
Nut: Just a Nut Brass Version
Neck construction: NeckThrough hidden neck construction, 34" scale
Body: 3 pcs. solid Pommerle Bubinga Wood
Surface: Oil Finish / BeeWax
Pickups: 2 active MEC JJ Pickups
Electronic: 2 Band MEC Electronic
Hardware: Black Hardware by Warwick
Made in Germany / Pretzfeld / West Germany

Everything on the bass is original to the best of my knowledge. Everything still functions perfectly. The bass is smooth, no raised edges where woods meet. It is the 9volt preamp of the time. I purchased the glove fitting Warwick hard case for it. It is included in the sale along with what remains of my Warwick Surface Finisher.
Currently wearing La Bella Deep Talkin' 1954 Originals Flatwound Bass Strings.

Additional pics available upon request.

$2000 shipped CONUS, PayPal

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Comments

I’m a Cincinnati guy and I bet the shop was Midwest Music. They went out of business long ago, but I can remember going in there and seeing literally 2 walls covered in Warwick basses. I purchased a Mesa from them in college. I wouldn’t be able to afford a Warwick till a few years later after I had graduated and had kids.
 

GSNOLA

Opinionated but approachable 4-string Scotsman.
Aug 2, 2010
716
661
New Orleans
What a lovely instrument - if trades are of ANY interest at all, let me know!
 
Jan 31, 2011
4,807
5,995
Smyrna, Tennessee.
Hope someone buys this beauty soon-she keeps calling me back for another look. Awesome string choice too.

Checked out your profile info and saw a lot of my Nashville neighbors listed as influences. Very cool. You obviously get that Nashville is a music town. Not just country but that too of course.
 
Last edited:
Apr 28, 2020
1
0
I live in Japan.
Is it possible to buy this wonderful bass guitar from Japan?
Of course, I will pay for the shipping.
 
Jul 8, 2019
1,491
945
I emailed Hans of Warwick (CEO) and had him look at a 1988 Warwick and he told me they were EMG pickups and not MEC.

Wait nevermind, duh. Just saw the MEC on the pickups lol.

I guess some 80s models used EMGs.
 
Last edited:

bassbooty

Supporting Member
Jul 4, 2006
1,262
2,270
Utah
I emiled Hans of Warwick (CEO) and had him look at a 1988 Warwick and he told me they were EMG pickups and not MEC.

Wait nevermind, duh. Just saw the MEC on the pickups lol.

I guess some 80s models used EMGs.

Somebody must have changed the pickups to MEC because MEC pickups didn’t exist in 1988. The bass probably had EMG pickups from the factory. I owned an ‘88 as well as an ‘89 Warwick Streamer and they both came stock with EMG pickups. I like both pickup brands but personally I like MEC a little better because they’re thicker in the lows and they are completely noiseless due to the stacked single coil design. Good luck with the sale!
 
Last edited:
Jul 8, 2019
1,491
945
Somebody must have changed the pickups to MEC because MEC pickups didn’t exist in 1988. The bass probably had EMG pickups from the factory. I owned an ‘88 as well as an ‘89 Warwick Streamer and they both came stock with EMG pickups. I like both pickup brands but personally I like MEC a little better because they’re thicker in the lows and they are completely noiseless due to the stacked single coil design. Good luck with the sale!
I just wonder if EMGs in a Warwick with their MEC EQ sounds like Spectors w/EMGs and their tonepump EQ?

I prefer MEC. It's why I decided to keep my Corvette $$ and that it has the active/passive switch which thumbs don't have.
 
Apr 14, 2016
4
0
40
Hi, Is this bass still available? How much is the postage to California? Does it cost state tax?
Hope to hearing from you.

Regards,
 
Feb 9, 2017
37
21
35
Really, I'm seriously interested in this bass.
I was looking for 80s Streamer of Thumb while selling my 2000 Thumb.
It has Barts pups and electronics on it but personally I prefer MEC.
Could you tell me the weight of the bass and hard case..?
 

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