Question on Warwick Alien Acoustic Bass

[forcemultiplier]

Hi,

I would like to buy an Acoustic Bass (5-String) and was interested in the Warwick Alien Acoustic Bass. Upon looking around online, I found that there were two kinds, a regular Alien Acoustic Bass and a Alien Rockbass Acoustic Bass. Does anyone know what makes these two different and why are they so different in pricing.

If anyone is interested in selling (parting) with their Alien Acoustic Bass (in Ontario, Canada), I'm interested..

Any insight into this will be appreciated!

Thanks,

A fellow bassist

 

[nirvana1410]

I believe all the basses in the Rockbass series are made in China with lesser quality parts. Causing the cheaper price.

 

[forcemultiplier]

Hey, thanks for the reply.. That makes sense for the price.. but would you know if there is a noticeable difference in tone or the feel of the instrument?

 

[nirvana1410]

Hey, thanks for the reply.. That makes sense for the price.. but would you know if there is a noticeable difference in tone or the feel of the instrument?

I couldn't tell you that one, as I've never played either of the two. I would just try to look up as much info on them as I could. See what people are saying about them. And also, do some research about what woods and electronics are used in both of them. If it becomes difficult to find out, try getting a hold of Warwick.

 

[TolerancEJ]

These days, both the Warwick and Rockbass Aliens are being built in China.

From my initial review, the Warwick model seems to have a real Warwick Bridge (as opposed to push pins on the Rockbass), better electronics, a nice top wood, & thumb rest.

I've had a Rockbass Alien Deluxe 6 on order since Nov 2012. The estimated delivery time has been pushed back several times since my order. I don't want to cancel my order & lose my spot in priority.

 

[Systolic]

Different preamp apparently is the major difference. Although apparently the Alien Rockbass Deluxe 6'er has an upgraded one. Also the standard model RB Alien body is spruce top and agathis sides. The RB Deluxe is a spruce top with bubinga sides. The German made is a spruce top with Ovangkol sides. Ovangkol is kind of a Warwick signature wood. Bubinga is fairly common, but is widely used for it's nice tonal qualities and reasonable price. Agathis is kinda dead and flat in my opinion. Doesn't make a huge difference in a regular EB, but in an AEB I would worry about it.

Also the RB and RB deluxe use standard bridge pins over a bone saddle where the german made Alien uses a bone saddle with a variation of their two piece bridge that they use with the solid body basses. I would think this adds stability and translates the string vibrations to the body more efficiently over standard pins.

Edit: Looks like I should have refreshed the page. I got beat to the answer. I didn't know the regular Aliens were built in China too. Weird.

 

[ma4rk]

I've only played the rockbass one (a 4 String) and seems very good bang for your buck. Good quality. The sound hole is closer to your ears so seems louder than others however as usual I expect it may require amplification if played in an acoustic group situation.

 

[basstyler]

Still unsure?

Maybe Andy Irvine's video in YouTube will help you a lot.
I think he's a Warwick product reviewer/endorsee.

 

[TolerancEJ]

Andy does terrific product demonstrations.

Also look in the TB Warwick sponsored thread. TB member One Bad Monkey posted a video demonstrating the Alien unplugged (acoustic only.) Sounds very nice.

Okay, here's the demo. Took longer than I anticipated, but that's what happens when you say "Oh, I have a month of downtime from gigs; this'll be no problem!" and then suddenly it's the middle of January and you've been gigging heavily.

And in full disclosure, I don't have the Warwick Bronze strings on. I threw on an old set of GHS Super Steel Contact Core strings, mainly because the Bronze ones were making my fingers black.

Warwick Alien Fretless 6 - Demo

That same video was also posted in Warwick's YouTube channel.

 

[JxBass]

I owned a Warwick Alien when they were still made in Germany. I tried many brands before settling on the Alien, and while I was quite happy with it I found that it only served as a pure acoustic when at home in a quiet setting. A small combo amp was needed when playing along with a guitar or in a live setting. Just my opinion based on personal experience.

 

[rodl2005]

I've played a Rock Bass Alien instore a few times- seems like a really nice instrument, especially for the price. I played a fretless & I was very impressed with it's acoustic tone (& feel) & amplified it seemed very nice also.
If I was in the market for an acoustic fretless, these would certainly be high on my list.

