Warwick Corvette vs. Warwick Thumb

[jdthecrazy]

I own a Warwick Corvette fretless bass. I would love a six string fretless and love Warwicks. My question is: Are the Thumbs really worth the higher price? I love my corvette, and can get it in a NT. So, what do you think, and what do you think the differences are?

 

[needmoney]

It's up to you as to whether or not it's worth it. The main factor which jack up the price so much is the concaved body. Otherwise everything's pretty similar in components.

 

[LifeIsBass]

Thumbs are worth the price if that's the tone you want. Nothing, and I repeat nothing sounds like a Thumb. It's just up to you if that's what you want. I've got a Thumb 5 BO, a Corvette Proline, and a Streamer Stage II. They're all great quality basses, yet they all sound a little different from each other. To me, a Thumb is all about midrange. It cuts through like no other bass out there. It also has a very unique slap tone that some love and others hate. In a 6-string, both the 'Vette and the Thumb will be quite heavy. The 'Vette will balance better. Most Warwicks feel similar so that's really not an issue, IMO, unless you're talking older 'Wicks vs. newer ones. The older ones with wenge necks usually have a thinner neck profile. Wenge feels different than Ovangkol. It has more of a course grain that some people don't like. So really you just need to hear some Thumbs vs. 'Vettes. If you want that tone you'll need a Thumb. Everything else is fairly similar.

 

[theNoseBleedKid]

I second the above -

Thumbs rule, and the 5'ers and 6'ers have a uniques pickup placement that some really don't like so try it!

 

[jdthecrazy]

Is the concaved body that much more comfortable.

 

[Papersen]

Thumbs are worth the price if that's the tone you want. Nothing, and I repeat nothing sounds like a Thumb. It's just up to you if that's what you want. I've got a Thumb 5 BO, a Corvette Proline, and a Streamer Stage II. They're all great quality basses, yet they all sound a little different from each other. To me, a Thumb is all about midrange. It cuts through like no other bass out there. It also has a very unique slap tone that some love and others hate. In a 6-string, both the 'Vette and the Thumb will be quite heavy. The 'Vette will balance better. Most Warwicks feel similar so that's really not an issue, IMO, unless you're talking older 'Wicks vs. newer ones. The older ones with wenge necks usually have a thinner neck profile. Wenge feels different than Ovangkol. It has more of a course grain that some people don't like. So really you just need to hear some Thumbs vs. 'Vettes. If you want that tone you'll need a Thumb. Everything else is fairly similar.

+1

I`ve owned a Thumb BO4 and never got used to its neck dive. I imagine a BO6 will be even worse.

 

[NKUSigEp]

I own a Warwick Corvette fretless bass. I would love a six string fretless and love Warwicks. My question is: Are the Thumbs really worth the higher price? I love my corvette, and can get it in a NT. So, what do you think, and what do you think the differences are?

Vettes come in a neckthrough? Where have I been?

But yeah...definitely worth it to find a Thumb. I'm kicking myself for getting rid of mine. It's just one of those situations where it's one thing to sit here and talk about it but to actually be able to play one is a totally different experience.

Some claim the newer ones have "baseball bat necks". Which isn't true. The bolt-on models are the ones with the thick necks. The neck-through models are thin and silky-smooth.

 

[CBBass123]

I own both a corvette and thumb 6 stringers...yup there is some neck dive in the thumb but with a good strap its ok...and you get use to it...but the sound of the thumb is sweet. Most of my gigs i play my thumb bass and have the corvette for a backup

 

[Denial54]

Vettes come in a neckthrough? Where have I been?

The neck through corvettes are somewhat a new thing.

I absolutely love thumbs, i think there one of the best basses out there. I have a corvette right now with no complaints but thumbs just have their own unique sound to them. I'm still waiting for enough $ to get one

 

[jdthecrazy]

I've played fretted Thumbs, but never a fretless one. I don't know of anyplace around me who has one. If I did I would really try to compare sounds.

 

[jdthecrazy]

And as far as the weight goes, I'm a 265lb. weightlifter. I'm not at all worried about the bass being too heavy. My corvette doesn't bother me at all.

 

[Warpeg]

Remember: Thumb BO's have ovangkol bodies and NT's have bubinga bodies. I own both and can tell you that there is a distinct difference in tone. The NT may sound more similar to your Corvette if it has a bubinga body. Plus, you can two more frets.

 

[birdxofxprey]

Is the concaved body that much more comfortable.

yeah, i think so. the thumb also has a smaller body. the bolt ons are ovankol and slightly less heavy than the vette. the nt thumb is bubinga and a little heavier than the vette.

as far as neck dive, i've have corvettes and thumbs and experienced neck dive with neither. the tone of the BO thumb just rules. it is mid-rangy as others have noted, but it has a lot of flexibility in tone - not a one trick pony imo.

 

[bassic_element]

Thumb BO all the way! I regret sooo much selling mine It was a more distinctive sound than the corvette.

 

[bottomzone]

Thumbs are worth the price if that's the tone you want. Nothing, and I repeat nothing sounds like a Thumb. It's just up to you if that's what you want. I've got a Thumb 5 BO, a Corvette Proline, and a Streamer Stage II. They're all great quality basses, yet they all sound a little different from each other. To me, a Thumb is all about midrange. It cuts through like no other bass out there. It also has a very unique slap tone that some love and others hate. In a 6-string, both the 'Vette and the Thumb will be quite heavy. The 'Vette will balance better. Most Warwicks feel similar so that's really not an issue, IMO, unless you're talking older 'Wicks vs. newer ones. The older ones with wenge necks usually have a thinner neck profile. Wenge feels different than Ovangkol. It has more of a course grain that some people don't like. So really you just need to hear some Thumbs vs. 'Vettes. If you want that tone you'll need a Thumb. Everything else is fairly similar.

I concur!! My 2001 Thumb 5 BO never gets lost in the mix! Since I've replaced the MEC 2-band preamp with EMG's BQC Control 3-band preamp with a sweepable mid-it's on another level!!!!!!!!! You are so right-nothing sounds like a Thumb!!!

Keep God First!

A Groove is a Terrible Thing To Waste!

 

[jdthecrazy]

Do you guys think the Thumb BO sounds better than the NT? There is a good bit of a price difference between them.

 

[Azoore]

I prefer the BO to the NT. BOs have more growl, IMO, which is what the Thumb is all about. I would definitely suggest trying each out.

 

[Play]

Yeah, I love the thumb as well - but also the Corvette !

I have a corvette fretless, and a thumb NT (4-string) fretted. I wish my thumb were a 5-string BO but, I still like the sound of the corvette (BO) for the fretless, definitely has that doghouse sound, where the thumb is much more punchy...

IMO opinion the corvette is just a great fretless, especially with Wenge neck and Ebony fretboard...

Play on

 

[jdthecrazy]

Do you think the Corvette makes a better fretless than a Thumb?

 

[Connor]

Do you think the Corvette makes a better fretless than a Thumb?

the corvette probably has a more classic fretless sound, but the thumb has a more unique distinct fretless sound (probably with a nice new growl). fretless is mostly about mid, and i think the thumb has a better mid range. obviously, you should try it out before possibly wasting a couple grand, but definitely consider the thumb, and anyways, you already have a corvette...diversify!