 

[BassHappy]

Hello

Not sure about the differences but mine is a beauty. I am not sure if mine was built in Germany or in Viet Nam - but it is the high end model. This one is LOUD and I can easily keep up with a couple of acoustic guitars in a room with no amp. I also have the Fender T-Bucket as a bang around - take to the beach bass - and in the loudness/projection aspect there is no comparison. My understanding is that the high end Warwick Aliens like mine have been discontinued, correct me if I am wrong. Also had a potentially bad time getting rid of that confounded thumb rest as I am a pick player. What you see is a thin strip of veneer hiding the ////////////////////// exacto knife cuts on the surface of that wonderful spruce.

Mine is here:

Go here if you want to see how I got rid of the thumb rest and for the other details of the bass.

http://www.innertainment.net/alien.html

Keep on pluckin it!

BassHappy
www.innertainment.net

 

[Jon Moody]

Also look in the TB Warwick sponsored thread. TB member One Bad Monkey posted a video demonstrating the Alien unplugged (acoustic only.) Sounds very nice.

Thanks for the kind words. I only did the video unplugged because that seemed to be the general question everyone wanted to know; is the Alien loud enough to stand up acoustically in a group setting? I've used it a number of times in my folk group by itself and yes, it can handle it.

 

[RobRWA123]

Hi,

I would like to buy an Acoustic Bass (5-String) and was interested in the Warwick Alien Acoustic Bass. Upon looking around online, I found that there were two kinds, a regular Alien Acoustic Bass and a Alien Rockbass Acoustic Bass. Does anyone know what makes these two different and why are they so different in pricing.

If anyone is interested in selling (parting) with their Alien Acoustic Bass (in Ontario, Canada), I'm interested..

Any insight into this will be appreciated!

Thanks,

A fellow bassist

"Rockbass" is Asian made, but they often use pretty good luthiers for this particular brand, and many of the component parts are the same. I have an electric Warwick Corvette Rockbass, for example, and the pickups and tuning keys are identical. But the pots are lesser quality, so I will send it to the shop soon to have them re-done, along with some of the related electronics. A different, but potentially bigger issue, with acoustic basses, is whether the top is solid or laminated...and as expected the Rockbass is laminated, the original ade in Germany is not. That said, my electric solid body plays exceptionally well - fast, smooth, and good sound!

 

[RobRWA123]

Also, forgot to add 1 very important thing, look up & watch/listen to Dmitry Lisenko on YouTube, an incredible, innovative, percussive acoustic bass player!!! If you play like this, you will want the solid-top!!!

 

[RobRWA123]

"Rockbass" is Asian made, but they often use pretty good luthiers for this particular brand, and many of the component parts are the same. I have an electric Warwick Corvette Rockbass, for example, and the pickups and tuning keys are identical. But the pots are lesser quality, so I will send it to the shop soon to have them re-done, along with some of the related electronics. A different, but potentially bigger issue, with acoustic basses, is whether the top is solid or laminated...and as expected the Rockbass is laminated, the original ade in Germany is not. That said, my electric solid body plays exceptionally well - fast, smooth, and good sound!

UPDATE: 1. I was mistaken, the Chinese manufactured are now the only ones being made (but you can get a German or Vietnamese made used, or some leftover new ones right on the Warwick.de website).
2. The ONLY differences in parts/components/pick-ups etc (newer generations from about 2016 on, and 2019 on, are a bit different) is that the German/Vietnamese used AAAA Spruce sitka solid top, whereas all the new ones come with AA-grade Spruce sitka solid top, but laminated on the back & sides.
3. The differences between Standard and Deluxe are the type of side & back laminate woods (Mahogany vs Agathis), and the pre-amp (both Fishman's); all else is the same!
4. They are constructed well in China, come back to Germany and put on a fret smoothing machine and QC'ed some more there before being sent out.
5. Be careful, the 4-strings are 24-fret, 32" Medium scales; the 5-stringers are Full 34" scale! But the cutout makes the 4-stringers very maneuverable and accessible on the high registers...